Snoop Dogg will return to recording with the fall release of the tentatively titled new album “R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece.” The set will be issued jointly on the rapper’s own Doggy Style imprint and the Neptunes’ Star Trak label, through Geffen Records.
Snoop is collaborating with the Neptunes on the album, as well as Gap Band founder Charlie Wilson. Although unidentified, other producers with whom the rapper/actor/ubiquitous media presence has previously worked will also be involved, as will “some surprise superstar appearances.”
“Masterpiece” will be the follow-up to the 2002’s “Paid Tha Cost To Be Tha Bo$$” (Doggy Style/Priority). That album featured the Neptunes-produced cuts “Beautiful” and “From tha Chuuuch to the Palace,” plus guest appearances by Jay-Z, Nate Dogg, DJ Premier, Redman and Ludacris, among others.
“Bo$$” debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 12 on The Billboard 200. It has sold 1.16 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Beautiful,” which featured vocals by the Neptunes’ Pharrell and Uncle Charlie Wilson, peaked at No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Hot Rap Tracks charts and No. 6 on the Hot 100.
As previously reported, Snoop will be hitting the road later this month on Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour.
As an actor, the rapper was most recently seen piloting the film “Soul Plane,” and as infamous pimp Huggy Bear the big-screen version of the 1970s television cop drama “Starsky & Hutch.”
Next up is video director Marc Klasfeld’s feature film debut, “The L.A. Riot Spectacular.” Snoop serves as the narrator of the satirical look at Los Angeles in the wake of the 1992 Rodney King ruling, which also features Emilio Estevez, Christopher McDonald, Charles Durning, Jonathan Lipnicki and Shay Roundtree, as well as cameos by porn stars Ron Jeremy and Tabitha Stevens.
Source billboard.com.
