WHAT does it take to be a slumdog millionaire? The award winning film had an answer for it. But what does it take to be a Snoop Dogg Millionaire? City-based singer Tanvi Shah seems to have an answer for it. And she croons it out with none other than one of the world’s popular and most controversial rappers, Snoop Dogg. The track, titled Snoop Dogg Millionaire, has seen the rapper and Hustle Boyz collaborating with the 'Jai Ho' girl Tanvi. And it is no ordinary rap song.
Rapping the DubStep anthem-turned crossover banger ‘Eastern Jam’ produced by Wild Animals and Chase & Status, well-known Dubstep artistes in the West, the track is an inspiration from the Academy Award winning rags-to-riches film Slumdog Millionaire. “Because Snoop Dogg is also a person who rose from rags to riches and is rising higher and higher with his music,” says an excited Tanvi. And Dub-Step, being grime, dark and in the bass genre, is popular in the underground music scene in the UK and is still catching on with the others.
Going places after AR Rahman showed the way for Indian musicians, the Jai Ho girl is now gearing herself to be a part of history. “Snoop Dogg and other singers have a high regard for our music. If people here regard Rahman sir and me as popular musicians, it'll definitely be a great achievement for me. As of now, I've got my fingers crossed,” she signs off.
Hindi lyrics for Snoop Dogg's story
It all started a few days after Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars and AR Rahman made the world take a second look at him.
Tanvi was invited to visit a studio in Los Angeles. But she never knew what she was getting into. It was like a dream before she realised she was featuring with one of the singers with a 'gangster' image. Speaking about the song, Tanvi says, “It’s a totally different experience.
I learnt something new. I had never heard of Dub-Step genre.” Tanvi has crooned in Hindi, while the rest have sung in English. “I suggested Hindi lyrics when they explained the situation and Snoop Dog was open to it,” she says, adding that she wrote the Hindi lyrics herself.
After being recorded, the song was out on the internet on March 19 telling the story of Snoop Dog and poking one-liners at Slumdog Millionaire. The song will now be included in Snoop Dog’s upcoming album Malice in Wonderland.
“He was open to experimenting with anything. He has an image of a gangster but he is totally down to earth,” Tanvi showers praises on the rapper. The song has already received rave reviews. “There are positive and negative reactions to every song,” says the sportive singer.
tejonmayam@epmltd.com