USA: SNOOP DOGG SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CAREER GOALS AND HOPES TO WIN OVER FANS WITH HIS LATEST ALBUM "PAID THA COST TO BE DA BOSS"

Record ID: 636542

  • Title: USA: SNOOP DOGG SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CAREER GOALS AND HOPES TO WIN OVER FANS WITH HIS LATEST ALBUM "PAID THA COST TO BE DA BOSS"
  • Date: 31st October 2002
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 25, 2002) (REUTERS) SV (English) MUSICIAN SNOOP DOGG TALKING ABOUT HOW HIS CAREER HAS DEVELOPED IN THE PAST YEAR, SAYING: "Just developing into a bigger, better artist, you know? Doing more things with my career, with my music life, with my movie life. Just business in general, trying to get bigger and better as I go." REPORTER ASKING: "Is this new album 'Gangsta Rap?'" SNOOP DOGG SAYING: "Always, anything I do is considered Gangsta rap, you know what I'm saying? That's the element of Snoop Dogg."
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVABZJCW2347CLYPIIORIUQRN6
  • Story Text: Hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg, the pot-smoking artist whose tough lyrics and languid vocal style helped define the 'Gangsta Rap' movement, is hoping to win over fans with his latest album "Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss." Speaking to Reuters at his home studio, the multifaceted artist talked about his career goals as well as his shocking decision to stop using drugs in public.
    Snoop Dogg has moved to the suburbs. No longer at home in the run-down Long Beach neighbourhood described in his hit songs, the former protégé of hitmaker Dr. Dre now lives and works in a quiet, upscale Southern California community -- an ironic journey for one of the originators of 'Gangsta Rap.' But despite his suburban digs, Snoop Dogg's music remains committed to the core themes of 'Gangsta Rap' -- money, women and threatening his competitors. Critics have often complained about the genre's limited range of topics; in fact, some have questioned its long-term viability. But Snoop Dogg says he's not worried:
    "Gangsta Rap is like rock'n'roll, it's here to stay, you know, no matter what people say about it, it's going to continue to be here. You got to have it and you got to love it."
    The 31-year old rapper is hoping fans will respond to his latest album, "Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss." The record features creative input from some top west coast producers; indeed, the debut single "From Tha Chuuch To The Palace" was produced by The Neptunes, who have previously created hits in collaboration with superstars Mystikal and Jay-Z. Now, Snoop is already thinking about his next project -- trying to arrange a headline tour.
    "[I'm] trying to match up with another big artist and go out there and put together a tour that could generate a lot of success for the record and for our pockets," admits the performer.
    Still, music isn't the only art form on Snoop Dogg's mind.
    The rapper would like to continue developing his acting career, which has so far generated one major role (in the urban teen thriller "Bones") as well as smaller roles in a number of films including the Oscar-winning drama "Training Day." Comments Snoop: "The acting thing, you know, it's fun within itself, it's a whole other outlet to express myself, to say what I feel and to do what I feel. So acting is always going to be a part of my life as long as the opportunity is there."
    When he's not tied up with his many business ventures, Snoop Dogg is deeply involved with his home life, taking his young son to football practice and arranging family outings.
    The rapper has even decided to abandon public drug use after years of being an outspoken marijuana advocate.
    "I just didn't want to get high in public no more, you know,"
    explained Snoop.
    "The same way I wanted to, I didn't want to, you know what I'm saying? It's as simple as that, you know, taking some steps with myself as far as the way people look at me and perceive me. So the way I'm out there in public sometimes gives off a bad vibe, you know? So I just wanted to change all of that."
    Snoop Dogg's latest album "Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss"
    hits record stores on November 26th.
    --
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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