The album was first mentioned by Snoop on social media in late 2022.[2] Snoop Dogg confirmed that Missionary was in the works during an appearance on a Stephen A. Smith podcast, Know Mercy. "I'ma tell you this, you're the first one to hear this: me and Dr. Dre have been working on an album for the past two months," he revealed. He went on to claim "it'll be done in November." Snoop continued, explaining, "It's produced by Dr. Dre, it's our 30th anniversary to Doggystyle. And the name of the album is Missionary." When asked to share why they chose the name, Snoop simply told the host, "The first album was Doggystyle."[3]
During an interview with From the Desk of Lo published on August 27, 2023, rapper The D.O.C. revealed that the album sounds like the perfect balance between the old and new Death Row: "It sounds like what Snoop's next record would've been like on Death Row, that's what it sounds like."[4]
In January 2024, Snoop gave an update about the "masterful" new album: "When you hear what we have and how he got me rapping, it's like a grown Snoop Dogg. There's some growth to him. It's the way he selects his bars, it's the way he uses his voice. [Dr. Dre] uses me like a fucking robot and I love it because I love to be produced. I love to be challenged." He also praised Dre for using his voice "like an instrument".[5][6]
In February 2024, rapper and producer Erick Sermon said he has a "crazy" song on the album.[7]
On March 20, 2024, Snoop announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that Dr. Dre would begin mixing the album in mid-April. 50 Cent revealed he will be featured on the album.[8]
On August 13, 2024, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Dre mentioned that he is almost done mixing the album and it would either have 14 or 16 tracks, he was in the middle of mixing track 11 and he mentioned that he had to have it done and delivered by September 1st to have a November release date. He added that he would be featured on one track vocally on the finished album. He also revealed that Sting would have one of the features on the album alongside "an amazing roster of artists".[9] In an interview with Complex, Snoop and Dre confirmed the album is "definitely" going to be released "later this year before Christmas".[10] In a live interview with Drink Champs, Method Man revealed that he will be making an appearance on the album.[11]
During an interview at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles, Snoop Dogg continued to tease the project's star-studded supporting cast: "I got a feature from Jelly Roll and Sting. I'm so happy that me and Sting got a record that's so good."[12]
To promote the album, Epic Games hosted Remix: The Finale, serving as the end of Fortnite: Battle Royale’s Chapter 2 Remix. During the event, Snoop Dogg performed ‘Another Part of Me’.
Snoop Dogg performed one of his latest track from his album ("Thank You") at The Game Awards 2024 the day prior to his album release, while also presenting the award (Best Ongoing Game) with his son Cordell Broadus.[13]
Production
Snoop collaborated with fellow hitmaker Dr. Dre (pictured in 2008) on the album production.
The album was produced by Dr. Dre, who launched Snoop's career on the single "Deep Cover", in 1991 and produced the rapper's debut album, Doggystyle, in 1993.[14]
The album will be a return to the sound of the rapper's first albums, released in the early-mid 1990s.[2]
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight on August 13, 2024, Dre said "This one is going to show a different level of maturity with my music. I feel like this is some of the best music I've done in my career."[9]
Commercial performance
Early first week sales predictions for Missionary predicted the album would move 36,000 album-equivalent units, with 18,000 of that sum being pure album sales.[15][16][17] In the United States, Missionary debuted at number twenty on the Billboard 200 chart, moving 38,000 album-equivalent units (including 20,500 in pure album sales)—the album moved slightly more units than what was predicted.[18] This became Snoop Dogg's first album to chart in the top-twenty of the Billboard 200 since Bush (2015).
"Gangsta Pose" (featuring Dem Jointz, Stalone and Fat Money)
Young
Gallo
Myrie
Perry
Raybon
Jason Pounds
Henderson
Abernathy Jr.
Dr. Dre
J. LBS
Mell Beats
Dem Jointz
2:56
16.
"The Negotiator"
Young
V. Smith
Perry
Myrie
Anderson
Turnbull
Bouhairie
Carl Marshall
Robert Holmes
Abernathy Jr.
Dr. Dre
Sam Sneed
Turnbull
Bouhairie
Dem Jointz
2:22
Total length:
46:23
Sample credits
"Fore Play" contains an interpolation of "People Make the World Go Round", as written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, as performed by the Stylistics.
"Shangri-La" contains a sample of "Swahililand", as written and performed by Ahmad Jamal.
"Outta da Blue" contains samples of "Watermelon Fantasy", written by Mandy Priddice, Cedrick Letshou, Tina Bruins, Jack Daley and Oliver Price, as performed by Daylight Studio; "Saturday Night" as written and performed by Schoolly D; and "Scratchin", written by Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford, as performed by Magic Disco Machine, and interpolations from "Paper Planes", written by Maya Arulpragasam, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Joe Strummer and Wesley Pentz, as performed by M.I.A.; and "All Around the World", written by Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, as performed by Stansfield.
"Hard Knocks" contains a sample of "Mujer, Gracias por tu Llanto", written by Bernado Baraj, Carlos Mellino and Ricardo Lew, as performed by Alma y Vida, and an interpolation of "Another Brick in the Wall", written by Roger Waters, as performed by Pink Floyd.
"Pressure" contains samples of "Spider and Fly", as written and performed by Luchi De Jesus; and The Champ, written by Harry Palmer, as performed by the Mohawks.
"Skyscrapers" contains samples of "A Donde Quiera", written by Rafi Monclova, as performed by Marco Antonio Muñiz; and "Ain't Gonna Happen", written by Aram Schefrin and Michael Zager, as performed by Ten Wheel Drive.
"Fire" contains a sample of "Come My Love", as written and performed by Ihsan Al-Munzer.
"Sticcy Situation" contains a sample of "Don't Get Caught", written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, as performed by Mable John, and an interpolation of "Tom's Diner", as written and performed by Suzanne Vega.
"The Negotiator" contains a sample of "Can't Stop Loving You", written by Carl Marshall and Robert Holmes, as performed by Soul Dog.
