Snoop Dogg: Malice N Wonderland

Seen the advert for a mobile phone deal featuring free SkullCandy earphones? SkullCandy forms part of Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus's entrepreneurial empire, taking in cognac, a film and TV career, stewardship of the relaunched Priority label and, almost incidentally, rapping. His 10th album conjoins ye olde gangsta posturing (which Dogg had a hand in inventing) and R&B-buffed party tracks; guests include R Kelly and Lil Jon. It's largely effective, but packs few surprises. "Drop It Like It's Hot" (2004) was the last time Snoop sounded untouchable; his rematch with the Neptunes, "Special", finds all involved merely cruising.