Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, two of hip-hop’s foundational voices, are advocating for a return to originality in today’s rap scene. The West Coast icons discussed their concerns about the industry’s trend of imitation during an appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show on October 18, where they expressed a desire to see artists focus on originality over popularity.
Snoop Dogg on Standing Out
When asked for advice to upcoming artists, Snoop emphasized the importance of being authentic: “Right now there’s so much copycatting, mimicking, sounding alike and imitation. Find your production, your sound — find your ear for who you are and be original even if it ain’t hitting. Stay you.” According to Snoop, too many artists today are chasing fleeting trends instead of building their own unique sound and style.
Snoop further criticized the oversaturation of beatmakers who he feels lack traditional production skills, suggesting that the ease of creating beats on mobile devices has led to a decrease in quality and originality. “Something stupid gets you five minutes of fame, and you take that and make a record and you got a two-and-a-half-minute song saying the same thing somebody else just said,” Snoop observed, noting a shift from genuine musicianship to trend-based fame.
Dr. Dre on Consistency and Cohesive Production
Dr. Dre also weighed in, calling for greater consistency in album production. Known for his meticulous approach, Dre expressed frustration with the current trend of albums featuring multiple producers. “I like the idea of one producer on one album,” he said, underscoring the value of continuity and collaboration for creating an album with a unique, cohesive sound.
Dre voiced optimism, however, about a shift in the music landscape. While hip-hop has seen a wave of “mumble rap” in recent years, he feels there’s room for a new wave of artists to redefine the genre, predicting that “there’s somebody in somebody’s garage that’s gonna be the next Snoop or Dre or the next Prince or the next Michael Jackson.” This potential star, Dre believes, could bring back “musicianship” and change the current hip-hop scene.
A New Chapter: Snoop and Dre Reunite for Missionary
In a major move for longtime fans, Snoop and Dre are reuniting for Missionary, their first album together in over 30 years since the iconic Doggystyle was released in 1993. Set to debut in November, the project is highly anticipated as both legends aim to bring back the authenticity and spirit of their early work to today’s scene.
Through their message and upcoming collaboration, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre hope to inspire a new generation of artists who prioritize originality, musicianship, and creativity over momentary popularity.
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