Snoop's Upside Ya Head Explained

Snoop's Upside Ya Head
Cover:Upsidehead.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Snoop Doggy Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson
Album:Tha Doggfather
Recorded:1996
Genre:G-funk
Length:
  • 4:28 (album version)
  • 5:17 (video)
Label:
Producer:DJ Pooh
Chronology:Snoop Doggy Dogg
Prev Title:2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:Never Leave Me Alone
Next Year:1996

"Snoop's Upside Ya Head" is a song by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, released as the first single from his second album, Tha Doggfather (1996). The song heavily samples "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops)" by the Gap Band and features new vocals from Gap Band's lead singer Charlie Wilson. It was released as a single by Death Row, Interscope and MCA in the UK on September 14, 1996 and was Snoop's second European hit. The single was released one day after Death Row labelmate Tupac Shakur died from injuries sustained in a drive by shooting the week prior.

Critical reception

Everett True from Melody Maker wrote in his review of the single, "Slick, smooth and sinuous cover of The Gap Band. Lacks bite."[1]

Music video

In the accompanying music video for "Snoop's Upside Ya Head", an imaginary execution takes place where Snoop Doggy Dogg manages to escape from the electric chair (It refers to the end of Snoop's real life murder trial by verdict of not guilty). After that protesters are outside some with signs stating "we love you Snoop" and others stating "fry 'em". Later Snoop saves a news reporter and drives away in his car and manages to escape the cops briefly. Apparently the news reporter helped Snoop escape as shown briefly in the music video.

Later he performs in an outdoor concert for his awaiting fans and in the progress gets arrested by the cops and is put back in jail. While in jail he performs again for the inmates later showing Snoop in 2021; still an inmate rocking the jail. It stars Vincent Schiavelli as the prison governor, Wilson as the prison guard, and Uncle Junebug as the old Snoop in prison. DJ Pooh makes a cameo appearance as a DJ in the prison. The music video was released in November 1996.

Track listing

A1. "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (Album Version) (featuring Charlie Wilson) — 4:29

B1. "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (Radio Edit) (featuring Charlie Wilson) — 4:29

B2. "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (Instrumental) — 4:29

Charts

Chart performance for "Snoop's Upside Ya Head"!Chart (1996)!Peak
position
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[3]

Notes and References

  1. Everett. True. Singles. Melody Maker. December 7, 1996. 38. June 2, 2024. Everett True.
  2. Web site: Snoop Doggy Dogg* Featuring Charlie Wilson – Snoop's Upside Ya Head. Discogs. 1996 . November 8, 2015.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=5Q0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=snoop+dogg+billboard+chart&pg=PA20 Snoop Dogg Billboard chart