Snoop Dogg

Tupac Takes Coachella Stage Via Hologram With Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg

16 Apr 2012 07:54:39 EDT

The pair's historic set also included surprise guests Eminem, 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa.
By Mary J. DiMeglio

INDIO, California — Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg stunned Coachella's final night Sunday with a roster of guests way beyond what even the rumors could have predicted. Backed by a live band and unexpectedly artsy video screens, no less than Eminem, 50 Cent, Warren G and a hologram of Tupac graced the stage. As if that wasn't enough, Wiz Khalifa also joined the West Coast hip-hop legends for the anthem of the weekend, "Young, Wild and Free," which had the crowd singing the chorus in unison: "So what we get drunk/ So what we smoke weed/ We're just having fun/ We don't care who sees/ So what we go out/ That's how it's supposed to be/ Living young and wild and free." Kendrick Lamar — who performed an afternoon set on the main stage Friday — also joined the pair for "The Recipe," his new joint featuring Dre, who introduced him as "straight outta Compton." After their own "The Next Episode" and "Deep Cover (187 on an Undercover Cop)," Dre and Snoop covered House of Pain's "Jump Around." The hardest moment of the night came when 50 Cent stormed the stage for "What Up Gangsta" with Tony Yayo by his side, segueing into "P.I.M.P." with tropical calypso steel drums and his 2003 breakthrough hit, "In Da Club." Snoop paid homage to his late homey Nate Dogg, performing "Ain't No Fun" alongside Kurupt and Warren G as the screens displayed photos of Nate, Snoop and the rest of the Dogg Pound. The appearance of the late Tupac in very realistic hologram form, which was amazing to some and creepy to others, brought "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted." Eminem even came out for "I Need a Doctor," a dubstep-flavored "Forgot About Dre" and "Till I Collapse." Capping their historic set with "What's My Name?" and "Still D.R.E.," Dre and Snoop disappeared below the stage with the Good Doctor proclaiming to the adoring audience, "I wanna say thank you for the love for so many years." Sunday's surprise guests didn't stop there though, as Rihanna joined Calvin Harris for her latest single, "Where Have You Been," and "We Found Love," and Rage Against the Machine spitter Zack de la Rocha lent his lyrics to DJ Shadow. Earlier in the night, the main stage was handled by French electronic duo Justice and the much-anticipated At the Drive-In reunion. The influential post-hardcore band had heads banging to "Pattern Against User," "Lopsided," "Enfilade" and slowed it down a bit with the melodic "Napoleon Solo." After closing with their only minor hit, 2000's "One Armed Scissor," singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala advised, "Now go take a shower." Elsewhere, the Sahara dance tent hosted Avicii, the Weeknd grooved a huge crowd at the Outdoor Stage as he sang the sun down with his soulful jams, and Florence and the Machine had the ladies lifted with the frontwoman's request that the "strong gentlemen in the house" offer their shoulders for "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)." Beats Antique was clearly among the weekend's highlights for many who caught their captivating afternoon display of belly dancers flowing to bassy beats. In response to last year's event selling out — a week after the 2011 lineup was announced — the festival is experimenting with featuring the same artists for two consecutive three-day weekends: April 13-15 and April 20-22. At Coachella's uncharacteristically cold and gloomy first day Friday, the Black Keys and Swedish House Mafia kept fans warm. Saturday brought Radiohead, Bon Iver and David Guetta with Usher. Did you go to Coachella? Share your review in the comments below!

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Snoop Dogg's Next Album Will Show His 'Loving, Caring' Side

19 Mar 2012 13:57:05 EDT

'It's like the reincarnation and the birth of me becoming who I really am,' MC tells MTV News at South by Southwest.
By Rob Markman, with additional reporting by James Montgomery

Maybe murder isn't the case after all? Eleven solo albums into his career, Snoop Dogg insists that fans have yet to see the real him, but on his next album, he hopes to change all of that.

"It's a project where it's more about the element of surprise, but at the same time it'll be talked about in due time," Snoop told MTV News this weekend at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. "It's special; it's a real special project to me because it's like the reincarnation and the birth of me becoming who I really am."

On his 1993 multiplatinum debut album Doggystyle, the Long Beach, California, MC became the poster child for gangsta rap, while simultaneously fighting a real-life murder case, which helped add to his mystique. Through the years, Snoop began to slowly back away from that hardened street image and began landing notable endorsements and movie roles. His 2007 reality show "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" painted the picture of Snoop the family man. And with his next LP, the Doggfather plans to evolve even more.

"I never really knew who I was through the music," Snoop admitted. "I was always a very peaceful, kind, loving, caring individual and making music to symbolize that sometimes never was my key."

The global rap star doesn't elaborate on exactly how the music will change, but it's clear he has an eye toward the future, hoping to ensure some more longevity for himself. "This record, and this project will symbolize that and gives me the opportunity to step into the world of the stadium and then do those kind of songs that last 40, 50 years to go along with what I've already done," he said.

Are you looking forward to hearing a more loving and caring Snopp Dogg? Tell us in the comments.

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Coachella 2012 Lineup Features Radiohead, Dr. Dre And Snoop, Black Keys

09 Jan 2012 21:18:50 EST

Florence and the Machine, Bon Iver and Swedish House Mafia also headed to the desert for two weekends in April.
By Mary J. DiMeglio

After shocking fans months ago with the news that its desert festival will span two weekends in 2012, Coachella confirmed with its lineup announcement Monday (January 9) that it is going big this year. Posted to the fest's Facebook page, the roster boasts Radiohead, The Black Keys and Dr. Dre with Snoop Dogg.

In response to last year's event selling out — a week after the 2011 lineup was announced — the festival is experimenting with featuring the same artists for two consecutive three-day weekends: April 13-15 and April 20-22.

The Black Keys, who performed last year, return to Friday night, this time getting top billing. Radiohead, Saturday's headliner, last graced Indio, California's Empire Polo Fields in 2004. This is the first booking for West Coast hip-hop legends Dre and Snoop, who will close out the main stage Sunday night.

Also headed to the desert are Florence and the Machine, Bon Iver, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and the just-announced At the Drive-In reunion. Tickets for the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. PT. The full lineup includes:

Friday, April 13 and 20
The Black Keys, Swedish House Mafia, Pulp, Refused, Arctic Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Afrojack, Explosions in the Sky, M83, Amon Tobin, Cat Power, Madness, Jimmy Cliff & Tim Armstrong, GIRLS, the Rapture, Madeon, M. Ward, the Horrors, Frank Ocean, James Alesso, Sebastien, Yuck, Neon Indian, Dawes, Black Angels, Deathgrips, Wu Lyf, Breakbot, Atari Teenage Riot, Feed Me, Givers, Other Lives, Band of Skulls, R3hab, Wolfgang, Midnight Beast, EMA, Ximena Sarinana, Kendrick Lamar, The Dear Hunter, Honeyhoney, Hello Seahorse!, Sheepdogs, LA Riots.

Saturday, April 14 and 21
Radiohead, Bon Iver, the Shins, David Guetta, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Kaskade, Miike Snow, Jeff Mangum, Sebastian Ingrosso, Andrew Bird, Feist, Firehose, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, St. Vincent, Martin Solveig, Subfocus, Sbtrkt, Flying Lotus, Manchester Orchestra, Kasabian, AWOL Nation, Azealia Banks, Squeeze, A$AP Rocky, Buzzcocks, Kaiser Chiefs, Destroyer, the Head and the Heart, Laura Marling, Tuneyards, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Black Lips, the Big Pink, Childish Gambino, the Vaccines, Zed's Dead, Grouplove, Jacques Lu Cont, We Were Promised, Jetpacks, Gary Clark Jr., Borgore, Dragonette, We Are Augustines, Mt. Eden, Destructo, Suedehead, Keep Shelley in Athens, Pure Filth Sound.

Sunday, April 15 and 22
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, At the Drive-In, Justice, Florence and the Machine, AVICII, La Roux, Beirut, the Weeknd, Girl Talk, the Hives, DJ Shadow, Calvin Harris, Nero, Wild Flag, Modeselektor, Dada Life, Porter Robinson, Santigold, Flux Pavilion, Dr. P, Gotye, Seun Keti, Egypt 80, Beats Antique, Fitz and the Tantrums, Araabmuzik, Company Flow, Real Estate, Zed, Le Bucherettes, Greg Ginn, the Growlers, Noisia, Morgan Page, Gaslamp Killer, First Aid Kit, Oberhofer, Lissie, Thundercat, Metronomy, Wild Beasts, Housse de Racket, Fanfarlo, Spector, Gardens & Villa, Airplane Boys, Sleeper Agent.

Share your thoughts on the 2012 Coachella lineup in the comments below!

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Wiz Khalifa Taps Into 'Nerdy Side' For 'Mac & Devin'

15 Dec 2011 14:09:14 EST

'I'm a square in the movie, and I pretty much maintain that squareness,' Wiz tells MTV News of his February film with Snoop Dogg.
By Rob Markman

Wiz Khalifa is a pretty cool guy, right? That's why it's so hard to imagine the Taylor Gang general as a geek, but in his and Snoop Dogg's upcoming film "Mac & Devin Go to High School," the Pittsburgh rapper plays just that.

"I'm super square in the movie," Wiz told MTV News, laughing backstage at his and Snoop's New York concert last week. "I'm a square in the movie, and I pretty much maintain that squareness. I mean, I walk on the wild side, I do some cool things, but I tapped into my nerdy side."

Though the "Mac & Devin" soundtrack hit stores Tuesday, the stoner comedy won't be out until February. According to Wiz, it wasn't difficult for him to turn down his cool for the camera. "That's kind of who I am as a real person too; I was really reserved," Khalifa said about his high school days at Taylor Allderdice High in Pittsburgh. "I was really fall-backish, so I can totally connect with my character Devin in the movie. It was real easy."

Fans got their first real glimpse of Wiz as Devin in the duo's "Young, Wild & Free" video. In the clip, which mixes movie scenes with performance footage, Wiz's character is seen wandering through the school halls looking extremely studious with his shirt buttoned all the way to the top. It was quite the transformation.

"I had to do makeup every day to cover my tattoos. I had to spray my hair to get the blond out, but it was cool. It was an experience, and it was really, really fun to be a novice at acting, be brand-new and then have to learn," Khalifa said. "I watched the movie, and I can actually see myself getting better in the movie."

Are you excited to see "Mac & Devin Go to High School"? Tell us in the comments!

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Wiz Khalifa And Snoop Dogg's 'Mac & Devin' Jams NY

06 Dec 2011 16:44:17 EST

Monday's New York concert promotes 'Mac & Devin Go to High School' soundtrack, due December 13.
By Rob Markman

Never mind that there's almost a 20-year age difference between Wiz Khalifa and his big homey Snoop Dogg: On Monday night, the smoked-out duo stood on equal ground for the first time, as co-headliners at New York City's Terminal 5.

The Cali rap vet and MTV News' Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010 were in the Big Apple to promote the soundtrack, set for release December 13, to their upcoming film, "Mac & Devin Go to High School."

After openers Chevy Woods and YG warmed up the crowd, Snoop walked out to his 2009 single "I Wanna Rock." Dressed in all black, with black shades and two braids in his hair, Tha Doggfather shuffled across the stage flanked by three curvaceous female dancers, who started out in Adidas tracksuits but had stripped down to skimpy lingerie by the time Snoop performed Akon's uncensored "I Wanna F--- You," three-quarters of the way through his set.

Snoop's half-hour solo portion of the show was filled with classics like Dr. Dre's "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" and "Next Episode" as well as his own "Bitch Please" and "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)"

Wiz emerged later to perform his newer rap favorites. Starting with "Cabin Fever," Khalifa bounced across the stage chanting, "If you see her, point her out," acknowledging all the "bad bitches" in the crowd. Most of Wiz's performance was centered around mixtape material. The Taylors gave overwhelming approval and applause as Cap ran through "Gang Bang" and Kush & Orange Juice faves "Never Been" and "In the Cut."

A brief intermission followed, during which scenes from "Mac & Devin Go to High School" played on the venue's big screen. Snoop and Wiz then returned, this time together, performing in tandem and passing joints to and fro. First up was "That Good," the initial collaborative "Mac & Devin" leak, on which Snoop dubs the stoner duo "the new Cheech and Chong." From there, the Dogg launched into his classic "Gin & Juice" while Khalifa served up some ad-libs.

Wiz encouraged his young Taylors to show the elder Snoop love, while the Dogg asked the crowd to congratulate the Pittsburgh breakout on his recent Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, and the audience happily obliged both requests.

Though the two rocked solo songs like "Drop It Like It's Hot" and "On My Level," by the time Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa reached the show-closing "Young, Wild & Free," their onstage chemistry was undeniable. Though there are a number of years between the two MCs, the duo proved that when it comes to rocking crowds, age ain't nothing but a number.

Have you seen Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa live? Share your review in the comments!

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Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg Video Debuts Wednesday On MTV

22 Nov 2011 13:16:35 EST

'Young, Wild & Free' is first clip off 'Mac & Devin Go to High School' soundtrack.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Matt Elias

The school year may already be in full swing, but on Wednesday, fans will get their first glimpse of Snoop Dogg and Wi Khalifa's "Mac & Devin Go to High School" film when the smoked-out duo premiere the video for "Young, Wild & Free" on MTV.

Starting at 6 a.m. ET the video will debut across MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV.com and MTV Jams, where it will play every hour. Directed by Dylan Brown, "Young, Wild & Free," featuring Bruno Mars on the hook, is the first video from the official "Mac & Devin Go to High School" soundtrack.

While integrating movie scenes into music videos sometimes gets cumbersome, Dogg and Khalifa worked things out by cleverly filming the clip in a Montclair, California, drive-in theater.

"We got some more party scenes where we just gonna be doing our verses and having the scenes from the movie play on the big screen from the actual movie 'Mac & Devin Go to High School,' " Snoop told MTV News on the video set back in October. "So people get a chance to see a few scenes and see us perform at the same time."

In one particular scene, the pair race in off-road karts, with some choice video models in tow. "We just getting it crackin' in the parking lot, man, turning this thing out, so we had a couple of our little friends in the car and we drove fast," Wiz said.

"I had to level out the playing field; I had some weight issues so I had a couple of girls roll with me to level out my car," Snoop jokingly added.

The song is a carefree affair, with Mars singing, "So what we get drunk, so what we smoke weed/ We're just having fun, we don't care who sees" on the track's hook.

Keeping in tune with the single's theme, Wiz raps about rolling up and sagging his jeans while Snoop rhymes like he's 17 years old all over again. Khalifa teases that the entire soundtrack will carry a similar mood. "We got the homey Juicy J on the soundtrack, we got Curren$y on the soundtrack, but mainly it's just me and Dogg," he said. "It's a real big deal because nobody's done it like that as far as a veteran, an O.G. in the game, a pioneer, and then the newest, youngest, most exciting dude in rap coming through and really just giving the people a complete project."

"The music is quality," Snoop said.

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Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg's 'High School' Soundtrack A 'Big Deal'

25 Oct 2011 12:16:23 EDT

'I'm a fan of it, separate myself from making it. ... Can't wait,' Wiz tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman

The O.D.: A Mixtape Exclusive

Sure, Wiz Khalifa was only 5 years old when Snoop Dogg first stepped onto the scene as a guest on Dr. Dre's 1992 classic "Deep Cover," but the two cannabis-loving MCs won't let their respective ages get in the way of collaboration. Wiz and Snoop will star alongside each other in the upcoming Dylan Brown-directed stoner comedy "Mac and Devin Go to High School" as well as on its smoked-out soundtrack.

Mixtape Daily caught up with the Doggfather and Khalifa on the set for "Young, Wild and Free," the soundtrack's official first single, and got the scoop on the rest of the LP.

"We got the homey Juicy J on the soundtrack, we got Curren$y on the soundtrack, but mainly it's just me and Dogg," Wiz revealed. Overall, Khalifa is just hyped up to work with one of his idols. They linked on Wiz's "Black & Yellow" remix, Snoop's "This Weed Iz Mine," as well as a bunch of underground songs like "That Good" and "French Inhale."

"It's a real big deal because nobody's done it like that as far as a veteran in the game, an OG, a pioneer and then the newest, youngest, most exciting dude in rap coming through and really just giving people a complete project," Wiz said. "I'm a fan of it, separate myself from making it, [I'm] a huge fan of it. Can't wait." As far as the musical vibe of the soundtrack, a laidback Snoop tried his best to describe it. "It's something to relax you and get you through the day; it's some real good music. The music is quality, I don't even have no title for it, as far as what kinda music is it, it's centric, it's ...," Dogg said searching for the right words before his partner-in-rhyme lent a hand. "Eclectic," Wiz chimed in.

"Yeah, that's probably what it is," Snoop finished.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Snoop Dogg And Wiz Khalifa Get 'Wild' On Video Set

20 Oct 2011 20:10:13 EDT

'This is a family affair, man,' Wiz tells MTV News while shooting a clip for his upcoming stoner comedy with Snoop.
By Matt Elias

MONTCLAIR, California -- Big Snoop D-O-Double-G celebrates his 40th birthday Thursday (October 20), but on Wednesday night, he was all business.

Well, business as usual. Snoop spent the evening shooting a music video with Wiz Khalifa for the track "Young, Wild & Free." It's the first song from the soundtrack of the duo's upcoming stoner comedy, "Mac & Devin Go to High School."

It was quite a spectacle on the video set. The mellow MCs took over a drive-in movie theater an hour outside Los Angeles with tons of tricked-out rides and a variety of video vixens. The clip was directed by Dylan Brown, who also handled directing duties on the film.

"This is a family affair, man," Wiz told MTV News. "Everybody that you see was all involved with the project. We all got love for each other, and you know, we just keeping it moving, right?"

"Yeah that's all," Snoop added. "We just having fun. We at a big drive-in theater so we could have as many people and have as many things happen as possible in the celebration of being young, wild, and free -- having a good time."

And clearly they were having a good time. One scene saw Snoop and Wiz romping around the parking lot in some souped-up off-road karts, loaded with a crew of cuties.

"That's definitely going along with the theme of being young, wild, and free -- just having fun, wild'n out," Wiz said. "The whole theme of the video, we just getting it crackin' in the parking lot, man, just turning this thing out. So we had a couple little of our friends in the car, and we drove fast."

"I had to level out the playing field," Snoop admitted, with his kart holding a few extra girls than Wiz's. "I had to have some, ahem, weight issues, so I had to have some girls roll with me to level out my car."

If you're wondering how this whole scene ties into the high school flick, the Doggfather has you covered.

"We got some more party scenes where we just gonna be doing our verses and having the scenes from the movie play on the big screen from the actual movie 'Mac & Devin Go to High School,' " Snoop said. "So people get a chance to see a few scenes and see us perform at the same time."

The song itself got production help from Bruno Mars and quickly came together.

"[Bruno Mars] sent me the music and I played the music for Wiz and he loved it and we came together," Snoop said. "That's what we do: We make good music. If you've got a great idea, which was started by Bruno, and me and Wiz, we take it to the next level, gave it back to Bruno. He tightened up the edges, and now it's a complete situation."

Look for the soundtrack in December, just in time for the holiday season, followed by the film's release in February.

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Snoop Dogg Gets NBC Sitcom Deal

06 Oct 2011 08:49:06 EDT

Rapper/actor will play a dad in the family comedy show.
By Gil Kaufman

He started out as a Long Beach hustler, made his bones as a breakout rap star and has played everything from a loveable stoner to Huggy Bear and an undead gangster in the 2001 horror flick "Bones."

But is America ready for Snoop Dogg family sitcom star? According to Deadline Hollywood the D-o-double G's family comedy project has landed at NBC with a script in the works from veteran comedy writer Don Reo ("Blossom," "Everybody Hates Chris," "My Wife and Kids").

Snoop, the family man who has managed to strike a balance between lascivious rhyme dropper and pee-wee football coach, will play a dad in the show, which he will also produce. Snoop has already worked with Reo on the Fox sitcom "Brothers," a show about a former NFL player on which he played the role of cousin Kenny the Lawyer.

He's already done a dry run as the man of the house in his E! reality show "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood," which followed his home life with his wife and three kids over two seasons. Snoop has seesawed between music and movies for years and was recently cast in the title role of the biopic "The Legend of Fillmore Slim," the story of the 1970s San Francisco blues guitarist and pimp who was often referred to as the "West Coast Godfather of the Game."

Deadline noted that NBC has had mixed success with rapper sitcoms, ranging from the hit 1990s run by Will Smith in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" to the notoriously awful 2001 pilot starring "Thong Song" star Sisqo and comedy icon Bob Newhart.

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Drake Compares Rick Ross' Next LP To B.I.G., Snoop

01 Sep 2011 19:41:52 EDT

Drake and Rick Ross play up each other's upcoming albums.
By Rob Markman

LOS ANGELES — Trying to determine something as subjective as what constitutes a hip-hop classic is an impossible task, but there are a few albums that are widely recognized crown-holders. Among them are the Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, and it is in this same regard that Drake holds Rick Ross' upcoming fifth album.

"This guy right here," Drake said motioning to Ross as the two sat at Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV release party Sunday, "That God Forgives I Don't; the only way I can describe it is like Doggystyle or Ready to Die or Clipse Lord Willin' or any of the albums that I collected and held on to as a kid — whether it was cassette or CD."

Drake's measure may not be an objective one, but it isn't farfetched, considering that many have credited Ross with improving as an artist with each album he puts out. As of now, the album is still being recorded and only a select few have been able to hear it.

DJ Khaled also sang Rozay's praises when MTV News interviewed him back in July. "God Forgives I Don't is a classic-in-the-making. Let me tell you something right now: This album is so crazy from the beginning of what I've been in the studio hearing already," he said. "I can't give you too much because I'm going to let him do that, because that's his project, but I could tell you right now it's classic and he is talking that talk."

The Bawse isn't the only one with an album dropping soon. On October 24, Drake plans to release his sophomore LP, but the Bawse has already gotten a sneak peek. "I feel extremely grateful to hear a bulk of Take Care. Just to hear this man's tone of voice and the sh-- that he's saying is just so visual," Ross said. "And if you're a true Drake fan — if you love his first album, this one right here, this sh-- is uncut."

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