Having already gotten the lowdown from Kurupt on the new projects he’s working on solo and as one-half of Tha Dogg Pound [click to read], HipHopDX recently caught up with his partner-in-rhyme Daz Dillinger to discuss what he’s got on his plate for the remainder of ’08, as well as his thoughts on two of his former label bosses.
“Wouldn’t nobody put me in no movies so I went and made my own,”Daz confessed to DX about his forthcoming DVD Make It Rain. Due later this year, the film features cameos from a bevy of Hip Hop notables including Alfamega and Big Kuntry King from T.I.’s Grand Hustle camp, Duke from Boyz N Da Hood, Khujo Goodie and video star turned Cash Money artist Lil Chuckie. The movie dramatizes the commissioner of Atlanta’s attempts to shut down area strip clubs.
Before Make It Rain makes its way to your local video store, Daz will be releasing his latest solo CD, Only On The Left Side. Due August 12th via DPG Recordz partnership with Fontana/Universal Records, the album features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Obie Trice, Krayzie Bone, Kurupt and Keak Da Sneak, who appears on the disc’s first single, “Dip, Drop, Stop, Dip.” In addition to production from himself, Daz’s new release will boast boardwork from Swizz Beatz, Soopafly and Ivan Johnson.
And sometime between the release of his new DVD and solo CD should come the next Dogg Pound album, 100 Wayz. Kurupt already revealed to DX that he and Daz are currently meeting with several major labels to discuss distributing the project, but Daz elaborated further on the direction the West Coast tag team are taking for their next release.
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“I got a new and improved sound,” he revealed. “[I’m] just taking it back to the [essence] of Hip Hop – breakbeats, all kinds of shit. That hard bangin’ shit.”
Assisting Daz with the “new and improved sound” on 100 Wayz will be Swizz Beatz and Hi-Tek. And according to Daz, current confirmed guests for the album include Krayzie Bone and Cassidy.
As previously noted to DX by Kurupt, Tha Dogg Pound currently have an iTunes-exclusive album, Let’s Ride Tonight, available for sale. The release is a product of Daz’s recently launched digital distribution company, West Coast Online Distribution, which has also just released Khujo Goodie’s iTunes-exclusive album, G-Mob Godfather.
In addition to their work on 100 Wayz, Tha Dogg Pound are currently prepping the release of their own DJ Drama-helmed “Gangsta Grillz” mixtape [click to read].
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While DX gathered info from Daz regarding his upcoming projects he was also asked about the health status of Nate Dogg as the DPG crooner recovers from a stroke he suffered this past December.
“He’s in good spirits,”Daz assures of Nate before adding, “You need to be asking [me] how Suge Knight doing.”
Obviously referring to the recent incident in which Suge was assaulted at Shag Nightclub in Los Angeles [click here read], Daz was subsequently asked for his thoughts on his former CEO’s forthcoming reality T.V. show [click to read].
“That looks real exciting right there, to get knocked out on your own T.V. show,” he replied. “That’s one of the funniest things since anything.”
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Daz also offered up his thoughts on another one of his former label bosses, Jermaine Dupri, and the commercial failure of Daz’s sole effort for Dupri’s So So Def label, 2006’s So So Gangsta.
“It was a money scam,” says Daz. “[And] Jermaine got away with the money [Laughs]. He told Janet [Jackson to] suck it up, put ya hands on ya pussy baby [and] hold on tight.”
Although well known for making the occasional outrageous comment like the one above, Daz doesn’t seem to be harboring any ill will towards Dupri for the mishandling of his last major-label backed solo effort.
“It’s all to the good,” says Daz. “I just keep it pushing. I got bigger and better things [to focus on]. I’m into these movies, putting records together and just chillin right now. [I’m] living real comfortable.”
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Only On The Left Side will be released August 12th via DPG/Fontana/Universal Records.
