Snoop Dogg goes R&B on Bush

A first single, Peaches N Cream, builds off a funky bassline as Snoop Dogg is joined at the mic by R&B singer Charlie Wilson.

By (AFP)

• Follow us on
• 
• 
• 

Published: Sun 29 Mar 2015, 7:28 PM

Last updated: Thu 25 Jun 2015, 10:20 PM

Photo: AP

Hip-hop giant Snoop Dogg is out with a new R&B-tinged album called Bush. “I love trees. I love grass. I love bush,” the 43-year-old rapper said to snickers last week as he previewed his album at a Hollywood club.

Bush can have multiple meanings, and the cover of Snoop Dogg’s 13th studio album offers a literal interpretation with neatly manicured shrubbery. Whatever the inspiration, the album comes out on May 12 and offers an R&B-influenced dance feel to the rapper who long ago mellowed from his start as a gangsta rapper.

A first single, Peaches N Cream, builds off a funky bassline as Snoop Dogg is joined at the mic by R&B singer Charlie Wilson. The refrain, though, is classic Snoop: “Damn her a** is so big / Just keep it bumpin’ / Peaches N Cream.”

Snoop Dogg has also announced the participation of R&B legend Stevie Wonder on the album.

The crowd-friendly dance sound shows the influence of all-star songwriter Pharrell Williams — creator of the viral hit Happy — who produced Bush in its entirety.

Snoop Dogg said that he put his full trust in Williams, with whom he collaborated more than a decade ago for hit songs Beautiful and Drop It Like It’s Hot.

“On this project, I was like, you do what you want. His whole team got to Frankenstein me,” he said.

Snoop Dogg said that he and Williams have developed a respect for each other.

“I loved what he was doing and he loved what I was doing,” Snoop Dogg said. “We started a journey together in terms of making music,” he added.

With both artists well into their careers and their 40s, Snoop Dogg said they decided artistically that it would be better for Williams to take charge of the whole project. Williams has had an active career as a producer and collaborator.