7 Days of Funk - 7 Days of Funk

People handle turning 40 in different ways. To some, hitting the big four-oh means an excuse to buy a flash car, a bottle of hair dye and an Elbow album; others, racked with worry and remorse in equal measure, retreat inward in the hope that no-one will notice time’s relentless march. For Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus, he’s dealt with middle-age in a characteristically brilliant but bonkers manner. He made a reggae record as Snoop Lion, recorded a country song with Willie Nelson, appeared on TV game shows dressed as the Count from Sesame Street and this year, he debuts a new alter ego, Snoopzilla.

Aided and abetted by multi-instrumentalist, studio wizard and founder of the famous Funkmosphere club Dam-Funk, 7 Days Of Funk marks the first time the rapper has worked exclusively with only one producer since his debut Doggystyle. The result is a fun but sometimes forgettable, Funkadelic-infused trip back in time to the days of his youth. Comprising seven tracks plus two bonus cuts, super smooth efforts like ‘Do My Thang’ and single ‘Faden Away’ are all steeped in that famous Bootsy Collins sound and awash with synths, keytars and starry-eyed grooves.

However, while 7 Days Of Funk succeeds as something of a palate cleanser for his ill-fated reggae album Reincarnated, there’s not nearly enough substance to back up the style. With only half an hour of music, the duo really needed to impress right from the start but tracks like the pedestrian ‘Hit Da Pavement’ and uniform funk of ‘Ride’ leave one feeling altogether unsatisfied. I’m looking forward to Big Snoop’s inevitable black metal album next. Kinda...