Snoop's Upside Ya Head
Encyclopedia
"Snoop's Upside Ya Head" is the second European hit and the first single release of Snoop Doggy Dogg's 1996 sophomore album Tha Doggfather
. The song heavily samples "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops)" by the Gap Band
and features new vocals from Gap Band's lead singer Charlie Wilson
.Recorded after the imprisonment of Suge Knight
, it belongs to the second half of the album, which was fully produced by Snoop Doggy Dogg himself without supervision.
It is the reason it could happen that in the lyrics Snoop Doggy Dogg reveals that he was aware of Suge stealing him by keeping the major part of the profit benefited from Snoop Doggy Dogg's album sales. Despite what Snoop Doggy Dogg implies in the lyrics to the contrary, Doggystyle Records
existed only nominally, although the executive production work had much more involvement from Snoop Doggy Dogg, as he was left alone with many of these tasks. A music video for the song was released and has been included in Snoop Dogg's greatest hits album "Tha Dogg: Best of the Works
".
(It refers to the end of Snoop's real life murder trial by verdict of not guilty). After that protesters are outside some with signs stating "we love you Snoop" and others stating "fry 'em". Later Snoop saves a news reporter and drives away in his car and manages to escape the cops briefly. Apparently the news reporter helped Snoop escape as shown briefly in the music video.
Later he performs in an outdoor concert for his awaiting fans and in the progress gets arrested by the cops and is put back in jail. While in jail he performs again for the inmates later showing Snoop in 2021; still an inmate rocking the jail. It stars Vincent Schiavelli
as the prison governor, Wilson as the prison guard, and Uncle Junebug as the old Snoop in prison. DJ Pooh
makes a cameo appearance as a DJ in the prison.
. Both were top 10 hits in the U.S. unlike Snoop's Upside Ya Head which failed to rank in the U.S. Pop Charts. But managed to rank at #37 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Charts and become a top 20 hit in the U.K. Ranking in at #12 in the U.K., this at the time was Snoop Dogg's highest ranked song in the United Kingdom and remainded that way for about 8 years until Drop It Like It's Hot
was released (peaking at #10 in the U.K.).
One of the reasons why it could have been unranked was mainly do to the fact that pop
and hip hop
had burned itself out on gangsta rap. And also that by late 1996 Hip Hop had reverted back to the East Coast. With artists such as Jay-Z
, Nas
, and The Notorious B.I.G.
dominating the East Coast; this could also possibly explaining why Tupac's songs were also unranked at the time. Despite that Snoop's Upside Ya Head and other popular song of Snoop Dogg were included in the popular 2008 video game Rock Band 2
.
Tha Doggfather
Tha Doggfather is the second studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; released by Death Row/Interscope Records on November 12, 1996. The album was re-released July 11, 2005. Snoop spent much of 1995 preparing for the case, which finally went to trial in late 1995. In February 1996, he was...
. The song heavily samples "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops)" by the Gap Band
Gap Band
The Gap Band was an American funk band, who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. Comprising brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group shortened its name to The Gap Band...
and features new vocals from Gap Band's lead singer Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson (musician)
Charles Kent "Charlie" Wilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter-producer and the former lead vocalist for the Gap Band. As a solo artist he has been nominated for four Grammy awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005...
.Recorded after the imprisonment of Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
, it belongs to the second half of the album, which was fully produced by Snoop Doggy Dogg himself without supervision.
It is the reason it could happen that in the lyrics Snoop Doggy Dogg reveals that he was aware of Suge stealing him by keeping the major part of the profit benefited from Snoop Doggy Dogg's album sales. Despite what Snoop Doggy Dogg implies in the lyrics to the contrary, Doggystyle Records
Doggystyle Records
Doggy Style Records is a record label founded by Snoop Dogg in 1995.-History:...
existed only nominally, although the executive production work had much more involvement from Snoop Doggy Dogg, as he was left alone with many of these tasks. A music video for the song was released and has been included in Snoop Dogg's greatest hits album "Tha Dogg: Best of the Works
Tha Dogg: Best of the Works
Tha Dogg: Best of the Works is a greatest hits album by rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg, released by Death Row Records in 2003. According to its import code of Brasil AA3000 it was pressed for one shipment of 3000 in Brazil. No other sales data are known....
".
Music video
In the video an imaginary execution takes place where Snoop Doggy Dogg manages to escape from the electric chairElectric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
(It refers to the end of Snoop's real life murder trial by verdict of not guilty). After that protesters are outside some with signs stating "we love you Snoop" and others stating "fry 'em". Later Snoop saves a news reporter and drives away in his car and manages to escape the cops briefly. Apparently the news reporter helped Snoop escape as shown briefly in the music video.
Later he performs in an outdoor concert for his awaiting fans and in the progress gets arrested by the cops and is put back in jail. While in jail he performs again for the inmates later showing Snoop in 2021; still an inmate rocking the jail. It stars Vincent Schiavelli
Vincent Schiavelli
Vincent Andrew Schiavelli was an American character actor noted for his work on stage, screen, and television often described as "the man with the sad eyes." He was notable for his numerous and often critically acclaimed cameo appearances.-Early life:Schiavelli was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a...
as the prison governor, Wilson as the prison guard, and Uncle Junebug as the old Snoop in prison. DJ Pooh
DJ Pooh
DJ Pooh is an American record producer, rapper, screenwriter and film director.-Biography:...
makes a cameo appearance as a DJ in the prison.
Reception
Although it was a hit (especially in the U.K.) it was not a major hit like his previous songs What's My Name and Gin and JuiceGin and Juice
"Gin and Juice" is the second single by rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg from his debut album Doggystyle. A top 10 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at number eight, "Gin and Juice" was nominated for the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance...
. Both were top 10 hits in the U.S. unlike Snoop's Upside Ya Head which failed to rank in the U.S. Pop Charts. But managed to rank at #37 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Charts and become a top 20 hit in the U.K. Ranking in at #12 in the U.K., this at the time was Snoop Dogg's highest ranked song in the United Kingdom and remainded that way for about 8 years until Drop It Like It's Hot
Drop It Like It's Hot
"Drop It Like It's Hot" is a 2004 rap number-one hit single by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell. Snoop performs the chorus and the second and third verses , while Pharrell performs the first verse....
was released (peaking at #10 in the U.K.).
One of the reasons why it could have been unranked was mainly do to the fact that pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
had burned itself out on gangsta rap. And also that by late 1996 Hip Hop had reverted back to the East Coast. With artists such as Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, and The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
dominating the East Coast; this could also possibly explaining why Tupac's songs were also unranked at the time. Despite that Snoop's Upside Ya Head and other popular song of Snoop Dogg were included in the popular 2008 video game Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
.
Charts
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia Top 100 | 44 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 47 |
| UK Top 75 | 12 |
| US R&B Chart | 37 |