Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent Unite to Honor Biggie with “Gunz N Smoke”
Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent Unite to Honor Biggie with “Gunz N Smoke”
Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent have come together for the first time on a new track titled “Gunz N Smoke,” paying tribute to the legendary Notorious B.I.G. Despite their long-standing friendships and collaborations over the past 25 years, this marks the first occasion that all four hip-hop giants have appeared on the same song.
The dynamic track is featured on Snoop and Dre’s new album, Missionary, and showcases 50, Snoop, and Em delivering revitalized verses over the polished production from Dr. Dre.
50 Cent kicks off the song with a rapid-fire verse, sending a warning to his adversaries about his lethal capabilities, before Snoop Dogg takes over, skillfully switching up his flow throughout the track.
Biggie’s influence resonates throughout the first half, as 50 adopts the Bad Boy MC’s signature cadence, rapping: “Red dot ya, I got ya / B.I.G. time, who shot ya?” This is complemented by a heavy bassline reminiscent of Biggie’s classic hit “Hypnotize.”
Snoop also pays homage to Biggie by referencing a line from “Notorious Thugs” in his verse, while a sample of Biggie’s iconic “gunsmoke!” line from “Dead Wrong” echoes throughout the track.
Eminem closes out the collaboration with a complex and introspective verse, reflecting on his tumultuous upbringing, previous tendencies towards violence, and his evolution into a more mature artist.
Released on December 13, Missionary serves as the highly anticipated follow-up to Snoop Dogg’s 1993 debut, Doggystyle, which was also produced entirely by Dr. Dre.
The 16-track album features a diverse array of guest artists, including Method Man, Jelly Roll, Jhené Aiko, BJ The Chicago Kid, as well as rock icons Sting and Tom Petty.
Snoop Dogg has described Missionary as one of the most awaited projects in hip-hop since it was first announced in late 2022. During a recent appearance on the All the Smoke podcast, hosted by former NBA stars Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Snoop shared how the album concept came to be.
“[Dre] called me one day about two years ago and said, ‘N-gga, come over, let’s do a couple of songs together,’” Snoop recalled. “I ended up going over there, and he was like, ‘N-gga, let me do your album.’ I was like, ‘Alright, let’s go!’ We knocked out a few tracks, and he kept calling me back for more. This dude needed ‘two more days’ all the time,” he laughed.
“But when you hear what we’ve created and how he’s pushed me as an artist, it really feels like a grown-up Snoop Dogg. There’s been growth in my style and delivery. [Dr. Dre] produces me like a robot, and I love it because I thrive on being challenged.”
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