Here is the 8th EP from San Bernardino, California emcee Doggystyleeee reemerging for his 6th EP. Coming up 7 years ago off his full-length debut Into Somethin’, he would go on to put out his last 7 EPs as well as 5 mixtapes & a couple more albums garnering interest to the point where WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg almost signed him to Death Row Records not too long after purchasing the label from MNRK Music Group to revive it. Blame It on My Crippin’ & Split Personality produced by AC3Beats as well as & Music with Substance were all welcomed to divisive reception although I enjoyed them personally, reaching the Calm Before Riches.
“Gangsta” samples quite possibly Tha Dogg Pound’s greatest song “Let’s Play House” coming to the realization that his girl ain’t ever been with a g before whereas “Play Yo Part” sends some subtle advise over a cloudy Mobb beat. “Over You” goes for a g-funk vibe instrumentally talking about his refusal to waste any time on a desperate ass bitch while “Let’s Play House” puts a soulful spin on the 90s west coast sound so he can talk about driving hoes crazy.
The song “Majestics” luxuriously kicks off Calm Before Riches’ celebrating SoCal altogether while “Don’t Make Me Trip” warns not to push him over the edge because he stays about that gangsta shit in addition to getting money & staying out the way being the only 2 concerns of his. “Different Flavors” lastly sends off the EP with 1 last Mobb instrumental assuring he could be considered a kingpin the way he slangin’ & getting it out the mud.
Caught in tha Moment a few months earlier was catered more to the ladies because of a desire Doggystyleeee had to increase his female audience & I completely respect it despite not enjoying it as much as the other handful of EPs that came out last year, but he preludes The Reawakening by taking it back to basics for Calm Before Riches. I like the fact he selected only a few producers on board instead of a singular beatsmith to recapture that 90s west coast hip hop aura & tell stories of the gangsta life.
Score: 8/10