US hip hop superstars set for new reality TV series

A new US reality TV series tentatively called Music Moguls will focus on the business and personal lives of Snoop Dogg, Birdman, Jermaine Dupri and Damon Dash. They number among the wealthiest of hip hop names.

Set to start filming in Los Angeles in November, the eight episodes will be aired in late 2016 on the US cable channel BET (Black Entertainment Television). It is apparently to be totally unscripted.

BET states on its website, “The show will dive into the lives of these hip-hop icons like you’ve never seen before. From family to business to their love lives, the series will be packed with drama, laughs and hashtag-worthy one-liners.”

Executive producer Lemuel Plummer is best known for his similar roles on Preachers of Atlanta and Preachers of L.A.

It is not the first foray into reality TV for some of the identities. Snoop’s Father Hood, which delved into his family life, screened on E! channel in 2007 and 2008. He’s also directing and starring in on another eight-part reality show about his not-for-profit organisation Snoop Youth Football League which he set up in Los Angeles in 2005. It will stream on AOL.

“Mentoring kids through SYFL means more to me than anything else I do,” he said. “It’s my way of continuing to connect with the communities that move me. I get to know kids and parents with great spirits from all over, and it becomes something far beyond football.

“It is important to not only be a football coach to these kids, but to be a life coach as well. It’s our way of sharing a life together. This series will finally give the world a chance to witness the stories, talent, and commitment SYFL represents in the same way I do.”

Dash, in the meantime, had a show called Ultimate Hustler on BET, which also produced reality series about Nelly, DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick.

Snoop has a close relationship with BET, hosting the network’s October 13 Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.

43-year old Snoop has had a busy 2015. In May, his 13th studio album Bush received strong reviews.

He could also be part of Dr. Dre’s tour of Europe to include Dre’s other protégés, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.

Dre unveiled the idea on last Sunday’s episode of his The Pharmacy radio show on Beats 1 while he was interviewing Snoop about their collaborations on Deep Cover and Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang. "This is one of the things that I've dreamed about doing. I want to call it Beats & Rhymes.

"I want it to be me and Snoop. I want it to be Eminem. I want it to be Kendrick Lamar. Take our full stage over there and show Europe the same amount of love that they been showing me throughout my entire career. So, that's my dream. Hopefully we can make that happen."

Snoop immediately quipped that the tour should be called Hoodstock, as the bill "sounds like Woodstock on steroids."

Dre’s idea of Beats & Rhymes puts a question mark over rumours of a NWA reunion tour in the wake of the box office smash Straight Outta Compton, with either Eminem or Lamar stepping in for the late Eazy E.