Daz Dillinger and Kurupt—collectively referred to as Tha Dogg Pound—have been someplace in Canada mid-tour with Snoop Dogg after they hopped on Zoom. With weed smoke wafting by means of the air, the longtime duo chopped it up about their new album, W.A.W.G. (We All We Acquired), their first release on Death Row Records since their 1995 debut, Dogg Meals, and their ever-evolving relationship with Snoop Dogg.
The 14-track undertaking, which boasts eight collaborations with Snoop Dogg along with visitor verses from RBX, The Girl of Rage, Butch Cassidy, DaBaby and extra, bumps with nostalgia whereas concurrently ushering in one other chapter for the bona fide OGs.
Now of their 50s, each Daz and Kurupt understand how lucky they’re to nonetheless be doing what they love, particularly in an period of microwave rap. In actual fact, Kurupt admitted he’s considerably shocked by the constructive suggestions they’re getting on the undertaking.
“I used to be fairly shocked on the response,” Kurupt informed AllHipHop. “Being in our 50s and folks nonetheless appreciating our music is nice. We love the love. We love the individuals. We love the truth that they nonetheless using with us.”
Daz Dillinger and Kurupt mentioned it took simply 4 days to finish the album, a miraculous feat in itself contemplating Snoop Dogg is a modern-day renaissance man, who appears to be in all places directly.
“When Snoop mentioned go, it was a strong go,” Daz mentioned. “He was becoming it in his schedule. And as soon as he bought round us, he wouldn’t allow us to go. The chemistry by no means left.” Kurupt added, “We was pulling down 45 data a day! Dogg has this aura about him. We Snoop’s first group ever, Tha Dogg Pound, so Dogg already is aware of the place to go along with us. All he requested was for us to simply observe his lead.
“Daz ain’t produce a document on there, and that was very tough for Daz ’trigger he’s a producer. That is what he does. And Daz mentioned, ‘I’m following your lead, Dogg.’ I’m very happy with Daz for doing that proper there ’trigger he by no means provides up that place, however he did for the Champ and for the staff. And the Champ led us to the championship. He had concepts, he’d lay ’em and me and Daz executed them.”
Daz and Kurupt have come a good distance since their early days at Dying Row. After Dogg Meals debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, Tha Dogg Pound have been featured on 2Pac’s Dying Row debut, All Eyez on Me. Kurupt appeared on “Acquired My Thoughts Made Up” and “Test Out Time,” whereas Daz produced “2 of Amerikaz Most Needed,” “Ambitionz az a Ridah” and “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.” Additionally they made an look on Snoop Dogg’s album Tha Doggfather. However amid mounting tensions throughout the label, Daz and Kurupt wound up leaving on their very own accord in 1998.
Unexpectedly, Kurupt took an government producer position at Dying Row 4 years later, which Daz, Snoop Dogg and the remainder of the DPGC seen as a betrayal. From roughly 2003-2005, Daz and Kurupt routinely traded photographs on wax. Daz took intention at Kurupt and Dying Row on “U Ain’t S###” and “I Don’t Give a Fucc,” whereas Kurupt introduced the warmth all through his 2005 Originals album, together with the bonus observe “Eat a Dicc (Fucc Daz).”
Quick ahead to 2024 and Daz had practically given up on rap. “I used to be doing development. I used to be going to retire from rap. We reached the top of rap. What extra may I do?” However in March, Kurupt swung by Snoop’s studio and seen a man sitting within the nook along with his hat down low. He went to say what’s up and didn’t initially understand it was Daz. Evidently, he was shocked to see him there.
“I mentioned, ‘You huge head muthafucka, what the s###!?” Kurupt mentioned. “I take a look at Dogg, he on the board. He simply circled and smiled. All we did was smoke up. Dogg mentioned, ‘It’s DPGC time.’”
Finally, all people was capable of make peace. As Daz defined, “It was up and down at first, however then we bought it collectively. We’d been feuding for slightly bit, however we again—you realize, household s###. Me and Snoop are first cousins, so it’s up and down. We’ve been doing this s### on daily basis for the final 15 years. However we by means of with it now. We simply proceed to mash. We see the place we’re going. We see what the individuals is. And hey, the cash flowing over right here at Dying Row and alternative flowing.”
Daz did admit, “I used to be anti-Snoop at one time, so when you checked out him or breathed on him or something, I’d block your ass. I checked out it prefer it was a distraction.”
However Kurupt rapidly concluded, “That’s the place the household are available at, as a result of all of us butt heads. If we was simply mates, it could possibly be damaged, however household will all the time recover from the hump.”
W.A.W.G. (We All We Acquired) was launched as a Gala Music exclusive and is at the moment obtainable on all DSPs. Highlights embrace the title observe, “Favourite Colour Blue” and “Home Occasion.”
Discover it above.