Snoop Dogg, a progenitor of West Coast rap and one of the genre’s most enduring stars, has signed with MCA Records and is moving his Doggy Style Records into the label’s fold for marketing and distribution.
The signing also brings to MCA Doggy Style’s roster of Kokane, La Toiya Williams, Soopafly and E-White.
In addition to releasing albums, the deal includes the production of companion films starring each of Doggy Style’s artists. They will go direct to home video outlets through Snoopadelic Films. Snoop Dogg currently stars in the New Line theatrical release “Bones,” which earned $3.56 million in its first five days of release.
Snoop Dogg was associated with gangsta rap early in his career; his 1993 album “Doggystyle” was the first debut disc ever to enter the charts at No. 1. It has since shipped 4 million copies.
Dr. Dre mentored Snoop Dogg, having him appear on one of rap’s most influential albums, “The Chronic,” before the two parted ways. Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus in Long Beach has followed Dre’s practice of overseeing a considerable army of artists; on the charts is the TVT release “Deuces ‘N Trayz – The Old Fashioned Way” by the act billed as Snoop Dogg Presents Tha Eastsidaz.
Snoop previously has recorded for Priority Records, a pioneering rap label that was wholly acquired earlier this year by EMI.
