Various Artists – Altar Call

Various Artists
Altar Call
Death Row Records (release date: April 27, 2025)

By Robert M. Marovich

Don’t let the Death Row imprint stop you cold.

Like his 2018 compilation Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg’s new Death Row production, Altar Call, is the genuine article. It’s a various artists gospel music compilation dedicated to Snoop’s mother, Beverly Tate, a longtime choir director who served at Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church and who passed away in 2021.

Chock full of mother tributes and church mother wit, Altar Call features a mix of churchy tracks as well as contemporary gospel, urban inspirational, and Christian hip hop selections by veteran artists as well as newcomers.

Most of the songs and performances are solid. John P. Kee’s plaintive “Mother I Miss You” enters the estimable catalog of Mother songs that populate the gospel music canon. It’s right on time for Mother’s Day 2025. Snoop opens the aisle-romping “No Backsliding,” featuring Michael Bereal and the Death Row Mass Choir, with a directive straight from a mother’s mouth. He and the choir return later with another church rouser, “He Is God.” Meanwhile, actor Jamie Foxx covers the Bill Withers classic, “Grandma’s Hands,” in his smoky baritone. Curt Chambers’ plea for discipleship, “Ready Willing Able,” has gospel quartet in its DNA. Camille Grigby sings with an evangelist’s zeal on the worship song, “Call His Name.” The full-throated and energetic Death Row Mass Choir takes the spotlight on the tambourine-propelled “Help Me Jesus,” a track straight outta church. I do miss the Zion Messengers quartet that was featured on Bible of Love.

Others contributing to the compilation include Charlie Bereal (his falsetto is sublime), the silky-voiced JANE HANDCOCK, Laura Wilson Johnson, October London, and Mali Music, whose old-school hand-clapper “Never Failed Me Yet” sounds like it was recorded at a Primitive Baptist service. Snoop Dogg and his uncle Reo Varnardo join Charlie Bereal on the retro-sounding “Brand New.” Point 5ve’s summery “Good Day” is an affirmation to maintain a positive peace of mind. Smooth singing Flinstone’s closer, “Make Time,” which includes a brief and prayerful comment by Snoop, is a Donnie McClurkin-style plea to make time for the Heavenly Father, who makes time for everyone.

Considering more than a few of the secular artists, including Snoop himself, have church roots, everyone brings their A game to the project. Of the 21 tracks, only a couple are humdrum, making Altar Call one of the year’s best gospel albums thus far. It’s like turning on gospel radio on Sunday morning and letting it run.

Five of Five Stars

Picks: “Mother I Miss You,” “No Backsliding,” “Help Me Jesus,” “He Is God”