Doggy Dogg World: Snoop’s 10 Coolest International Collaborations

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At this point, collaborating with Snoop Dogg is like a rite of passage for an artist. The man has popped up on tracks with everyone from Katy Perry to Willie Nelson. Having him put in a cameo on an album is about as commonplace as spotting Bill Murray at a house party. (Both of these things happen a lot. One of them could happen to you.)
What impresses us most about his musical promiscuity is the cultural diversity Snoop embraces in the process. He doesn’t just get around. The Doggfather gets around the world. He’s seriously a paragon of global musical awareness, making more diplomatic connections in the last few years than Hillary Clinton.
You heard his soundtrack with Wiz Khalifa. Yawn. Here’s a look at a few of the iconic rapper’s most probability and geography defying moments. From Mumbai to Nigeria, K-pop to reggaeton, let’s go around the world with Snoop Dogg.
10. Sweden: Robyn – “U Should Know Better”
Snoop’s collaborations with Swedish pop singer Robyn are as perfectly timed and executed as they are superficially counter intuitive. The two artists first worked together when Robyn did the backing vocals on Snoop’s kitschy, sexy 2007 “Sexual Eruption” single. That track found its quirky, catchy other half when the rapper jumped on “U Should Know Better” off Robyn’s Body Talk Pt. 2.
9. Nigeria: D’Banj – “Mr. Endowed” Remix
Snoop Dogg’s African moment came last year when he hooked up with Nigerian super star D’Banj, contributing some verses to the remix of his hit “Mr. Endowed.” In one of our all-time favorite cross-pop cultural moments video for the remix, shot on location in Los Angeles, featured both stars.
8. Trinidad: KES the Band – “Stress Away” Remix
This year, Snoop was involved in a remix that made perfect sense to us. The laid-back one got loose on the remix for “Stress Away” by Trinidadian soca act KES the Band. Roll the clip. Nothing could be more appropriate than his turn on this anti-anxiety number.
7. Jamaica: Popcaan – TBD
Though he’s flirted with soca, it’s clear this globe trotting musician has got a blazing love affair going with reggae. He’s collaborated with Anthony B and Stephen and Damian Marley. His reggae album with Diplo is forthcoming and American dancehall producer Dre Skull is involved. But we’re really interested to see what he cooks up with Popcaan. Because … Popcaan.
And if you have any doubt about the depth of his feelings, you can check him out at this Rastafarian ceremony in Jamaica.
6. Korea: Girls Generation -”The Boys” Remix
That’s right, he’s done K-pop. His contribution to last year’s remix of “The Boys” by K-pop group Girls Generation was well received but some wires got crossed this month when he tweeted a photo of the group with the laconic observation: “Legs n. thighs. No biscuits.” The online K-poperazzi went wild with conjecture about what he meant, with the overall assumption being that it wasn’t very nice. Snoop explained himself on Instagram and an international crisis was averted.
5. India: “Singh is Kinng” with Akshay Kumar
You thought he’d done everything with the K-pop song. Actually, that was when he did a Bollywood song. The 2008 Bollywood action comedy Singh is Kinng starred Akshay Kumar and featured Snoop Dogg on the theme song, which resulted in a music video that is, um, unforgettable. Though it might seem at first like one of his most far fetched moments, the mutual admiration between the hip-hop world and Indian pop is well documented and ongoing. On both sides, it’s all about the beat.
4. France: David Guetta – “Sweat”
In 2011 French house DJ David Guetta remixed “Wet,” the 2010 track Snoop composed for Prince William’s bachelor party. The resulting clubbification featured Afrojack and laser noises.
3. Puerto Rico: Daddy Yankee – “Gangsta Zone”
In 2005, Snoop got the opportunity to get more in touch with his G-rated roots, this time en Español. “Gangsta Zone” recorded with Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee was his foray into reggaeton.
2. England: Tinie Tempah – “Pass Out” Remix
Besides the Prince William thing, the man has been quite active in the UK. There was his guest spot with Gorillaz for Plastic Beach, pictured above. But we’re partial to the 2010 “Pass Out” remix, his jam with Tinie Tempah and this live video of the two entertainers at Glastonbury.
1. The World: “We Are the World 25 for Haiti”
When an earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, 85 prominent musicians answered the call to remake “We Are the World” to raise money for the relief effort. And our well-traveled rap star was among them. We’ll count this as an international collaboration, since it was for Haiti and Wyclef produced it. Skip to 5:56 for the rap verse.
