West Coast rappers
the Game and Snoop Dogg appear together on the “West Coast Resurrection”
March issue of XXL magazine, in celebration of the history and revival of West
Coast rap.
The Long Beach-raised Snoop
Dogg and Compton-bred Game are often credited with bringing the West Coast back
to recognition in hip-hop recently.
On the cover of the commemorative
issue, Game sports his trademark red hoodie (the color of the Bloods gang) and
Snoop dons baby blue (the Crips color).
“It’s ironic
how much Snoop and the Game have in common. Both are Dr. Dre protégés
who created two of the strongest debut albums in hip-hop history,” said
XXL Editor-in-Chief Elliot Wilson in a statement. “Hopefully, that type
of success will open more doors for a new generation of West Coast MCs.”
In the upcoming issue, Game
speaks on his awe of Aftermath mentor Dr. Dre, a legendary face from the West.
“I saw Dre, and I damn near shi**ed on myself. I only [knew] this dude
from TV and listening to the radio,” says Game. “Still to this day,
I be working in the studio with Dre, he turn his head, and I be looking at him
like, Damn, that’s muthafu**in’ Dr. Dre!”
Unlike Game, who has openly
praised the brotherhood aspect he says gangs can offer, Snoop prefers to downplay
his supposed connection to the street life in his interview.
Reacting to his line, “Keep
a rag on the left side/yeah that’s the Crip side” on his hit “Drop
It Like It’s Hot,” Snoop says, “That was just a particular
statement that I made on the song. I’m not tryin’ to promote a way
of life. I’m not tryin’ to promote gang violence or nothin’
like that. It’s
just the way I felt when I wrote the rap.”
In the special issue, the
magazine also pays tribute to vital players in the rap game who came out the
West. The hip-hop publication marks the ten-year anniversary of Eazy-E’s
death, features profiles of rap pioneers DJ Quik and MC Eiht, and an exclusive
interview with Ras Kass on life after prison.
XXL has also joined with
MTV2 for the 25 Greatest West Coast Videos of all time, which airs March 13
on MTV2. Elliott Wilson provides his own commentary throughout the countdown.
“The thing I love
most about our final list is that we were able to cover such a wide range of
artists,” said Wilson. “The West Coast has always been about more
than just gangsta rap.”
Wilson said the video countdown
honors such artists as Sir-Mix-A-Lot, MC Hammer, Coolio and Young MC, who were
often criticized for going the pop route. Female MCs like Yo-Yo and JJ Fad,
and rap crews Pharcyde and Souls of Mischief are also given the light.
The XXL “West
Coast Resurrection” issue will be on stands March 1.
