Snoop Dogg: Up Close & Personal

Not only did the global hip-hop superstar win a huge number of awards for his music, including an American Music Award for Favorite Rap Artist, a MOBO Best Video gong and most recently an MTV Europe Music Award for his collaboration with Katy Perry on their monster hit, “California Gurls,” but he is also a TV and movie star. Snoop appeared in several hit movies, including “Starksy & Hutch,” the Bollywood hit, “Singh Is Kinng,” and the Oscar-winning “Training Day,” alongside Denzel Washington, for which he scooped an MTV Movie Award for Best Cameo. In addition, he is the founder and coach of the Snoop Youth Football League. His latest album, “Doggumentary,” which is his 11th studio album, acts as a memoir, chronicling his journey in the game thus far and plotting where his path will lead him in the future. Released last month, the album features artists such as Kanye West, Gorillaz, John Legend, T-Pain, Wiz Khalifa, Jeezy and Willie Nelson. Furthermore, his new single with David Guetta, “Sweat,” was just released on April 18. Given the rising popularity of hip-hop in the Middle East, the “King of hip-hop” will be making his first appearance in the UAE on May 6 where he will perform at the Yas Arena, Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi. The concert is part of the Yas Island Show Weekends, which is organized by FLASH Entertainment, the region’s premier live events company. In this exclusive interview, Arab News caught up with the Doggfather to get the inside scoop on his upcoming concert in Abu Dhabi, his latest album and his journey so far. Your show in Abu Dhabi on May 6 will be your first show in the UAE. Why is it that you never toured here before? And, what are your expectations? Money gotta be right for me to get on a plane and fly 20 hours and halfway around tha world, ya dig?! I can’t wait to go over there though! My neffew Fredwreck has been trying to get me to go over there for years now and it’s about to go down heavyweight status jacc! What do you think of the rising popularity of hip-hop in the Middle East and of the artists that are emerging from there? I think it’s a prime example of how far hip-hop has come since its inception and how far we gonna continue to take it worldwide for fans and people that have the drive and ambition to make it such a powerful genre of music that it is today. I just did four concerts in Australia with Fat Joe, The Game, Nelly, Bow Wow, Keri Hilson, Ciara and T-Pain — that’s an example of how worldwide hip-hop has come. Tell us more about your latest album, “Doggumentary.” How is it different from your other albums? It’s a movement and motivation of how far I’ve come in 20 years. I got something for anyone and everyone on there, whether it’s hip-hop, dance, pop, gangsta rap, country or what have you. I got hits and hits and hits for days on there and I believe tha fans gonna tell you tha same thang. What is your favorite song from this album? And why? It’s tough to say because there are so many types of music, genres, songs, beats and moods on this album. That’s why I had to call it tha “Doggumentary” when I was making it because that’s what it was: a compilation of all types of music. It’s a story of a 20-year career and an example of how far I have come and all tha obstacles and motivations in making it. House and rap music are so different, yet you collaborated with David Guetta for your latest single, “Sweat.” Can you tell us more about that? It’s No. 1 in Australia, No. 4 in tha UK and it’s a hit in tha clubs in Vegas to Miami to Sydney to Hamburg, Germany to, I hope, Abu Dhabi. I can’t believe how big and fast that record jumped across the world. It’s blowing speakers worldwide and I can’t wait to perform it in front of all my homeyz in Abu Dhabi! How are you able to juggle being the “Doggfather of hip-hop,” a TV and movie star, dad and football coach? And, what do you enjoy most? I’m Snooperman: I go in tha booth and get it done. Only one man can do it and it’s yo boy bigg Snoop Dogg. What I enjoy tha most next to making money, is goin worldwide with hip-hop and continuing to touch people with music that is timeless and bangs on yo neighborhood beatbox, radio station or music video, ya dig?! Describe your best concert so far. What made it so special? There’s been a lot so far in my career, but recently it has to be Glastonbury in tha UK last summer when I rocked it in front of 100,000 people — there’s no feeling like that. What would you say has been your best accomplishment? The Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) home to 3,500 kids in Los Angeles and growing to states such as Nevada and Illinois. What is your ultimate dream? That’s a tough question. I got too many dreams and I’m making dreams happen every day, ya dig?! If you weren’t a famous hip-hop artist, what would you be? Coaching Youth Football in Los Angeles. Even though I am doing it now, I know I would be doing it wherever/whenever. What is a typical day for you? Wake up, make a hit record, watch tha Lakers win, make anutha hit record, go coach football, make anutha hit record… What would you say is most satisfying about your job? Making people happy and goin worldwide with this… What was the craziest thing a fan did to get your attention? Ummm…. way too many to think of…. Any artists you would like to collaborate with in the future? Every time I’m asked this in any interview, I always tell them this: the Rolling Stones.