Long Beach legend Snoop Dogg is a respected veteran in rap music and will be one of the headlining acts of this year’s ‘Hip Hop 50 Live’ performance at the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. That said, the emcee has recently released an autobiographical audiobook entitled, From the Streets to the Suites as part of Audible’s ‘Words + Music’ series.
In the book, the rapper opens up about many things that have happened during his career, including his time collaborating with Pharrell Williams and the Neptunes. One story, in particular, is highly compelling, and it concerns the recording process of his 2004 smash-hit ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot.’
Delving into the details of his experience working alongside Pharrell, the Death Row musician (real name Calvin Broadus) once told Billboard magazine, “[Pharrell’s] in the back with the keyboards, it’s just him and the engineer. He ain’t even got the beat all the way made. This how this n*gga get down, he don’t say words, he just [imitates Pharrell’s vocalisations], so it’s my job to make that shit make sense!”
He continued to detail how when he heard William’s verse, he was astounded and was concerned that his rap lyrics would pale in comparison. Unveiling how this brought out his competitive spirit, Broadus recalled thinking, “This n*gga done took the bar all the way … I cannot let Pharrell out-rap me on my muthafuckin’ song!”
The Doggystyle act has explained how Pharrell has always pushed him to be the best he can be and challenged him on a regular basis recounting how when he recorded his third verse for the 2004 song, Williams’ told him, “that ain’t it.” This prompted him to up his game. Praising the Neptunes’ beatmaker’s methodology, Snoop detailed, “That’s what I mean about ‘I like to be produced.'” The single went on to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Broadus also explained that his comrade and OG partner in crime, Dr Dre is even harsher with his criticisms in the studio, unveiling, “[That] n*gga don’t like nothing! I’m scared he gon’ come and say he don’t like it!” Snoop referred to Dre as his “worse critic.”
However, even the Compton producer (real name Andre Young) lauded ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ and, upon hearing it, told Broadus, “N*gga, this shit right here off the hook! This shit bomb, n*gga! Y’all did that!” You can hear the chart-topping single below.
