Snoop Dogg Explains Why He Let Cordae Pen His Lyrics: "I Started Off Writing For Dr. Dre"

BY Erika Marie 11.0K Views
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The Rap icon went on to use Whitney Houston as an example of why this is beneficial to artists.

For decades, Snoop Dogg has been a leader in Hip Hop who has embraced new talent. There have been complaints about "Old Head" rappers who distance themselves from the new generation of emcees carving out their Rap lane, but for Snoop, he opts to work with—and deliver game to—artists on the rise. The business mogul shared his BODR album that hosted a bevy of features from artists both young and old, and in a chat with the Rap Radar Podcast, Snoop discussed his decision to have Cordae write for him.

Brian "B.Dot" Miller told Snoop that he was surprised about Cordae being behind the pen, especially in a culture that values writing ones own rhymes. "I started off writing," said the rapper.


"I started off writing for Dr. Dre, so what would I be if I didn’t allow somebody to write for me? You know, sometimes you gotta put yourself in the frame of letting somebody else depict a better picture for you 'cause you can’t see everything.”

“I'll use this as an example: I feel like Whitney Houston’s best record was The Bodyguard, when the other people came in and gave her records that weren’t hers, where she could just sit back and just sing," he added. "And they embodied what they thought she should be, and that’s to the point in my career where I’m at now, where I’ve written so many hit records, to where it’s not about what I can write sometimes, it’s about what I can’t see that somebody else can write for me.”

Should more rappers adopt this mindset? Check out the clip below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming the Co-Head of Original Content. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, and Amy Luciani—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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