Snoop Dogg is a busy man. In the past few months the rapper and music mogul has participated in a landmark live concert performance with his dead friend, released “Ladies First,” a mixtape of artists he’s working with and just earlier this week released a single from his upcoming reggae album. To say nothing of the preparations he’s made for this weekend’s Catalpa festival, which he headlines with the Black Keys. So when tha Doggfather asked if he could do an interview via e-mail, we accepted. We made only slight tweaks to his answers as for punctuation.
Are there plans for any surprise collaborations at Catalpa?
I always have surprises for my fans, you’ll have to stay tuned, ya dig?!?
“Doggystyle” will turn 20 next year, and you’re performing the album in its entirety on Sunday night. Tell me about any other anniversary plans you have to commemorate the release.
I got sumthin on tha back burner but u gotta stay tuned in to see what that is. Be on da lookout for sumthin real special to keep ya knockin for anutha 20, ya dig?!?
Does it feel like that really was 20 years ago?
Time flies when u got a schedule and stay busy like myself. I stay ready so I ain’t gotta get ready.
Speaking of a lasting legacy, your daughter has entered the music business. How do you keep her safe from the darker sides of the biz?
It’s a learning process each day that we are both going through. Less bulls— the better.
What kind of advice do you give her, and how is it different from the advice that you’d give any up and comer?
To stay true to herself and to never give up. She’s gonna be a superstar.
Let’s talk a little about your appearance at Coachella with what has come to be known as Virtual 2Pac. Do you think that this sort of technology is the future of concerts?
I really can’t tell you. But what the most important thing is Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg did it first. And they damn sure did it the best.
Like the lineup of this weekend’s fest, your music tastes seem so diverse. Could you do me a favor and put your iPod or iPhone or whichever device is nearest to you on shuffle and tell us the first five songs that come up?
Rick James, Teena Marie, Blowfly, Curtis Mayfield, Mayer Hawthorne.
