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 (his first without Doggy in the middle of his name). It was released on August 4, 1998, by No Limit Records and Priority Records. It is his first album following his departure from Death Row Records in January 1998. It is the first Snoop Dogg album to have notable affiliates such as Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Warren G and others absent. 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
Released	August 4, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Genre	West Coast hip hop gangsta rap[1] G-funk
Length	79:28
Label	No Limit Priority
Producer	Master P (exec.) Beats by the Pound DJ Pooh Meech Wells Snoop Dogg Keith Clizark Soopafly
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
"Still a G Thang" Released: August 18, 1998 "Woof" Released: October 26, 1998 "Slow Down" Released: December 14, 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., popularly known as "Biggie Smalls", was also murdered in a drive-by shooting which was 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 Dogg is universal so he can fit into any camp-especially a camp that knows how to handmake shit," Snoop said at the time. "And, 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."^[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 the 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 the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
E! Online	B+[5]
Entertainment Weekly	C[6]
FFWD	[7]
Iowa State Daily	[8]
Los Angeles Times	[9]
Robert Christgau	C+[10]
Rolling Stone	[11]
The Source	[12]
Spin	5/10[13]

The album featured mostly No Limit artists and was a departure from Snoop Dogg's first two albums which were strictly West Coast.^[specify] Unlike his two previous two studio albums, Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told received generally negative to moderate reviews with some noting it as one Snoop Dogg’s weaker albums.^[14] 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."^[15]

Elliott Wilson of 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]

Music aggregator site Album Of The Year gives "Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told" an average critic score of 42 out of 100, ultimately placing it as the lowest critic-rated album of 1998 on the site.^[16][17]

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.^[18] It is Snoop Dogg's third consecutive number-one album in the United States.^[19] In its second week, the album remained at top on the Billboard 200, selling 246,000 copies.^[20] The album spent five consecutive weeks on the top ten of the Billboard 200.^[21] The album was certified 2× Platinum on October 22, 1998.^[22] On November 18, 1998, the album had sold 2.5 million copies in the United States, ranking as the 39th best-selling album of the year.^[23] As of March 2008, the album had sold over 4.4 million copies in the United States, making it the second best-selling album by Snoop Dogg in the country, behind only Doggystyle (1993).^[24]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Snoop World" (featuring Master P)	C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. Lawson	KLC	5:20
2.	"Slow Down" (featuring Mia X)	C. Broadus, M. Young, O. Vickers, A. Thomas, J. Eugene, C. McIntosh, S. Nichol	O'Dell	4:10
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 P	4:22
4.	"Gin & Juice II"	C. Broadus	Carlos Stephens	3:36
5.	"Show Me Love"	C. Broadus, C. Wilson, M. Jordan	DJ Pooh	3:53
6.	"Hustle & Ball"	C. Broadus	O'Dell	3:26
7.	"Don't Let Go"	C. Broadus	DJ Darryl	3:47
8.	"Tru Tank Dogs" (featuring Mystikal)	C. Broadus, M. Tyler, C.S. Lawson	KLC	3:55
9.	"Whatcha Gon Do?" (featuring Master P)	C. Broadus, P. Miller	Master P	2:37
10.	"Still a G Thang"	C. Broadus	Meech Wells	4:20
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. Tapp	Master P	4:09
12.	"D.O.G.'s Get Lonely 2" (featuring Jon B)	C. Broadus, T. Kelley, B. Robinson, J.D. Buck, M. Wells	Meech Wells, Snoop Dogg	3:15
13.	"Ain't Nut'in Personal" (featuring C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker)	C. Broadus, C. Miller, A. Sausa, V. Miller, C. Bazile	Craig B	3:37
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. Young	Craig B	4:53
15.	"Game of Life" (featuring Steady Mobb'n)	C. Broadus, A. Sausa, C. Stephens	Carlos Stephens	3:52
16.	"See Ya When I Get There" (featuring C-Murder and Mystikal)	C. Broadus, C. Miller, M. Tyler, K. Clizark, M. Wells	Meech Wells, Keith Clizark	3:20
17.	"Pay for Pussy" (featuring Big Pimpin')	C. Broadus, D. Williams	Snoop Dogg	1:43
18.	"Picture This" (featuring Mia X)	C. Broadus, M. Young, C. Bazile	Craig B	2:31
19.	"Doggz Gonna Get Ya" (featuring Mac)	C. Broadus, M. Phipps, C.S. Lawson, A. Colandreo, L. Parker	KLC	4:59
20.	"Hoes, Money & Clout"	C. Broadus	Soopafly	3:21
21.	"Get Bout It & Rowdy" (featuring Master P)	C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. Lawson	KLC	4:22
Total length:				79:28

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 14 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 34 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[27] 4 Canadian R&B Albums (SoundScan)[28] 1 French Albums (SNEP)[29] 44 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 24 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[31] 11 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[32] 39 Scottish Albums (OCC)[33] 75 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 34 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 50 UK Albums (OCC)[36] 28 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[37] 4 US Billboard 200[38] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[39] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position US Billboard 200[40] 42 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[41] 12

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[42]	Platinum	100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43]	Silver	60,000^
United States (RIAA)[22]	2× Platinum	2,085,000[24]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• Number-one albums of 1998 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B albums of 1998 (U.S.)

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". October 7, 1999. Archived from the original on 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). "Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
7. Litorco, Frank (July 30, 1998). "Snoop Dogg: The Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told". Fast Forward Weekly. Vol. 3, no. 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. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
9. Weingarten, Marc (August 1, 1998). "Snoop Dogg Retains His Bite". Los Angeles Times. 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. No. RS 795. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007.
12. Wilson, Elliott (September 1998). "Review of Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, by Snoop Dogg". The Source. No. 108. New York. pp. 239–240. ISSN 1063-2085.
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. Anderson, Kyle. "Snoop Dogg's albums, ranked". EW.com.
15. "Review of Da Game is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, by Snoop Dogg". Q. Bauer Media Group. December 1999. p. 130. ISSN 0955-4955. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
16. "Snoop Dogg - Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told - Reviews - Album of The Year".
17. "The Best Albums of 1998 | Page 5 - Album of The Year".
18. Boehlert, Eric (August 12, 1998). "Da Chart Game Is Won". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
19. "Billboard magazine - August 22, 1998". Billboard. August 22, 1998. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
20. Boehlert, Eric (August 20, 1998). "Snoop, Armageddon Dominate Again". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
21. "Billboard 200: Week of September 19, 1998". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
22. "American album certifications – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
23. "Billboard magazine - January 30, 1999". Billboard. January 30, 1999. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
24. "Billboard Magazine Match 1, 2008 - pág 25". Prometheus Global Media. Billboard. p. 25. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
25. "Australiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
26. "Austriancharts.at – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in German). Hung Medien.
27. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
28. "Top 10 R&B Albums". The Gazette. August 13, 1998. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Lescharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
31. "Charts.nz – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
32. "Dutchcharts.nl – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
33. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
34. "Swedishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
35. "Swisscharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
36. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
37. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
38. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
39. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
40. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
41. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
42. "Canadian album certifications – Snoop Dogg – The Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Music Canada.
43. "British album certifications – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2013.

References

• Music Video Database Archived June 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
• Top 40 Charts
• Clipland
• Weekly Wire review
• Launch review
• Slumz of Boxden