Snoop Dogg has wasted little time as the recently-appointed Creative Chairman of Priority Records. Just months after taking the position, the rapper has inked in a deal with none other than fellow so-Cal rap group Cypress Hill, the first to sign in the Snoop Dogg era of the EMI-operated label. Says Snoop:
“My role as Creative Chairman of Priority Records has put me in the driver’s seat to help revive the most important west coast hip hop label. As such, I’m excited to announce my first signing as Cypress Hill. Cypress Hill is undeniably one of the most important hip hop groups in music history, not only are they incredibly talented and the first Latino hip hop group to go platinum, they are also from the west coast-so this signing is the perfect marriage.”
B-Real and co. will release their first studio album since 2004, and eighth overall, under Priority. Set to drop April 6th, the new work will be titled Rise Up and will feature the likes of Slash, Tom Morello, Evidence, Everlast and others. Morello co-wrote and co-produced the title track (go figure) and also performs guitar duties on “Shut ‘Em Down”. Rapper Sen Dog offers his thoughts on the album:
“Making this record was so much fun. It felt like the first record we ever made together. We recorded whatever we wanted to with no musical boundaries. And having the chance to work with one of my favorite guitar players of all time, Tom Morello, was amazing. I always knew we would make some kickass music together.”
Adds Tom Morello:
“It was great to work with my longtime friends and comrades Cypress Hill on these two monster rock tracks,” says Morello. “Cypress are back with a vengeance!”
Their choice of words has us lingering between nervous and pumped, but we’ll go with pumped for now. The album has been recorded over the course of three years at B-Real’s Los Angeles studio The Temple, and he calls it “[the band’s] best record yet.”
We’ll update this with a tracklist when it’s announced. For now, check out Snoop Dogg recently performing with Cypress Hill on Lopez Tonight below.
