Search - Tha Dogg Pound :: Cali Iz Active

2 1/2 stars - Actually, I'm not that surprised

E.J. Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 10/14/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Tha Dogg Pound - Cali Iz Active (KOCH, 2006)



And another entry in the long list of this year's disappointing albums from veterans is Tha Dogg Pound's Cali Iz Active. Kurupt and Daz still got that chemistry together, though; it's too bad that they're rapping like it's still 1992.



It's really a shame because in the 90's, Kurupt used to be really dope with his and Daz used to rhyme tight and produce tight jams. But on this album, Daz doesn't produce anything (which is already a one-star deduction) and his and Kurupt's rhymes are both uninspired. Overseer Snoop Dogg shows up a few times on here and though I can say the same about his deteriorated rhyme prowess, he steals the show from the Doggs. You can even look at the song titles and tell that this album would be unoriginal ("Sittin on 23z", "Keepin it Gangsta", etc.).



The saving graces on this album are productions by Battlecat (who is still severely underrated) and Soopafly (him too). Also, the Ice Cube-assisted "It's All Hood" adds some life to the party. "Fakina** H**s" featuring and produced by David Banner would also be good if the beat didn't sound like a rip-off of Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder".



If Cali is active, this album should not be proof. How did 2Pac say it? "All you old rappers tryin' to advance/It's all over now, take it like a man." -EJR"

A very mediocre record

Philip Y. | Israel | 09/21/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was expecting a lot from the new Dogg Pound album... I knew that they would never be able to go back to the greatness they showed on the classics "Dogg Food" or "Dillinger and Young Gotti", but I was hoping for a good album. With Snoop supervising and the group being on Koch I still had high hopes for Cali iz Active, especially after hearing the banging single "Calli Iz Active" and seing the video (the video is one for the books, a true classic)...

However after getting the album, I was very disspointed. First of all, again - no Daz production. Supafly produced 3 songs, and his beats were all very good. The Swizz Beats song ("Sittin' on 23z") is boring, useless and the beat sounds like at least 5 former Swizz Beatz' songs... Even Battlecat's beats (other than the title song) were nothing special. Two of the best beats were made by Down-South producers (David Banner on one of the best songs - "Stank A__ H__s" and Jazze Pha on "She likes that") and they do not really fit Dogg Pound's trademark West Coast style (although the group does a good job on both songs...

Anyway, the production is not horrible, it's not wack... But overall it's just not something you'll feel. The other problem is the rapping itself. I am sorry, but on most songs, Daz and Kurupt spit the same old uninspired lyrics. Oh - and another thing: this whole album is laid-back stuff. There isn't even one hard-sounding beat (other than the banging David Banners song, which is about sex anyway), no hard hitting gangsta lyrics... nothing like what we got on "dilliner and Young Gotti".

However, I still decided that I'd give the album a "good" rating. Since it's not wack. You can still listen to it and enjoy some of the song. But if this album shows that Cali Iz Active, then Cali, we have a problem. I really really hope Daz did better on his solo album (I think he will, because he worked on it for a long time and he did all the producing, along with JD).

If you are a Dogg Pound fan, you should get this album. But if you're just a fan of West Coast music, there are much better albums to get this year. Look through my former reviews and you'll see a few titles (the new albums by Celly Cel, Suga Free, MC Eiht...)"

Cali iz inactive

Nuisance | Miami | 01/10/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Dont get it twisted. I used to love Dogg Pound when they dropped their best work DOGG FOOD. But ever since then Kurupt changed his style around and Daz has been slacking on the production. The only standout tracks are CALI IZ ACTIVE and KEEP IT GANGSTA(featuring Lady Of Rage) where Lady of Rage delivers a verse that makes these female rappers we have out now sound like pigeons cooing. Its all hood(featuring Ice Cube) might have been a standout track if it wasnt for the weak beat and the even weaker rhymes coming from the Dogg Pound. Filler: Its craccin all night(who the f*** in their right mind makes a song with PeeDoody?)Heavyweights(more like lightweights), Slow your roll, Make that p***y pop, She likes that and the rest of this album. Bottom Line: One of the lowlights of 2006 without question. Bland production and sophomoric lyrics and pathetic guest appearances describe this album in a nutshell. Pick up the classic Dogg Food and stay away from this tragedy of an album."