Rapper Snoop Dogg has managed to go where no gangsta rapper has ever been before and break into Bollywood. Cordozar Calvin Broadcus Junior, who is better known across the world as Snoop Dogg, performs the title track of a new Bollywood movie called Singh is Kinng which is being released in India on Friday. Starring one of Bollywood’s top actors Akshay Kumar, it’s being dubbed as the fusing of two cultures - where the King of Bollywood meets the King of Rap.
The two are said to have got on like a house on fire and Akshay even managed to get the American rapper to don Indian clothes for the music video. The film’s producer Vipul A Shah said: “Their chemistry was worth seeing as they’re superstars from two different worlds. To say the least, the video is looking brilliant.” The song is already a hit in India and is being played regularly on radio stations and in bars. In the video, the singer who has been in and out of trouble with the police for most of his life, is seen wearing a traditional Indian kurta or long shirt, beige trousers with a turban studded with a diamond.
Indian film-maker Deepak Tijori told Sky News: “He has a very very select audience and the song is blended with a typical Bollywood song. It is a good pinch of salt but will not be the mainstay of the film.”
In other words, it’s Akshay who is drawing in the crowds in India, not necessarily the US rapper.
But that hasn’t deterred Snoop, who apparently has plans to follow up with a tour to India.
“Snoop Dogg has a lot of fans in India and I love ‘em right back,” he said.
His co-performer Akshayis effusive with his compliments: “The song is mind-blowing. I made a few friends listen to it and they haven’t stopped gushing about it.
“I am confident like the rest of the soundtrack this will go on to become a major chartbuster.”
My opinion- There isn’t anything Snoop won’t do to stay relevant. First it’s doing the opening theme for One Life to Live, Then doing a country song, now Bollywood..Let me be clear, I would normally admire this type of creativity and open mindness when it came to true artists that appreciate and promote diversity. Unfortunately, this seems to be another example of a hip-hop celeb doing anything possible to stay relevant and to make money.
10 years ago Snoop would have laughed his ass off if, Warren G decided to do something like this. But selling out to mainstream media is all the rage now with former rap heavy weights like Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, and others because rap and hip-hop has slowly self destructed into pop music. Let’s face it, hip-hop is offically dead, there isn’t any money left to be made . There are no hardcore rappers left, get used to it. At least Eminem keeps it real, he seems to be the only rapper left who could care less about crossing over. Why can’t these guys just make great music like in the old days? Sigh…..
