Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre surprise UK charity by sampling song for new single
Legendary musicians Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre have surprised a small London charity by sampling their song on their latest single.
Daylight Studio, an organisation that supports individuals with learning disabilities, made the song “Watermelon Fantasy” in 2018. It is performed by three artists with learning disabilities, and produced by the founder of the charity, as well as one of its trustees.
The Grammy Award-winning artists have sold millions of records worldwide and chose to sample the charity music on their latest single “Outta Da Blue”, from their new album Missionary released on 13 December.
“I was shocked. I remember being like: ‘Whaaaaaat?’ I didn’t know it was going to be released by Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg,” Tina Bruins, an artist who features on the track told The Guardian.
Bruins, 40, who lives in supported housing in north London, said she was left in disbelief at the news.
“I thought no, I thought it was a fantasy.”
The single was first released on 21 November and has since been teatured in a trailer for Netflix movie Back in Action. The action comedy stars Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx and is set the be released in January 2025.
The song, which also samples MIA’s song “Paper Planes”, has also been featured in the video game Madden NFL 25 as well as an Amazon Music Live series of Snoop Dogg’s performances of songs throughout his career.
“It was a good shock because it sort of proves I make good music,” Bruins, a fan of Snoop Dogg, continued. “I’m proud of [”Watermelon Fantasy”] because Snoop Dogg took it over.”
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The song’s proceeds are to be split equally between Bruins and the other two artists on the song, Mandy Priddice and Cedrick Letshou Olembo. Production shares are to be donated back to the charity, according to The Guardian.
“Watermelon Fantasy” was first created with the help of recording engineer Jack Daley and songwriter and music producer Oliver Price in 2017. The pair hosted music sessions at Daylight, a day centre for adults with learning disabilities, run by Islington council, when the track was created.
