Author Topic: "Paid The Cost" shifts perspective (Read 152 times)

mrtonguetwista · « **on:** July 28, 2003, 10:38:31 PM »

Keepin' it real" is a phrase thrown around ad nauseam in hip-hop circles. Few in the genre have kept it as real as Snoop Dogg.

The lanky, witty West Coast gangsta is a rapper with a rap sheet: Snoop, aka Calvin Broadus, was arrested on charges of being a murder accomplice in 1993; three years later he was cleared. He was nailed for cocaine possession shortly after graduating from high school in 1990.

Though the respected performer has done time behind bars, in terms of his career, there have been few obstacles for Snoop. Unlike many of his peers, the Long Beach, Calif., native's output has been remarkably consistent and successful. Snoop made a name for himself with 1993's "Doggystyle," which was the first hip-hop debut album to enter the charts at No. 1.

Now he's on tour in support of his latest album, "Paid the Cost to Be Da Boss" (and performing Monday at Portland's Keller Auditorium). The disc showcases Snoop's range; he can turn it on with the X-rated romp "Lollipop" and then turn the other cheek with "I Believe in You," a sweet ode to love and marriage.

The latter is significant because Snoop seems to be altering his image a bit. The charismatic entertainer, who has appeared in such films as 2000's "The Wash" and 2002's "Bones," has become a family man, spending considerable time with his wife and two children. He even claims to have quit his beloved cannabis.

Though Snoop, 30, has evolved, he still hangs his hat in the thuggish gangsta-rap world. In April he could have been another hip-hop casualty, when his five-car convoy was riddled with bullets in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Though two of the cars were hit, the rapper was unharmed.

Snoop recently took a break from the tour to answer a few questions, though the April incident was off-limits. Broadus was blunt when addressing other issues.

Why did you quit smoking dope? Is it because you want to be a role model for your kids?

I did it for my kids and myself. I wouldn't do it for anyone else.

You've done your share of anti-drug spots over the years. Did you do those public service announcements when you were high?

No.

If you're trying to stay off drugs in order to be a role model, will there also be a change in your music to reflect that?

People don't buy my records 'cause I was high when I made them. They love Snoop Dogg. Sober or not.

What's up with "I Believe in You?" That's the most tender and affecting song you've ever recorded.

It came from the heart. I wanted to make a song that I wouldn't normally make. Gangsters can make love songs, too.

Speaking of "I Believe in You": Do you think there is a chance that more hip-hop artists might veer from the bling-bling and offer some affectionate love songs or socially conscious tunes, a la Public Enemy?

Definitely. There are many sides to hip-hop.

Guests play a key role on your albums, particularly on "Paid the Cost." This time out, Jay Z and Nate Dogg offer cool turns. What do you expect from your peers when they join you in the studio?

I expect them to bring their A-game. My album is made up of talented musicians who've brought their A-game. If they don't, it doesn't make the album. Simple as that.

You won some porn awards for your videos. How does an Adult Video News Award stack up to a Grammy?

It really doesn't.

Is it true that you're hooking up with Kermit the Frog for a version of "It's Not Easy Being Green"?

There were talks about that. Nothing for sure.