Coolio (last seen dueting with bear-like country journeyman Kenny Rogers) joined Kurupt, Big Daddy Kane, Bobby Brown, Flesh-N-Bone, and singer-turned-phone psychic spokesperson Dionne Warwick in a Los Angeles studio last weekend.

This mind-twist cast of characters were at work on a remake of "What The World Needs Now Is Love," one of the few hits by songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David that Warwick did not sing. Jackie DeShannon scored a hit with the original version, while the new version will turn up on a Dionne Warwick album due in August.

Spokespeople for Warwick say that the singer is now reaching out to the rap community, and is trying to show that rap can send a positive message. That stand marks a remarkable turnaround from her thoughts four years ago, when she testified against profane rap lyrics before the United States Senate. In particular, Warwick teed off on Snoop Doggy Dogg, who had received support from Los Angeles Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

I think that when the honorable Maxine Waters," Warwick testified at the time, "took the time to read lyrics written by Snoop Doggy Doo Doo, Snoop Doggy Doggy, or whatever his name is, and glorified his position reading about tears and sky and gloominess, she should have gone further to continue to recite the words that came out of the same little boy's mouth, his mind, and his heart... calling women bitches, calling women ho's. The little boy can't even spell 'ho.' He can't spell 'gangster.' He should be in school." [715k QuickTime]

Amazingly, Warwick's people say Snoop was originally on their list of contributors, but did not make last weekend's recording session. Neither they, nor we have been able to get any comment from Snoop's new label, Master P's No Limit Records, but Warwick's camp denies reports that Snoop is expected to lay down vocals at a later date.