Snoop Dogg (What's My Name Pt. 2)

The song was released on June 27, 2000, as the lead single from Tha Last Meal, Snoop Dogg's first album after leaving No Limit Records and returning to Priority Records. The title directly references his 1993 debut single "What's My Name?", signaling a return to his earlier style. Timbaland, known for his innovative production, crafted a beat that interpolates the iconic bassline and strings from The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".¹ The single was released on CD and 12-inch vinyl, with a B-side featuring the track "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name Pt. 2)" (remix) and other album cuts.

Musically, the song blends G-funk with Timbaland's signature stuttering percussion and syncopated rhythms. The lyrics celebrate Snoop Dogg's persona and his return to prominence, with a chorus sung by Nate Dogg that repeats the title phrase. The song's production features a prominent sample of the Temptations' classic, giving it a nostalgic yet contemporary feel.² Critics noted the track as a highlight of the album, praising its groove and Snoop Dogg's laid-back delivery.

Commercially, the single performed moderately in the United States, peaking at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it fared better internationally, reaching the top 20 in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.³ The accompanying music video, directed by Paul Hunter, features Snoop Dogg in various Los Angeles locations, including a cameo by Timbaland. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who highlighted its production and Snoop Dogg's charisma.

One lesser-known fact is that the song's title was originally intended to be a direct sequel to "What's My Name?", but the "Pt. 2" was added to avoid confusion with the 1993 track. The single's B-side included a remix featuring rappers Kokane and Snoop Dogg's cousin Daz Dillinger, which was not included on the album.⁴ Additionally, the song's sample of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was not cleared initially, leading to a legal settlement with the Temptations' publishers. The track also appeared in the soundtrack of the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious, exposing it to a wider audience.⁵

G-funk

A subgenre of hip hop that emerged from West Coast rap in the early 1990s, characterized by slow, heavy basslines and melodic synthesizers.

Interpolation

In music, the use of a melody or portion of a recording in a new composition, often without directly sampling the original audio.