The rise of album sequels? Snoop Dogg announces 'Doggystyle 2'

Fresh off a triumphant performance of "Doggystyle" at this year's Rock the Bells, Snoop Dogg has announced that he has begun work on its sequel, "Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary." The only catch is that it will be produced by Swizz Beatz, not Dr. Dre, who produced the entirety of the original.

The information was relayed via a YouTube viral video, presumably recorded after a long night of recording. Holding up a CD-R, Snoop claimed that he'd cut 18 songs that evening. To which Beatz, best known for his production work with DMX and Ruff Ryders Entertainment artists, added, "that’s how we used to do it back in the day. It's not about the single, it's about the sound. So we constructing sounds for the album."

Declaring that Swizz "laced his boots up" for the new record, Snoop boasted that the producer, who is Alicia Keys' husband, had given him some gangsta [stuff], some crib [stuff], some R&B [stuff,] some hip hop [stuff,] hard [stuff], and some mean [stuff.]”

The forthcoming record doesn't lack predecedent. In fact, it dovetails with a recent trend among veteran rappers. Last year, Chef Raekwon scored a critical and commercial triumph with his "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2." More recently, Capone-N-Noreaga released "The War Report 2." Other planned sequels reportedly include Redman's "Muddy Waters 2" and the GZA's "Liquid Swords 2."

Snoop Dogg gets viral, sends messages to Britney Spears, Al Gore, 'Weird Al' Yankovic and Justin Bieber

Forget aging gracefully -- aging strangely is far more interesting. Indeed, the last few years have seen '90s rap superstars transition into their late 30s and 40s with different approaches.

There's the dignified mogul archetype of Jay-Z, who has fulfilled his ambition of becoming rap's Frank Sinatra. There's Ghostface Killah, who recorded an R&B/rap hybrid record touching on "mature" themes from adultery to the difficulties of sustaining long-term love.  And there's Chef Raekwon's "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" strategy, where he continues to produce artful songs within the confines of a familiar aesthetic.

Snoop Dogg has had one of the most endearing evolutions, transforming from a cold-blooded gangsta rapper into a lovable stoned uncle. Indeed, there's nothing too bizarre for Snoop: country songs dedicated to weed ("My Medicine"); Auto-Tuned retro funk jams ("Sensual Seduction"); guest hosting "WWE Raw." But then, he's also serving as the creative chairman of Priority Records. Eighteen years after "Deep Cover," Snoop remains at the top of the charts, collaborating with Katy Perry and still highly sought after for cameos.

While none of his recent incarnations will make you toss your copy of "Doggystyle," they're always ingratiating and fun. Unlike many of his peers, Snoop is relentlessly self-aware and always willing to poke fun at himself and others, a quality that has served him well.

His latest hash-brained scheme is a series of viral videos, aimed at garnering the attention of various celebrities. It's all in the promotion of his latest project, "My #1 Priority," a compilation of the greatest Priority Records cuts of the last 25 years -- and of course, Snoop himself.

After the jump, click to see a series of videos of Snoop beseeching "Weird Al" Yankovic to write a parody song with him, Justin Bieber to holler at him and Kim Kardashian to show his friend her new tattoo, among others. It's typically strange, which is to say that it's quintessentially Snoop.

-- Jeff Weiss