Home Coming Up Snoop Dogg Previews “Doggumentary,” Explains Why It’s Not “Doggystyle 2”.

Snoop Dogg Previews “Doggumentary,” Explains Why It’s Not “Doggystyle 2”.

February 21, 2011

Last week in Hollywood, Snoop played his March 29 album, complete with Boz Scaggs and Randy Newman recreations, and hinted that his sequel album may be canned.

At Long Beach, California emcee Snoop Dogg will release his eleventh studio album, Doggumentary on March 29. The superstar previewed the album at Hollywood’s Capitol Records Studios on February 18, with Billboard.com in attendance.

As the rapper hosted a catered and open bar event, he explained the album’s creation and songs. The release itself surprised some, as Snoop had been publicly telling fans and media that his next album would be a sequel to his 1993 multi-platinum debut, Doggystyle. That project may be scrapped, as the Doggfather explained his thinking in the closing months of 2010. “I thought, let’s put the two G’s there and make it more,” he added,” versus recreating a Doggystyle, Part 2. It’s just me doing me.”

Doggumentary reportedly includes updates of hit 1970s songs made by Boz Scaggs and Randy Newman, along with appearances and production from Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, Scott Storch and Willie Nelson.

From Billboard.COM:

Snoop Dogg Previews Kanye, Willie Nelson Collabs at ‘Doggumentary’ Album Listening..

I’m just trying to keep this Snoop thing popping,” declared Snoop Dogg while previewing his 11th studio album, “Doggumentary” (Priority/Capitol, March 29), at Capitol Records Studios in Hollywood. The rapper played 21 tracks, featuring guest turns by Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, R. Kelly, John Legend, E-40, Young Jeezy and music legends Willie Nelson and Bootsy Collins. On the production side, Snoop Dogg has enlisted a lineup that includes West, Battlecat, Lex Luger, David Banner and Scoop Deville.

Piggybacking on the start of NBA All-Star weekend (Feb. 18) in Los Angeles, the preview was more a party than a listening session — complete with Colt 45 girls, the beer itself plus cans of Blast and soda, as well as a catering truck serving up beef, pork and vegetarian barbecue sandwiches. The man himself — wearing a purple sweat suit with orange stripes and a purple Lakers shirt — sat front and center on a podium, alternately dancing, rapping, smoking and sharing insights behind the album as each track was introduced.

While recording the album, Snoop Dogg explained, the process took on a documentary feel inspired by the music and videos he’s churned out thus far in his ongoing career. “I thought, let’s put the two G’s there and make it more,” he added,” versus recreating a ‘Doggystyle, Part 2.’ It’s just me doing me.”

Oftentimes, the crowd seemed more intent on talking rather than listening. But among the previewed tracks that sparked their attention were current single “Wet” (aka “Sweat”; currently No. 40 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs); the Battlecat-produced “Wonder What It Do,” which skillfully integrates three samples including Boz Scaggs’ “Lowdown”; “Platinum” featuring R. Kelly; the Scott Storch-produced “Boom” featuring T-Pain and Snoop’s own Randy Newman-esque nod to the City of Angels, “L.A.,” produced by Deville.

Wiz Khalifa comes aboard on “The Weed Is Mine” (“Our connection is so natural,” said Snoop), while West produced the introspective “Eyes Closed,” which also features John Legend. Of West, Snoop noted, “He’s next-level genius; one of the dopest MF’s to ever make music. When he cries about losing awards, he deserves that shit. I’ll cry, too.”

The album’s most left-of-center track is the playful “Superman.” Accompanied by guitar and harmonica, Snoop and Willie Nelson trade riffs on living life with the hands they’ve been dealt and realizing, “I’m not Superman.” The idea to work together took shape when the two artists found themselves in Amsterdam doing shows there. “We got some studio time and wrote this song,” said Snoop. “It’s some cold, classic shit.”