Every day, Snoop Dogg seems to make headlines for something new—whether he’s lighting up the Olympic torch, giving up smoke or joining “The Voice” as the show’s newest coach. 

This “whatever” attitude has been central to Snoop’s three-decade reign as one of hip-hop’s most enduring icons. In a genre where performers blaze out fast, Snoop has managed to keep himself not just relevant but at the forefront of pop culture since his 1993 debut on Death Row Records.

And while the music world will always know him as a rap legend, Snoop has lived a life as eclectic as his ever-evolving persona: he’s the model for the menacing Crow in “Def Jam: Fight for NY,” the charismatic host of “Doggy Fizzle Televizzle,” the voice of Bow Wizzle on the children’s show “DoggyLand…” Let’s not forget his unexpected yet wildly successful partnership with Martha Stewart, proving that Snoop is a master at playing in spaces where few rappers would dare venture.

In fact, many now recognize Snoop more for his side hustles than his music, despite being the founding father of the Gangster-Funk genre, to the point where some casual listeners might struggle to name the Doggfather’s biggest hits. Sure, they know “Drop It Like It’s Hot” or his verse on Katy Perry’s “California Gurls,” but they don’t know the Long Beach native’s classics despite a catalog of tracks that burn bright. 

With the artist’s 20th studio album, “Missionary,” set to drop in November, Snoop reunites with longtime collaborator and hip-hop legend Dr. Dre. The pairing reteams pioneers of the gangster rap genre, the duo behind hits like “Gin and Juice” and the game-changing album “The Chronic.” 

It’s a fitting full-circle moment for two legends of West Coast rap—and the perfect time to, as Snoop himself says, “step through the fog and creep through the smog” and sort through Snoop’s extensive catalog to count down his top five albums.

5. “BUSH” (2015)

Twenty years into his career, it was time for this dogg to learn some new tricks. “Bush” was a fresh direction and a brand new sound for the rapper.

The Pharrell-produced project stands out for its smooth, danceable sound, blending funk and soul in a way that felt entirely new for Snoop at the time.

The album features Snoops’s star-studded cast of friends, including Kendrick Lamar and Rick Ross, who appear on “I’m Ya Dogg,” while T.I. delivers an effortlessly fun verse on the bouncy track “Edibles.”

The lead single, “California Roll,” features none other than the sultan of soul, Stevie Wonder, adding a layer of classic soul to the laid-back West Coast vibes.

“BUSH” rights the course of Snoop’s career, with the help of Pharrell at the wheel, coming after Snoop’s biggest blunder, his 12th album “Reincarnation,” when he emerged as reggae artist Snoop Lion.  It proves that “Reincarnation” and the whole Snoop Lion self-discovery experiment were just a curious detour on Snoop’s genre-hopping journey. Not a dead end that most other artists wouldn’t recover from.

While Snoop Dogg’s vocal performance on “BUSH” doesn’t always hit the mark—let’s be honest, Snoop’s singing isn’t winning any Grammys—his willingness to push boundaries keeps the album feeling fresh.

And while it may not have a parental advisory sticker, make no mistake: Snoop’s signature charisma is all over this record.

4. “R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece ” (2004)

Snoop Dogg’s seventh album cemented the icon’s ability to bridge the gap between gangsta rap and mainstream appeal, selling over 250,000 copies in its first week.

After the success of 2002’s single “Beautiful,” a collaboration with Pharell and The Neptunes, Snoop decided to make the relationship official and sign to The Neptune’s Star Trak label in 2004.

With production helmed by Pharrell, “R&G” lives up to its name: a perfect blend of smooth, R&B-influenced vibes with hard and clean gangster raps layered overtop.

Tracks like “Let’s Get Blown” and “Perfect” shine with polish; they are glossy, full of effortless funk and rich rhythm, proving that Snoop can succeed beyond his Gangster-Funk roots.

Rhythm is where the album is at its best.

Gangster? Not so much, as tracks like “Step Yo Game Up” featuring Lil Jon and “Oh No” with 50 Cent feel somewhat out of place compared to the album’s polished aesthetic.

Of course, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” is the crown jewel of the album—and a defining moment in Snoop’s career. It’s hard to overstate the impact of that minimal beat and Snoop’s impossibly cool delivery. The track was Billboard’s Rap Song of the Decade and further solidified Snoop’s crossover appeal, paving the way for his later collaborations with the likes of Katy Perry and Mariah Carey.

While “R&G” may not be the most traditionally Doggy-sounding Snoop project, it still manages to roll up some clean radio-ready hits, and its sleek production helped Snoop transcend hip-hop and become a household name.

3. “Neva Left” (2017)

In 2017, 25 years after his debut, Snoop was having a career renaissance hot off the successes of “BUSH”and “Coolaid.” Then he dropped “Neva Left,” proving he wasn’t just back; he was here all along.

This is an album that perfectly encapsulates the Doggfather’s ability to adapt while staying true to his West Coast roots. It may not have hit the top of the charts, but it became a fan favorite and a testament to Snoop’s versatility.

From the old-school G-funk of “Mount Kushmore,” which features Method Man, Redman and B-Real, to the trap-tinged “Trash Bags” with K Camp, “Neva Left” showcases a Snoop who is equally comfortable in any rap subgenre.

The album title and its cover—featuring a 1992 photo of a young Snoop—serve as a reminder that while his style may evolve, the essence of Snoop Doggy Dogg never changes.

It’s the artist’s A game, a blend of hip-hop and rap subgenres tied together by Snoop’s trademark flow.

“Neva Left” is Snoop Dogg showing us that no matter how many reinventions he undergoes, his heart will always be in the West Coast, and his heart lives a dogg.

2. “Tha Blue Carpet Treatment” (2006)

Snoop’s eighth studio album, “Tha Blue Carpet Treatment,” is a West Coast masterpiece: rife with heavy-hitting gangster themes and allegiances to his Crip loyalty.

With tracks like “Get a Light” and “Vato,” there is absolutely no questioning The Dogg’s ability to spit rhymes over some hard West Coast beats. The album is arguably Snoop’s most complete project in the gansta genre since his “Doggystyle” debut.

Snoop rolled out the blue carpet, the Crips’ signature color, with guest appearances from Ice Cube, The Game and Akon, among others. Those features help the Snoop Doggy Dogg revisit his gangsta roots with a more polished, reflective twist.

“Vato” and “Get a Light” lean into the gritty themes of gang loyalty, while tracks like “LAX” and “Crazy” feature Wes Coast legends in Ice Cube and Nate Dogg.

The album also displays Snoop’s versatility and refusal to be caged in, offering funk and chill through tracks like “Think About It” and featuring outside-the-genre collabs with Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx and George Clinton.

The most striking song on the album is the unshakable and unforgettable “Imagine,” featuring Dr. Dre and D’Angelo.

The track is reflective, contemplating life in the gang-ridden streets of L.A., the loss of icons like 2Pac and Biggie, and a post-W Watts world of police brutality. It’s a poignant reminder of the world Snoop came from and the impact of the artists who never made it as far as he did.

1. “DOGGYSTYLE” (1993)

After making significant contributions to Dr. Dre’s 1992 genre-defining “The Chronic,” Snoop Doggy Dogg released his solo debut, an overnight success that quickly became a classic in its own right.

“Doggystyle” isn’t just the best album of Snoop’s career—it’s a masterpiece, helping pioneer the sound that would become synonymous with West Coast G-Funk.

“Doggystyle” debuted atop the Billboard 200, selling over 800,000 copies in its first week to go RIAA platinum four times over.

But who really cares about the numbers? It’s all about the music.

With quintessential rap tracks like “Gin and Juice,” “Murder was the Case” and “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?,” “Doggystyle” lays the foundation for Snoop’s entire musical career. It is required listening for any hip-hop fan, something covered on day one of Rap 101.

Tracks like the smooth and soulful “Doggy Dogg World” and “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None),” showcasing Snoop’s humor, are templates he builds upon, expands on, and returns to again and again.

It’s our first introduction to Snoop’s passion for funky beats and synth, our first experience with a brand of melodic rap that is slightly softer than what came before, what would become Snoop’s signature blend of funk and soul with gangster style.

But it doesn’t abandon rap’s traditional hard beats and gripping stories of life and death on the streets, with tracks like “Murder Was the Case.”

It is the product of collaboration, a cornerstone of Snoop’s success, produced by Dr. Dre and featuring artists like Warren G and Nate Dogg, later of the “Regulate” crew, on “Ain’t No Fun.”

“Doggystyle” didn’t just make Snoop a star—it reshaped the sound and influenced a generation of artists. Nearly three decades later, it’s still Snoop’s crowning achievement and a reminder of his undeniable talent.

Now, as Snoop gears up to release “Missionary,” his first Dr. Dre-produced album since “Doggystyle,” we might just be on the verge of another cultural moment. Will history repeat itself? With Snoop, you never really know—but one thing’s for sure: the Doggfather isn’t slowing down anytime soon.