“A lot of people came together to make this Dogg Pound record the biggest and best it can be,” says Kurupt, wearing a Dallas Cowboys jacket and drinking a Bud Light. “And with Snoop’s leadership, we can never go wrong.”
Meanwhile, one by one, the West Coast family comes through — and then some.
''I'm like the quarterback- slash-marriage-counselor,'' says Snoop Dogg, who helped Daz Dillinger (left) make peace with Kurupt Young Gotti (right) to drop the new Cali Iz Active. (Photos by Antoine Bonsorte)
Brothers worked it out: Snoop and some of the luminaries who dropped in on the Cali Iz Active shoot.
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“We’re live, not Memorex,” says Battlecat, the first in. He’s brought his fat synth bass lines, soulful keys and hard beats to some notable West Coast cuts, such as Snoop Dogg’s “Stacey Adams,” Tha Eastsidaz’ “I Luv It,” E-40’s “Nah, Nah .?.?.” and various numbers by Kurupt and Xzibit.
Kurupt’s younger brother Roscoe strolls through, wearing his signature big-ass Pendleton — his debut album, Young Roscoe Philaphornia, with the hits “Smooth Sailin’?” and “Get Ready,” got him some respect at an early age.
Another heavyweight producer arrives: DJ Pooh. After laying down certified classics for Ice Cube, Yo Yo and Kam, Pooh gained immortality by penning the 1995 landmark Ice Cube film Friday; he also wrote and directed 2001’s The Wash, starring Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. He’s now working on video games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Westside Connection DJ (and WC's little brother) Crazy Toons drops in. Crazy Toons and Roscoe slap hands. “That’s two generations right there,” says Battlecat.
Now Soopafly makes an appearance. Come on, cuz! They’re really getting the fam-bam together.
“They got the hyphy movement up in the Bay,” says Snoop of that area’s hyperactive music-style-car culture — East Bay rapper E-40 dropped in the following day — “we got some gangsta shit down here.”
Did someone say gangsta? Just then, brother Kam walks in. Yup, political Watts rapper Kam and Snoop are working together on some hard shit. (Schwarzenegger and Bush, you’re in trouble!)
“I love Kam, that’s my nigga,” says Snoop. “I’m in a position now where I can give him the spotlight he’s been missing.”
Tatted up and gothed out, the brothers Joel and Benji of the band Good Charlotte even drift in and play some cuts for Snoop.
But just when I think I’ve seen everyone, Bobby Brown — yes, Whitney’s Bobby Brown, along with his Being Bobby Brown reality-show film crew — stroll in.
“Who’s smoking weed?” Brown jokes, as a room full of dudes blaze it up — including Snoop’s camera crew, who’re shooting his upcoming reality show, Follow the Dogg. “I’m allergic to marijuana.”
Even while working, Snoop makes time for everyone. In a different lifetime, he would have made one hell of a politician. (Just a few days ago, Snoop performed “Gin and Juice” onstage with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks.)
“I’m a magnet,” says the rap star modestly. “Somebody said I was the star of stars.”
CALI IZ ACTIVE | Tha Dogg Pound | Doggy Style Records
