Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told

Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told
Studio album by Snoop Dogg
Released	August 4, 1998
Recorded	1997–98
Genre	Southern hip hop West coast hip hop Gangsta rap G-funk
Length	76:03
Label	No Limit Priority
Producer	Master P (exec.) Beats By the Pound DJ Pooh DJ Darryl Meech Wells 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: July 3, 1998 "Woof" Released: October 26, 1998

Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told is the third studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released, by No Limit Records on August 4, 1998 in the United States. It is his first album following his departure from Death Row Records. It was also his first album to be released under a slight change to his stage name "Snoop Dogg" for contractual reasons.

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album charts selling over 520,000 copies in its first week,^[1] and remained on top for the second week also by selling additional 246,000 units according to Soundscan. It remained in the top ten for five weeks; thus it was quickly certified double platinum later that year. In terms of chart success it is one of his most successful containing the top 20 singles Still a G Thang and Woof which the former peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 while the latter peaked at number 18 on the Hot 100 as well.^[2]

As of March 2008, the album sales 3,985,360 copies in the United States.^[3]

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. It is generally considered by critics and fans as one of his worst albums. Unlike his two previous two studio albums, Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told received generally negative to moderate reviews. 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."^[14]

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]

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, O'Dell and Anita Thomas)	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. Bazile, P. Miller, G. Clinton Jr.	Craig B, Master P	4:22
4.	"Gin & Juice II"	C. Broadus, C. Stephens	Carlos Stephens	3:36
5.	"Show Me Love" (featuring Charlie Wilson)	C. Broadus, C. Wilson, M. Jordan	DJ Pooh	3:53
6.	"Hustle & Ball"	C. Broadus, O. Vickers	O'Dell	3:26
7.	"Don't Let Go"	C. Broadus, D. Anderson	DJ Darryl	3:47
8.	"Tru Tank Doggs" (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, M. Wells	Meech Wells, Master P	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, Silkk the Shocker and Crooked Eye)	C. Broadus, C. Miller, A. Sausa, V. Miller, C. Bazile	Craig B	3:37
14.	"Dogg Pound 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	Keith Clizark, Meech Wells	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, P. Brooks	Soopafly	3:21
21.	"Get Bout It & Rowdy" (featuring Master P)	C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. Lawson	KLC	4:22
Total length:				76:03

Chart performance

Singles

Title	Chart positions						Video Director
	US Hot 100	USA Singles Top 40	US R&B/Hip-Hop	US Rap	Radio & Records Airplay - Urban	Radio & Records Airplay - Rhythmic
"Slow Down" (I Can't Take The Heat)	21	-	32	4	-	-	Gerald K. Barclay
"Still a G Thang"	14	35	16	3	15	29	Michael Martin
"Woof!"	19	36	31	3	-	-	No Limit Films

• ^ ="Slow Down" was also released as a Mia X single "I Can't Take The Heat" on the B-side of her 12" EP Whatcha Wanna Do. Chart positions represent the EP's entries.
• ^ ="Woof" was also a part of the Who U Wit compilation by No Limit All Stars in 1999.

Album

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15]	14
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16]	34
Canadian Albums	4
French Albums (SNEP)[17]	44
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18]	24
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19]	11
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[20]	39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21]	34
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22]	50
UK Albums (OCC)[23]	28
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[24]	4
US Billboard 200[25]	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Billboard 200	42

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[27]	Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Silver	60,000^^
United States (RIAA)[29]	2× Platinum	3,985,000[3]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified 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. Boehlert, Eric (August 12, 1998). "Da Chart Game Is Won". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow). ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
2. Boehlert, Eric (August 20, 1998). "Snoop, Armageddon Dominate Again". Rolling Stone; Music News (Straight Arrow). ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
3. "Billboard Magazine Match 1, 2008 - pág 25". Prometheus Global Media. Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
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
6. Sinclair, Tom (August 14, 1998). "Music Review: 'Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told' Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
7. Litorco, Frank (July 30, 1998). "Snoop Dogg: The Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told". Fast Forward Weekly (Vol. 3 #31) (Calgary: Great West Newspapers). ISSN 1914-3125. 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.
9. Weingarten, Marc (August 1, 1998). "Snoop Dogg Retains His Bite". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). 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 (Straight Arrow) (RS 795). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007.
12. "Review of Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, by Snoop Dogg". The Source (New York): 239. September 1998. ISSN 1063-2085. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
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. "Review of Da Game is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, by Snoop Dogg". Q (Bauer Media Group): 130. December 1999. ISSN 0955-4955. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
15. "Australiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in German). Hung Medien.
17. "Lescharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
18. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
19. "Charts.org.nz – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
21. "Swedishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
22. "Swisscharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
23. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
24. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-albums-chart/19980809/115
25. "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Snoop Dogg.
26. "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Snoop Dogg.
27. "Canadian album certifications – Snoop Dogg – The Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Music Canada.
28. "British album certifications – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2013. Enter Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
29. "American album certifications – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

References

• Chart Data
• Music Video Database
• Top 40 Charts
• Clipland
• Weekly Wire review
• Launch review
• Slumz of Boxden