LOS ANGELES (AP):
When it comes to music, there's one person in particular Snoop Dogg trusts enough to steer the ship without question: hit-making producer Dr. Dre.
Their bond, built over 30 years of brotherhood, began when Dr. Dre shaped Snoop's game-changing debut, Doggystyle, a cornerstone of hip-hop history. From young dreamers chasing stardom to legends cementing their legacies, the duo has always moved in sync.
Now, the dynamic pair reunites for Snoop's Missionary, his milestone 20th studio album, which releases Friday. In a music industry where lasting relationships are rare, their bond remains solid.
"We were just playing on our raw ability, and it worked ... But now you're dealing with professionals who are like perfectionists and skilled at what they do," Snoop said while smoking a blunt inside his dressing room trailer. The 15-track project features several big-name guest appearances, including Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty and Jhene Aiko.
Before the interview, the ultra-smooth entertainer had just wrapped up rehearsals for The Voice with British musician Sting, delivering a performance that aired this week on NBC. Both hit the stage on the competition series to perform Snoop's album single Another Part of Me, which was sampled from The Police's Message in a Bottle, a 1979 song that Sting wrote and sang as lead singer.
Sting quickly approved the sample for Another Part of Me, getting to know Snoop's personality during the superstar rapper's meteoric rise at the Paris Olympics this summer, despite never meeting him in person. Snoop carried the Olympic torch, captivated audiences as NBC's prime-time correspondent, swam with Michael Phelps, attended a U.S. women's soccer game with Megan Rapinoe, danced with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles and cheered on Caeleb Dressel alongside the swimmer's wife and son.
When Sting first heard the track, he was impressed by Snoop's vocal ability but found himself contemplating how he could contribute to the song.
"He asked me to sing a verse, which is difficult," said Sting, who met Snoop for the first time on The Voice set. "It's a different style from the one I normally sing. It's a very, very rapid rap style, which is kind of challenging for me. But I love a challenge. I played the guitar on the track, so I feel very much a part of it. I think it's going to be a hit."