Nineties gangsta rap has grown up and settled down. And now that the godfather (or rather, Doggfather) of the genre has a wife, kids and a mortgage, Snoop Dogg is presented with the challenge of making music that still resonates with the streets.

There are hits and misses on his tenth studio album. "Malice" starts off limp, with Snoop rapping over sparse beats. This is problematic, as flying unaccompanied has never been his strong suit. Fortunately, the production livens up a few tracks in and the record gains some much needed momentum.

He gets a boost of young energy from Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and The Dream, but the best moments are when Snoop's laid-back drawl is paired with an old school, soulful groove. He finds the mark on "Gangsta Luv," where he eschews his playboy past for a life as a committed married man (don't worry, he's still a player on nearly even other track) and on his R. Kelly collaboration "Pimpin Ain't EZ."

"Malice" is not Snoop's finest hour, but it shows that despite nearing 40, the Big Dogg still has a lot of life left in him.