Coney Island is for the doggs.
Grammy-nominated rapper, producer and actor Snoop Dogg will play baseball stadium-turned-music venue Keyspan Park this summer on July 16. The rap superstar, known for the hit singles “Gin and Juice” and “Drop It Like It's Hot” and his propensity to use the catch phrase “izzle,” will be joined by alternative rockers 311 on the latter's Summer Unity Tour, a rap-rock mash up that's hitting nearly 50 cities this summer across the country.
“We wanted to try something new & unique in New York,” said 311 guitarist and vocalist Nick Hexum, who had heard that the White Stripes, Phish, Bjork and Daft Punk had all played special shows at Keyspan Park in the past and decided to check it out. “We love the fact that it's right on the famous Coney Island boardwalk. It should definitely be one of the highlights of the tour.”
The Unity tour gives 311 a chance to have a wide range of styles in their tour by pairing with an artist from another musical genre. Known for their blend of hip-hop, reggae and funk, culminating in their hit singles “Down” and “Amber,” last summer, the Los Angeles-based band, currently at work on its tenth studio album to be released next year, teamed up with Brooklyn-based reggae artist Matisyahu for its Unity tour, stopping at Jones Beach in New York.
This year's rap-rock mesh kicks off in Phoenix later this month and then makes its way from the West Coast to the East Coast.
“We couldn't be happier about it. We've been fans of Snoop for a long time,” said Hexum on the pairing. “[It] comes at a great time for 311 because the pendulum has swung back towards raps and dope beats in some of our music – so this summer will be a blast!”
In addition to 311 and Snoop Dogg, London-based rock band Fiction Plane is also slated to perform as a special guest.
This will not be the first visit by the rap superstar to the borough this year. Earlier this spring, Snoop Dogg made an under-the-radar appearance in Greenpoint to tape his own “Storytellers” as part of the VH1 series. The episode aired in late March.
To catch the Big Boss Dogg as he makes a return to the borough, tickets are currently on sale at http://www.bowerypresents.com/calendar/show/1492/. Tickets are $42 in advance, $45 the day of the all-ages show. The show is rain or shine.
Coney Island's KeySpan Park is located at 1904 Surf Avenue.
For more information on the show, go to www.bowerypresents.com.
For those looking to catch the rapper on the small screen, this summer sees the release of “Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It's Hot,” a DVD of his February 2005 performance in Brussels.
The disc features Snoop Dogg performing his most recent chartbusters such as “Drop It Like It's Hot” and “Get Blown,” and older favorites such as “What's My Name” and “Gin & Juice,” as well as two bonus tracks of his 2001 appearance at Jamaica's Reggae Sunfest.
The DVD will be available through www.amazon.com in early July.
