Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre sample song by London learning disabilities charity on new album
Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre have taken unlikely inspiration from the UK for their latest album. The legendary West Coast duo’s Doggystyle follow-up, Missionary, released earlier this month, includes a track called ‘Outta Da Blue’ that samples a song by a learning disabilities charity based in London.
The track incorporates the 2018 song ‘Watermelon Fantasy’ from Daylight Studio. One of the people who worked on the record, Tina Bruins, who lives in supported housing in the capital, said, “I was shocked. I remember being like, ‘Whaaaaaat?’ I didn’t know it was going to be released by Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg.”
She added, “I thought, ‘No.’ I thought it was a fantasy. It was a good shock because it sort of proves I make good music. I’m proud of [Watermelon Fantasy] because Snoop Dogg took it over.”
‘Outta Da Blue’ has also seen success outside of Missionary, being included in the video game Madden NFL 25 and the trailer for Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz’s new Netflix movie, Back in Action. Proceeds from the song will go to Bruins and two other artists with learning disabilities, Mandy Priddice and Cedrick Letshou Olembo, with the charity also receiving production shares.
Engineer Jack Daley and songwriter/producer Oliver Price recorded ‘Watermelon Fantasy’ with Bruins, Priddick, and Letshou in 2017 while hosting sessions at the Daylight Day Centre for adults with learning disabilities. The Daylight Studio charity was founded when the centre closed during the pandemic.
Speaking on being sampled by Snoop and Dre, Daley said, “This is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m pretty certain I can say that this year has been the best year of my life because of it.”
Price added, “I still can’t believe it’s a real thing. It sort of feels divinely ordained because the song is called ‘Outta Da Blue‘ and it came out of the blue and it’s like we’re living in a watermelon fantasy. It’s all quite funny really. I’m excited about the charity and bringing attention to people with learning difficulties.”
“They are often put in a box separate from society, and no one ever sees them or works with them, but they have a lot to offer as we have just demonstrated. We want to continue creating music and maybe this won’t be the last sample. It would be awesome if Kendrick Lamar or Drake or someone [would use it]. You just don’t know,” Price continued.