Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told

Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told is the third studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released by No Limit Records on August 4, 1998 in the United States. It is his first album following his departure from Death Row Records in early 1998. It was also his first album to be released under a slight change to his stage name "Snoop Dogg" for contractual reasons.

Da Game Is to Be Sold,
Not to Be Told
Studio album by
Snoop Dogg
ReleasedAugust 4, 1998
Recorded1997–98
GenreHip hop[1]
Length79:28
Label
Producer
Snoop Dogg chronology
Tha Doggfather
(1996)		 Da Game Is to Be Sold,
Not to Be Told
(1998)		 No Limit Top Dogg
(1999)
Singles from Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told
  1. "Still a G Thang"
    Released: July 3, 1998
  2. "Woof"
    Released: October 26, 1998

Background

In September 1996, shortly before the release of Snoop's second album Tha Doggfather, his friend and label-mate at Death Row Records, Tupac Shakur, was murdered in a drive-by shooting that many fans and other rappers believed to be a part of rising tensions between the East and West Coast hip hop scenes.

In March 1997, noted East Coast rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who was popularly known as "Biggie", was also murdered in a drive-by shooting which was also attributed by fans to the tensions between the coastal hip hop scenes.

Snoop Dogg began to fear for his own safety due to the murders of Tupac and Biggie and also because Death Row Records was acknowledged by its artists in retrospect to be an unprofessional place during this time, with label founder Suge Knight incarcerated and many people with criminal pasts associated with the label.

In 1997, No Limit rapper Mystikal invited Snoop to be on his record Unpredictable on a song called "Gangstas" with label head Master P.

Snoop developed a good relationship with the No Limit rappers and after another guest appearance on No Limit artist Silkk the Shocker's LP, Snoop was reported to have been signed to No Limit by Master P in March 1998.[2] Snoop said at the time that: "Snoop Dogg is universal so he can fit into any camp-especially a camp that knows how to handmake shit[;] [a]nd, No Limit hand makes material. They make material fittin' to the artist and they know what type of shit Snoop Dogg is supposed to be on. That's why it's so tight." [sic][3]

Singles

The lead single "Still a G Thang" was released on July 3, 1998, it was produced by Meech Wells. It is the sequel to the 1992 hit single "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", which appears on Dr. Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic (1992). The song debuted at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking first Hot 100 entry as lead artist by Snoop since "Gin and Juice, in 1994. The song peaked at number 19 on the chart.

The second single "Woof" featuring Mystikal and Fiend peaked at number 62 on Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
E! OnlineB+[5]
Entertainment WeeklyC[6]
FFWD[7]
Iowa State Daily[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
Robert ChristgauC+[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
The Source[12]
Spin5/10[13]

The album featured mostly No Limit artists and was a departure from Snoop Dogg's first two albums which were strictly West Coast. Unlike his two previous two studio albums, Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told received generally negative to moderate reviews. Q gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying "Dogg's vocals can actually verge on the sublime....in glorious slow motion, and the undercurrent vibe is distinctly soulful."[14]

The Source gave it 3.5 Mics out of 5, saying "[f]ew MCs from the West have ever gotten as much acceptance and acclaim from outside regions… No Limit's latest soldier isn't trying to rock the boat with his third album… the vibrant vocalist is very happy to be with rap's top squad."[12]

Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone gave the album 2 out of 5 stars, saying that Snoop's work lacked the confidence and originality displayed on his earlier albums.[11]

Commercial performance

Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told debuted at number-one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 520,000 copies in its first week.[15] It serves as Snoop Dogg's third consecutive number-one album in the United States.[16] In its second week, the album remained at top on the Billboard 200, selling 246,000 copies.[17] The album spent five consecutive weeks on the top-ten of the Billboard 200.[18] On November 18,1998, the album had sold 3.7 million copies in the United States, ranking as the 39th best-selling album of the year.[19] As of March 2008, the album sales 4.4 million copies in the United States, marking the Second best-selling album by Snoop Dogg's in the country, behind only Doggystyle (1993) and over 5.1 million sold worldwide.[20]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Snoop World" (featuring Master P)C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. LawsonKLC5:20
2."Slow Down" (featuring Mia X)C. Broadus, M. Young, O. Vickers, A. Thomas, J. Eugene, C. McIntosh, S. NicholO'Dell4:10
3."Woof!" (featuring Fiend and Mystikal)C. Broadus, R. Jones, M. Tyler, C. Miller, V. Miller, M. Phipps, J. Tapp, Awood Johnson, E. Knight, C. Smith, C. Bazile, P. Miller, W. Collins, G. Clinton Jr.Craig B, Master P4:22
4."Gin & Juice II"C. Broadus, C. StephensCarlos Stephens3:36
5."Show Me Love"C. Broadus, C. Wilson, M. JordanDJ Pooh3:53
6."Hustle & Ball"C. Broadus, O. VickersO'Dell3:26
7."Don't Let Go"C. Broadus, D. AndersonDJ Darryl3:47
8."Tru Tank Doggs" (featuring Mystikal)C. Broadus, M. Tyler, C.S. LawsonKLC3:55
9."Whatcha Gon Do?" (featuring Master P)C. Broadus, P. MillerMaster P2:37
10."Still a G Thang"C. Broadus, M. WellsMeech Wells, Master P4:20
11."20 Dollars to My Name" (featuring Fiend, Master P, Silkk the Shocker and Soulja Slim)C. Broadus, R. Jones, P. Miller, V. Miller, J. TappMaster P4:09
12."D.O.G.'s Get Lonely 2" (featuring Jon B)C. Broadus, T. Kelley, B. Robinson, J.D. Buck, M. WellsMeech Wells, Snoop Dogg3:15
13."Ain't Nut'in Personal" (featuring C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker)C. Broadus, C. Miller, A. Sausa, V. Miller, C. BazileCraig B3:37
14."DP Gangsta" (featuring C-Murder and Eddie Griffin)C. Broadus, C. Miller, E. Griffin, C. Bazile, S. Arrington, L. Bonner, C.C. Carter, B. Hank, O. Jackson, R. Middlebrooks, W. Morrison, B. Napier, A. Noland, R. Parker, L. Patterson, M. Pierce, G. Webster, E. Wright, A. YoungCraig B4:53
15."Game of Life" (featuring Steady Mobb'n)C. Broadus, A. Sausa, C. StephensCarlos Stephens3:52
16."See Ya When I Get There" (featuring C-Murder and Mystikal)C. Broadus, C. Miller, M. Tyler, K. Clizark, M. WellsMeech Wells3:20
17."Pay for Pussy" (featuring Big Pimpin')C. Broadus, D. WilliamsSnoop Dogg1:43
18."Picture This" (featuring Mia X)C. Broadus, M. Young, C. BazileCraig B2:31
19."Doggz Gonna Get Ya" (featuring Mac)C. Broadus, M. Phipps, C.S. Lawson, A. Colandreo, L. ParkerKLC4:59
20."Hoes, Money & Clout"C. Broadus, P. BrooksSoopafly3:21
21."Get Bout It & Rowdy" (featuring Master P)C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. LawsonKLC4:22
Total length:79:28

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[36] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[38] 4× Platinum 4,400,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

Notes
  1. Kiah Fields (August 4, 2016). "TODAY IN HIP HOP HISTORY: SNOOP DOGG RELEASES 'DA GAME IS TO BE SOLD, NOT TO BE TOLD' 18 YEARS AGO". The Source. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  2. Strauss, Neil (March 14, 1998). "Label Reports Signing Snoop Doggy Dogg". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  3. "Snoop Dogg". web.archive.org. October 7, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Snoop Dogg: The Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  5. "E! Online review". Archived from the original on December 27, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
  6. Sinclair, Tom (August 14, 1998). "Music Review: 'Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told' Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  7. Litorco, Frank (July 30, 1998). "Snoop Dogg: The Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told". Fast Forward Weekly (Vol. 3 #31). Calgary: Great West Newspapers. ISSN 1914-3125. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  8. "Solo-Zombie Screams from the Bowels of Hell". Iowa State Daily. Ames: Iowa State University. September 9, 1998. OCLC 232117907.
  9. Weingarten, Marc (August 1, 1998). "Snoop Dogg Retains His Bite". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  10. Christgau, Robert. "Snoop Dogg". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  11. DeCurtis, Anthony (October 14, 1998). "Snoop Dogg: Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow (RS 795). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007.
  12. "Review of Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, by Snoop Dogg". The Source. New York: 239. September 1998. ISSN 1063-2085. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  13. Christgau, Robert (November 1998). "Snoop Dogg: Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Spin. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  14. "Review of Da Game is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, by Snoop Dogg". Q. Bauer Media Group: 130. December 1999. ISSN 0955-4955. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  15. Boehlert, Eric (August 12, 1998). "Da Chart Game Is Won". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  16. "Billboard magazine - August 22, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  17. Boehlert, Eric (August 20, 1998). "Snoop, Armageddon Dominate Again". Rolling Stone; Music News. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  18. "Billboard 200: Week of September 19, 1998". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  19. "Billboard magazine - January 30, 1999". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  20. "Billboard Magazine Match 1, 2008 - pág 25". Prometheus Global Media. Billboard. p. 25. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  21. "Australiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  22. "Austriancharts.at – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in German). Hung Medien.
  23. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  24. "Lescharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  25. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  26. "Charts.nz – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  27. "Dutchcharts.nl – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  28. "Swedishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  29. "Swisscharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  30. 15, 1998/7502/ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  31. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-albums-chart/19980809/115
  32. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  33. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  34. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  35. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  36. "Canadian album certifications – Snoop Dogg – The Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Music Canada.
  37. "British album certifications – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2013. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  38. "American album certifications – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

References
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