Dr. Dre has upped the excitement for his and Snoop Dogg‘s forthcoming album Missionary by calling it “some of the best music” he’s ever made.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight following his recent Olympics performance, the legendary producer shared more details about the eagerly anticipated project, which he’s confident will be another jewel in his acclaimed catalog.
When asked about working on Missionary versus Snoop’s 1993 debut Doggystyle, which he also produced, Dre said: “It was much more fun, to be honest, because we were kids at that time. Snoop may have been 18 or 19 years old and I think I’m six years older than him, so we were kids at that time.
“This one’s gonna show a different level of maturity with his lyrics and with my music. I feel like this is some of the best music I’ve done in my career […] I’m not playing.”
He added: “The musicians I’m working with right now and some of the writers in the studio that are helping us… Snoop is really excited about this and so am I. I think people are gonna really enjoy this.”
Dre also revealed that he and Snoop are close to finishing the album and are aiming for a November release, which would coincide with the 31st anniversary of Doggystyle (which falls on November 23).
“As soon as we finish this I have to go downstairs and start mixing. I wanted 14 songs, Snoop wants 16, so we have that thing happening [bumps his fists together],” he said. “I’m on song number 11 as far as the mixes go. I have to be done and delivered by September 1st to have a November release.”
The Aftermath founder even let slip one high-profile guest on Missionary while teasing a star-studded supporting cast which may include himself.
“I actually did a couple of songs, I’m not sure if one of them’s gonna make it or not. I produced the entire album but vocally, I think, only one of them is gonna make it,” he shared.
“There’s a song, we have Sting on the song. Man, it’s an amazing roster of artists that’s on this album. I shouldn’t have revealed that, to be honest.”
Snoop Dogg first announced Missionary during an appearance on Stephen A. Smith’s Know Mercy podcast in 2022.
“You’re the first one to hear this: me and Dr. Dre have been working on an album for the past two months,” Snoop told the sports personality. “It’s produced by Dr. Dre, it’s our 30th anniversary to Doggystyle. And the name of the album is Missionary.”
When Smith asked: “Why that name?” Snoop replied: “The first album was Doggystyle,” prompting a roar of laughter from the ESPN host. “That is beautiful. I love it, man,” Smith commented.
Tha Doggfather later explained how the idea for the album came together while guesting on former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s All the Smoke podcast.
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“[Dr. Dre] called me one day about two years ago. He was like, ‘N-gga, come over, let me do a couple of songs with you,’” he recalled.
“I go over there and he like, ‘N-gga, let me do your album.’ And I’m like, ‘Alright, let’s go!’ We go in, knock out a couple of songs. He hit me back: ‘I need two more days.’ I got that call probably about 85 times. This n-gga need two more days all the time.”
Echoing Dre’s above comments, Snoop went on to emphasize the maturity displayed on Missionary while calling the material they’ve recorded “masterful.”
“But when you hear what we have and how he got me rapping, it’s like a grown Snoop Dogg,” he continued. “There’s some growth to him. It’s the way he selects his bars, it’s the way he uses his voice. [Dr. Dre] uses me like a fucking robot and I love it because I love to be produced. I love to be challenged.”