It’s been two-and-a-half decades since Snoop Dogg left his indelible mark on the music and pop culture landscapes with his iconic album “Doggystyle,” featuring the chart-topping hit “Gin and Juice.”
Now, the legendary West Coast rapper is bringing his celebratory tour — along with special guests Warren G and Tha Dogg Pound — to Northeast Pennsylvania for a night of hip-hop classics on Thursday, Sept. 26. The show begins at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Twp. Tickets start at $39.75, plus fees.
During a recent phone interview from California, Warren G, aka Warren Griffin III, talked about sharing the stage with his longtime collaborator, Snoop, and what allows their music to stand the test of time. Griffin’s catalogue relies heavily on funk samples and stories drawn from real life, such as his instantly recognizable single “Regulate.” The honesty of his music is what listeners connect to, he said.
“It’s music you can relate to, no matter what age you are or however long a period that it’s been out,” Griffin said. “Everybody can relate to it today because they go through a lot of the things I was talking about. It’s about being an everyday teenager (turning) into an adult.
“It continues to cycle. We’ve all been through it. It keeps going and going and going and going on.”
Playing live never gets old for Griffin, who pointed out that most crowds are nostalgic for the songs they’ve listened to for years but never experienced in person.
“I just love to be able to have fun with the crowd and for them to love what I’m doing — really being a part of it, and (they) love being part of that era,” he explained. “I still make good music. I’m not gonna stop. I continue to do what I do.”
“Regulate” and his shared songs with Snoop, such as “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None),” are the highlights of the set for Griffin, who said there’s always a chance guests will see the two rappers performing together on stage.
Griffin’s approach to presenting the music is pretty straightforward, he added, but everyone in the arena can expect plenty of interaction from him in between songs, and maybe even a few surprises as far as the set goes.
“I really love (that) when I do a show, I really communicate with the crowd, and really have a good time,” Griffin said. “It’s just me giving me to the masses. It’s a conversation with the crowd.
“It’s going to be a lot of the records they heard before, and some they may not be all the way familiar with. It’s going to be dope. They gotta get ready for it, because I’m coming. And I got a lot of love for Pennsylvania.”
By the end of the night, Griffin said he hopes everyone leaves satisfied with everything they see and hear. For his part, he plans to bring it all to the stage and hold nothing back.“I hope the takeaway is that they say, ‘This is one of the dopest shows I’ve ever seen, and one of the coolest guys I’ve ever experienced because he gives us him, no gimmick.’”
The show also holds a local connection in that Snoop’s assistant tour manager, John Phillips, resides in West Pittston and is based out of Scranton. He has been with them since August 2018.
“Working for Snoop and the rest of his organization is a fantastic experience and beyond rewarding,” Phillips said.
If you go
What: Snoop Dogg & Friends Tour featuring special guests Warren G and Tha Dogg Pound: 25th Anniversary of Celebrating “Doggystyle”
When: Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m.; doors open at 6
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Twp.
Details: Tickets start at $39.75, plus fees, available through the box office and ticketmaster.com. Limited meet-and-greet packages are available. For more information, visit mohegansunarenaPA.com.
Patrice Wilding is a 13-year employee of the Lifestyles Dept. at The Times-Tribune, where she worked her way up from a clerk to a web video producer to a full-time reporter, writer and copy editor. An Olyphant native, she graduated from Mid Valley Secondary Center and earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with concentration in media arts, political science and communications from Wesley College, Dover, Delaware. She lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, Justin, and their son, Johnny. Contact: pwilding@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5369; @pwildingTT
