Artists breaking genre barriers is nothing new.  However, when an icon does something unexpected, the industry takes notice.  Such a thing should be happening right now with Snoop Dogg and famed producer Diplo.

Diplo, beyond being a producer, is famous for being half of the dancehall duo Major Lazer.  That an American white guy would be into Jamaican-based dance culture would be stereotype-breaking enough, but he chooses to push boundaries.  And, he puts on a heck of a show and knows how to work a crowd.  I experienced this firsthand at his performance he gave as Major Lazer at Washington University in St Louis’ Fall 2010 W.I.L.D. festival, which was probably the craziest crowd I’ve ever encountered at any kind of live music experience (though to be fair, many people present were probably just there to get hammered and have a great time doing it – pun intended).

Diplo’s producer side is becoming more and more prolific, especially with this most recent reggae project with Snoop Dogg.  Snoop is, wait for it, singing throughout the record and according to Diplo, is “doing a f***ing awesome job” (source).  Furthermore, Snoop “had his heart in every song” (same source).  Kind of surprising coming from the guy who was cast as Huggy Bear in the Starsky and Hutch remake a few years ago.  Rappers singing isn’t totally new, but can you imagine smooth Snoop stepping into Marley’s territory?  I suppose with his connections to stoner culture it isn’t completely far-fetched, but I will believe it when I hear it. If nothing else, such a move is good publicity, not that Snoop needs it.  By the way, did I mention that is the first record that Diplo has executive-produced?

Cover photo credit: Blue Marble user, Flickr (as seen in WikiCommons)