Picture credited to: © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net
Last night at the beautiful Esquire Soho Apartments in NYC, me and an estimated 15 journalists sat down with the big homie Snoop himself and talked about everything from his 10th studio album, “Malice N Wonderland” to Big & Pac and of course his take on the media frenzied Tiger Woods drama. I can assure you there were laughs and quotes that only the big D- O- double G himself would be able to provide.
Snoop came in as cool, calm & collective as we’ve grown to love him as. He sat down with us in the living room of the Esquire penthouse suite as if he had invited us over for cock-tails; the atmosphere was very upscale yet homely. Immediately the interview began and he jumped right into discussing how his album process during “Doggystyle” differed from the process of his 10th studio album today, “Malice N Wonderland”. When speaking on “Doggystyle” he was quoted as saying, “I had no sense of direction; I just wanted to be an artist…. I just wanted to put smiles on people’s faces. I wanted to reflect 10yrs. from now and feel real good about it…That was my life that was all I knew”. I asked him what change led to the direction of “Malice N Wonderland” from hardcore gangsta rap (that was reported to be the main theme of the album originally) to the more light hearted music that felt good, his response was “My life. I’m not an evil person” he went on to saying that he wanted to make an edgy sound and still be able to find a zone, “people are going to like me regardless” he stated. When I asked him who were the artist that inspired him creatively the most over the years, his response was “Dr. Dre & Pharrell Williams”. He also took a left turn and stated that his most outrageous studio session was with none other Willy Nelson on 4/20 and how they were able to relate to each other’s music and it blew him away. When staying relevant in today’s times with the ever-so changing trends of Hip-Hop he went into saying that his children were a main force in the direction of music he went in and how he wanted to appeal to them, but yet still make music relatable to his older crowd that have been with him since day one.
We then shifted gears and turned onto the topic of the legendary greats Big & Pac. After asking where he thought they would be right now in their careers, he responded ,with the noticeable compassion in his heart, “I always think about where’d they’d be if they worked out their differences …and I do know and understand that A lot of MC’s would be mad” …”God controls everything….I wish that on nobody, I wish they would have worked out they differences, I was cool with both of them and I had love for both of them and we was friends right till the end.” He also touched base on how rappers such as Tupac and Ice Cube were great lyricists and story tellers, “if you pay attention to Ice Cube he told you everything that was going to happened before it happened”….”your pen is mightier than your sword”.. He added.
Touching onto the subject of current events, he was asked on how the internet was a tool for him to reach his audience, he said he loved connecting with his fans via twitter ( @SnoopDogg) and his UStream Channel , “The Wake & Bake Show”, “give them a dose of snoop dogg every time they look around” he said. He was asked on his take about rappers going to jail, where he commented on saying, “rappers going to jail is like athletes using steroids, it’s going to happen , it is what it is, they’re going to keep doing what they doing, nobody is going to learn until it happens to them……As you get older you understand that association by affiliation is important, you put the right people around you and that sort of thing won’t happen because theirs people that care about your best interest…just be a little slicker, be a little smarter….you got to know how to move..” In reference to the choices one makes. Staying onto the subject of current events he was then asked his opinion on the whole Tiger Woods fiasco, where of course in true Snoop Dogg fashion he answered “I just want to say that I’m down with Tiger Woods…I’m just disgusted with all these women that keep popping up, it’s like what do they think they’re going to get, points?……that’s despicable ……you whore(s)”, as the room erupted in laughter.
As the session was beginning to come to a close, we focused on his future agenda and asked what he had planned. He discussed that he was currently working on a mini movie that would go along with the Malice In Wonderland theme, where he would be playing a super hero named “Malice” who takes over Wonderland and brings happiness to all. He also stated that he recently received a call to work with Anita Baker and he was also working on re-releasing Eazy E- “Eazy Duz It” album as well as EMPD- “Strictly Business” album on Priority Records.
When asked about retirement he said, “I never contemplated retirement because I feel like musicians shouldn’t retire”…What does he see himself doing in 20 yrs? ” VEGAS………yeah real talk”, he said, as we all laughed. In my final question I asked him, if he were to gracefully bow out of the rap game tomorrow, who would he pass the torch to or feel they might have the potential to fill his shoes? He hesitated for a minute, then responding, “I don’t know that’s a lot”, followed by laughter. “I don’t know whoever want it come get it, it’s yours. I feel like whoever the next one is, is going to run with it and take it” and went on to say how Lil Wayne emerged to where he was today in terms of striving to be successful and having that business minded drive that he has. “You never know who could be the next” he said in closing. And in the last questions of the night he was asked, who would he like to work with that he has not been able to, and again of course in true Snoop Dogg fashion he said, “Mick Jagger…..cus the bitches love him!” as we all erupted in laughter yet again. Somehow I wouldn’t be surprised if that collab. was to actually come about…Lol…….“Malice N Wonderland”, is in stores now.
–Ruthie G
All pictures credited to: © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net