Daz Dillinger – “Rowtation” review

This is the 23rd solo LP & 3rd of 2025 from Long Beach, California rapper, producer & songwriter Daz Dillinger. Some of his cousins include Brandy & her brother Ray J, WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg & the current AEW tbs Champion, CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon, RPW British Women’s Champion and the new ROH Women’s World Television Champion Mercedes Moné. He eventually signed to Death Row Records & became an original in-house producer under the guidance of it’s co-founder Dr. Dre, forming Tha Dogg Pound with Kurupt not too long afterwards. Daz finally made his solo debut on ‘98 by putting out Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back on Death Row until departing rather quickly to put out 20 more albums of his own with almost 3 decades of experience in the game. Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2 took it back to the essence of his debut earlier this summer and Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 3 a couple months ago found some clarity regarding his complicated history with Tha Row. In preparation for Kurupt’s upcoming 7th album said to be fully produced by DJ Battlecat though, Dilly’s gonna make sure the west coast keeps him in Rowtation.

After the intro, “I’m Daz Dillinger” begins by properly reintroducing himself over a self-produced g-funk beat whereas “I’m a Dogg from Tha Dogg Pound” keeps that same vibe talking about coming up from the underground. The only single “DPGC” dabbles with trap maintaining the lowest prices ever when he touches the plug while “Indictment” soulfully looks for the line between the truth & divinity.

“Snitches” nears closer towards the end of Rowtation’s first half expressing his disdain for rats leading into “Fresh Outta Jail” talking about changing his fate now that he’s home from the penitentiary teaching the young shooters how to move right. “BangBang” once again takes the trap route instrumentally to spit that gangsta shit although I personally don’t care for the auto-tuned hook just before “Smokin’ on the Best” talks about the type of weed he stays puffin’.

As for “The Streets Will Miss You”, we have Daz reminiscing over a big homie of his who passed away while “When a Gangsta Loves a Woman” talks a out knowing when a G is lovestruck. “Superstition” fuses soul & g-funk speaking of chasing shadows regularly while “West Coast Legend” talks about his legacy over some synthesizers & hi-hats. The title track happens to be the actual song excluding the outro assuring that both coasts been known the deal with him.

Confirming in a recent interview with Da Inphamus Amadeuz that he’s no longer signed to Death Row as a solo artist because of him & Snoop getting into a catalog dispute, Daz Dillinger gears up to fully produce The LOX’s upcoming 5th full-length set to drop in 2026 by taking a more introspective approach conceptually for Rowtation exemplified with the inclusion of some of his family members throughout only hours following Mark Briscoe ending Kyle Fletcher’s reign as AEW TNT Champion & of course FTR defeating Brodido to become record 3-time AEW World Tag Team Champions & Samoa Joe becoming a 2-time AEW World Champion at Full Gear VII.

Score: 4/5

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Daz Dillinger – “Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 3” review

Long Beach, California rapper, producer & songwriter Daz Dillinger releasing his 22nd solo LP. Some of his cousins include Brandy & her brother Ray J, WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg & the current AEW tbs Champion, CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon and RPW British Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné. He eventually signed to Death Row Records & became an original in-house producer under the guidance of its co-founder Dr. Dre, forming Tha Dogg Pound with Kurupt not too long afterwards. Daz finally made his solo debut on ‘98 by putting out Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back on Death Row until departing rather quickly to put out 20 more LPs of his own with almost 3 decades of experience in the game. Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2 took it back to the essence of his debut earlier this summer & is looking to recapture that feeling once more.

“It’s Automatic” starts with a hybrid between trap, rap rock & gangsta rap talking about staying strapped wherever he goes whereas “We Shoot Bacc” continues to portray the gangsta lifestyle assuring he’ll ship the bullets right back to it’s original sender. “Initiation” welcomes all to a battlefield where loyalty is law & love is weakness prior to “B4 I Let Go” throws it back to the g-funk era talking about having the west behind him.

The gospel direction of “Better Get It Right” suits the theme of having to keep one’s composure & offering a slice of a man who’s lost it all while “Glock 19z & Caskets” gives off a vintage west coast vibe talking about keeping his Glock on him until he gets buried 6 feet day. “It’s a Murder Rap” finds himself ready to go complete 187 on the whole rap game leading into “Kidnap, Robbery & Homicide” breaking down criminal activity over a g-funk instrumental.

“I Can’t Fucc wit U” begins the 2nd half of the album with a shot at all these suckas who did it for the paper having the nerve of snitching on each other while “What U Really Want” talking about the people asking for something not getting shit outta him. “Get Money on a Bad Day” optimistically speaks of making a paycheck regardless of how his day’s going while “In My 64” serves as an ode to his impala.

The song “Fucc Y’all” packs up Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 3’s final leg with him giving a middle finger to the haters who don’t want him to shine & after the Beefy Loc skit, “We Gangsta” properly finishes up the RR&GB trilogy with a g-funk/gangsta rap outro talking making causing static on every block because of the environment he came from where the shots were always ringing loud.

Contrary to the reports a couple weeks ago claiming Daz Dillinger had fallen out with Snoop Dogg & that this was gonna be a whole project dissing him, he has since confirmed a couple days ago that isn’t the case & clarified his issues lie more with Death Row Records’ past when Suge Knight was at the helm of things & his own complicated history with the label instead of Snoop himself. Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 3 feels more aggressive than Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2 was a few months earlier with the exception of him looking for closure instead of conflict.

Score: 4/5

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Daz Dillinger – “Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2” review

Daz Dillinger is a 52 year old rapper, producer & songwriter from Long Beach, California who happens to be the cousin of Brandy, her brother Ray J, WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg & the current AEW tbs Champion and RPW British Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné set to face set to face the current CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon Zeuxis at Grand Slam VI at Arena México this upcoming Wednesday & the current 4-time AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm at All In IV at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas next month. He eventually signed to Death Row Records & became an original in-house producer under the guidance of its co-founder Dr. Dre, forming Tha Dogg Pound with Kurupt not too long afterwards. Daz finally made his solo debut on ‘98 by putting out Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back on Death Row until departing rather quickly to put out 19 more LPs of his own with almost 3 decades of experience in the game. We just had the Dogg Pound Gangstaz make a return to form with W.A.W.G. (We All We Got) under Tha Row last spring & his 21st album looks to take it back to the essence of his own debut.

After the “Level 4 Yard Bizniz” intro, the first song “Death Row N’Matez” by Tha Dogg Pound featuring RBX & Soopafly was a funky west coast hardcore hip hop intro with all 4 of them justifiably showing off their status as O.G.s of The Untouchable west coast label whereas the soulful “Calculate the Time” talks about the chosen few who’re simply too cold. “West Coast is the Best Coast” boastfully represents the sunshine state to the fullest since hip hop’s a habit to him & after the “Get Down You Clown” interlude, “Set Trippin’” advises that those who ain’t from the same block as him to watch their step.

“Retaliation & Revenge” apocalyptically suggests you better not come around his parts or the city anymore bringing images of gang violence to life so he can back up the warning message he’s sending out just before “Get Bacc” lets y’all know the exact moment the guns start to blow reaffirming he’s always been with the gang life then, now & forever. “Start Bacc Bangin’” featuring a verse from the late Big Skye finds the 2 linking up for a modernized g-funk vibe flexing their Crip ties, but then “We Came to Play” featuring B-Legit goes for a traditional g-funk approach to dedicate itself to the playas.

Lil’ C-Style formerly of the LBC Crew joins Diggity Daz for “Switchin’ Lanez” working in more synthesizers so they can fondly recall the people in their lives who gave them a sack simply because they knew how hard both of them were hustlin’ until getting signed back in the day while “Like a Movie” by Tha Dogg Pound takes the trap route a little asking if you’re ready to do & comparing the way they live to a theatrical film. “Destiny” samples The Jackson 5 single of the same name standing tall because he was born for it while “On the Dead Homies” puts it all on the people in his life who aren’t with us today.

“The Reason” was a cloudy g-funk crossover breaking down why he’s been grinding with a purpose all this time while “Ask the Homie Daz” pulls from trap music again instrumentally to tell anyone who got questions for him to take them to someone else due to him having nothing for ya. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” dives into g-funk turf once again talking about the gangsta lifestyle he lived during his younger days & “Mentally Crazy” finishes Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2 with a powerful reflection on mental health explaining the stigma around that touchy subject makes it hard to reach out for help when it absolutely does.

It’s no secret a vast majority of Daz’ solo material since DPGC: U Know What I’m Throwin’ Up has been either received positively such as the So So Def Recordings-backed So So Gangsta & Dazamataz or left west coast heads divided in Matter of Dayz’ case. Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2 on the contrary makes for a worthy sequel to the album he broke out as a solo act with. His production takes cues from the west coast’s past & present, enlisting a more consistent guest list than The Adventures of Dilly tha Dogg exactly 6 months ago who perform on his same level rather than constantly being subpar.

Score: 4/5

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