It took thirty-one years. Think about that for a second. In 1993, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre gave us Doggystyle, an album that basically rewrote the rules of how hip-hop could sound and feel. Then, they just... didn’t do another full album together. Sure, we got "Still D.R.E." and a few features here and there, but a full project? It felt like one of those "Duke Nukem Forever" situations where the hype eventually outgrows the reality.
Then came December 13, 2024.
The new snoop and dre album titled Missionary finally hit the streets. It wasn't just a random drop; it was a full-circle moment for two guys who have nothing left to prove but apparently still have a lot to say. People were skeptical. Honestly, I was too. Can you really recapture that lightning after three decades?
What Actually Is Missionary?
First off, let’s clear up the name. It’s a joke. Snoop explained it pretty simply: the first one was Doggystyle, so this one had to be Missionary. That’s the kind of classic, slightly immature West Coast humor that reminds you these guys haven't totally "grown up," even if they are global icons now.
This isn't a Snoop Dogg album that Dre just checked the mixes on. Dre produced the whole thing. That matters. We’ve had plenty of Snoop albums over the last decade where he’s just vibing over whatever beats are popular at the time. This is different. When Dre is behind the boards, he treats Snoop’s voice like an instrument. He pushes him. He makes him do twenty takes of a single line until the pocket is perfect.
You can hear it in the precision. The album isn't trying to be a 1993 throwback with dusty drums and low-res samples. It sounds expensive. It sounds like two billionaires decided to spend a year in the studio making something that would make 20-year-olds feel out of shape.
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The Tracklist and Those Wild Features
The guest list for Missionary looks like a fever dream. If you told me three years ago that Snoop, Dre, and Sting would be on a track together, I’d have told you to go lie down. But "Another Part of Me" actually exists. It interpolates "Message in a Bottle" and somehow, against all logic, it works.
The heavy hitters are all there:
- Eminem and 50 Cent show up on "Gunz N Smoke," which is basically a 2003 Aftermath reunion.
- Method Man brings that gritty East Coast energy to "Skyscrapers."
- Jelly Roll and a posthumous Tom Petty feature on "Last Dance With Mary Jane."
It’s a massive list. 15 or 16 tracks depending on which version you’re spinning. It’s a lot to digest.
The Production: That ICU Sound
While Dre gets the top billing, he brought his "ICU" team—Focus…, Dem Jointz, Fredwreck, and Blu2th. These are the architects of the modern Dre sound. It’s dense. There are layers of keys, live bass, and these signature Dr. Dre snares that feel like they’re hitting you in the chest.
There’s a track called "Sticcy Situation" that samples Suzanne Vega’s "Tom’s Diner." You’ve heard that melody a million times, but the way Dre flips it into a West Coast bounce is kind of genius. It’s nostalgic but clean.
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One thing that’s really interesting is the "maturity" Dre kept talking about before the release. Snoop isn't just rapping about the same old stuff. Well, he is, but there's a different weight to it. On "Now Or Never," featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, there’s a sense of reflection. He’s looking back at the Death Row era not as a kid in the middle of it, but as the guy who eventually bought the whole company.
Why Does This Album Matter in 2026?
We’re living in a weird time for music. Everything is short, made for TikTok, and disposable. Missionary feels like a protest against that. It’s a long-form, cohesive project.
Some critics have been a bit harsh. They say it’s "unoriginal" because of all the interpolations. I get that. If you're looking for Snoop to invent a brand new genre at age 53, you’re going to be disappointed. But that’s not what this is. This is a victory lap. It’s about two masters of their craft showing that they still have the chemistry that made them legends in the first place.
Is it Better Than Doggystyle?
No. Of course not. Nothing is. Doggystyle was a cultural shift. Missionary is a high-end luxury product. It’s like comparing a vintage muscle car to a brand-new electric Porsche. One has the soul and the history; the other is faster, sleeker, and more refined.
You’ve got to appreciate it for what it is. A lot of people thought Dre would never release another full project after Compton in 2015. Especially after his health scare a few years back, the fact that he’s even in the studio at this level is a win for the culture.
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How to Experience Missionary Properly
If you're just getting into the new snoop and dre album, don't just shuffle it on a tiny phone speaker. This is Dre production. It’s built for subwoofers.
- Listen in a car. This is G-Funk (or the evolution of it). It needs to move with you.
- Check out the videos. The trailer with the "missionaries" knocking on the door was hilarious and sets the tone for the whole project.
- Pay attention to the transitions. Dre is the king of the "segues." The way one song bleeds into the next is a lost art.
Basically, Missionary is the closure we never knew we needed. It took three decades, a bunch of different record labels, and a lot of life lived, but the duo finally finished what they started. It’s not about being the "new" sound of the streets. It’s about reminding everyone who built the streets in the first place.
If you haven't sat down with the full 16-track version yet, start with "Gorgeous" and "Gunz N Smoke." Those give you the best look at what this collaboration is actually trying to achieve. It's West Coast royalty, plain and simple.
To get the most out of this release, fans should look for the limited edition vinyl pressings—specifically the "Onyx" or "Picture Disc" versions—as Dr. Dre’s engineering is notoriously best experienced on high-fidelity setups that can handle the specific low-end frequencies he favors.