As you know, I rarely interview out-of-towners on FSD, since…this…is a Chicago site after all. But sometimes you have to make exceptions when heavy hitters come to the table. And when the Doggfather comes calling, it’s imperative that you answer. It was an honor and pleasure to be able to interview one of my favorite, and one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Tonight a Dogg named Snoop touches down in the Windy City for his Wonderland High Tour (November 4th – 7pm – Congress Theater) with Method Man, Redman and Devin The Dude.
Prior to his show tonight, I was able to do a quick Q&A with the West Coast vet. We talk Chicago, R. Kelly, Lupe Fiasco, his new album Malice In Wonderland, his days on No Limit, Detox – and the infamous picture with Dr. Dre and The Game that recently surfaced online. Bow wow!
So Snoop, welcome back to Chicago…What are your thoughts on the Windy City?
Love it! I always have a blast here. Shout out to Harold’s, R. Kelly, Lupe Fiasco and all the homies in the Chi!
What are some of your favorite things to do while you’re in town?
Go to Harold’s, get fresh with that Chi Town Gear. Check out the Bulls and White Sox – see the homies – Chicago is the shit!
From Lupe, to more frequently R. Kelly you seem to be down with some Chi artists. What is it about them?
You can’t deny talent. If they dope and Snoop Dogg stamped – I’m gonna make sure to get down with ya. I just saw the homie Lupe Fiasco a couple of days ago, actually.
What about the “Pimpin Ain’t Easy” record featuring Kells. Is that going to be featured on your Malice in Wonderland album? I heard it was produced by Dr. Dre. How’d that record come about?
It is on the album, but actually the homie Nottz produced it. Me and Kells – Pimpin’ aint easy – It’s a no brainer how that one came about, ya dig?
So speaking of Malice In Wonderland, the advance tracklisting (via Wikipedia) has some serious heavy hitters on board for it: Just Blaze, Timbaland, the Neptunes, Rihanna, Polow Da Don, etc. I know you’ve worked with a lot of these people before, but are you going for a new sound?
Actually (that tracklist is bogus). Other than the Neptunes, none of those people are on it. Danja, Nottz, The Dream, Soulja Boy, Scoop Deville, R. Kelly, Brandy, Pharrell, Problem, Terrace Martin, my nephew Nipsey Hussle, Jazmine Sullivan, Teddy Riley. I’ve got sum shit for you and I guarantee it’s gonna bang until the wheels fall off. Classic. Timeless. Great music.
Also on the advance tracklist I see that you have a song with Battlecat and Kokane. Will we be hearing more west coast influenced records from you on this release?
This is definitely a west coast banger and I’ve got more for you too. On December 8th you will be one of the first to hear how we bang. It has its Malice and its got its Wonderland. It’s Snoop Dogg! You’ve got to do it, Jack!
Will you return to working with West Coast producers like Meech, LT Hutton, Jelly Roll and others you worked with earlier in the decade?
I’m always open to working with them again. They’re dope and I get down with dope artists. It’s a no brainer.
What about the infamous picture of you, The Game and Dr. Dre in the studio supposedly working on Detox, that recently leaked to the internet. Any truth to that? What’s going on there?
It wasn’t photoshopped – let’s leave it at that. So just be on the lookout!
Are you going to be involved with Detox?
Is it Windy in Chicago???
It’s been 10 years since that “Chronic 2001” era, where you, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Xzibit and others really had a stronghold on the music scene. There were also many other major label West Coast acts. Why do you think the game shifted?
It didn’t shift, it just grew. Hip Hop needs to evolve, and always needs to grow. Look at rock, country, pop, they all grew. We all go through phases and music is no different. ATL is like the present day Motown of what Detroit was back in the day. Houston had it on lock in the summer of 2007. The Midwest had it on lock when Kanye came out last year. NYC always got Jay, 50, etc. It’s the battle for the #1 spot, and to have that spot you have to grow and evolve. You can’t keep the belt and be the champion when you’re doing the same dunk, or punch, or whatever. Ya feel me?!?
Any chance we could get an Up and Smoke Tour Part 2 in the future?
Like the rest of the world, we all wanna see that happen.
It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been 10 years since you left No Limit. That era seems so far-gone at this point. Do you ever talk to any of the guys from No Limit?
I see them here and there. Every time I’m down in Louisiana I run into those cats. They are the homies.
This might be an extremely obscure question for most, but I remember back at that time, you released a DVD entitled Smokefest 2, and it was a favorite among me and my buddies. You had a character throughout the video by the name of Big Jeffrey, who was absolutely Will Big Jeffrey ever resurface? Maybe for a 10 year anniversary?
Bigg Jeffrey comes and goes. He the big homie and a role model, though.
You’re gonna see him before you know it – he only comes out for special occasions. (Laughs)
Any plans to drop another album with Daz and Kurupt?
We’re always making music. DPGC aint going nowhere. We got sum hits for ya and Chi Town gonna see it tonight!
One of my favorite songs that some probably don’t or are too young to remember is “Beware of my Crew”, by the L.B.C. Crew. A short while back that project leaked, and it was far from finished – any chance we’ll ever be able to hear a mastered or full version of that?
Be on the lookout – you never know, jack
What about the upcoming Death Row album featuring some of your oldest original tracks? What are your thoughts on that?
You know how I feel about that shit. No point in wasting time talking about the shit. Its’ a new day and time! it’s 2009!Get with it or get rolled on!