Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg Reflect on Big Pun & Fat Joe’s Remake of “Deep Cover”
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg recently spoke about Big Pun and Fat Joe’s 1998 remake of their classic track “Deep Cover.” Snoop revealed that he and Dre were honored by the tribute and enjoyed the reinterpretation of their iconic song. He also shared that Fat Joe personally called him to invite him to appear in the music video.
“We loved what Pun and Joe did with it. Joe hit me up like, ‘Yo Snoop, we need you in the video,’ and I was like, ‘Man, that’s love right there,’” Snoop recalled.
Fat Joe and Big Pun’s version, titled “Twinz (Deep Cover ’98),” was a significant moment in hip hop, bringing a Latino spin to the West Coast classic while cementing Big Pun’s lyrical dominance.
The History of “Deep Cover” (1992)
The original “Deep Cover” was released in 1992 as part of the soundtrack for the Laurence Fishburne crime film of the same name. Produced by Dr. Dre, the track marked the official debut of Snoop Dogg, introducing the world to his signature smooth flow and laid-back delivery. The song became a West Coast anthem, known for its gritty beat and hard-hitting lyrics, including the now-infamous hook:
“‘Cause it’s 1-8-7 on an undercover cop.”
“Deep Cover” also set the stage for Dre and Snoop’s legendary partnership, leading to their dominance in the early ’90s with “The Chronic” and “Doggystyle.”
Big Pun & Fat Joe’s “Twinz (Deep Cover ’98)”
In 1998, Fat Joe and Big Pun reimagined the track for Pun’s debut album “Capital Punishment.” The beat remained nearly identical to the original, but Pun and Joe brought their own energy, flipping the hook into:
“It’s still 1-8-7 on an undercover cop!”
Big Pun delivered one of his most celebrated verses, showcasing his rapid-fire flow and intricate wordplay:
“Dead in the middle of Little Italy, little did we know that we riddled some middlemen who didn’t do diddly.”
This line became one of the most quoted in hip hop history, solidifying Pun’s place as one of the greatest lyricists of all time.
Legacy of Both Versions
Both versions of “Deep Cover” remain classics in their own right. The original established Snoop Dogg’s career and became a staple of West Coast hip hop, while the remake helped introduce Big Pun to a wider audience, proving that Latino MCs could stand toe-to-toe with the best in the game.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg acknowledging the impact of Big Pun and Fat Joe’s version highlights the mutual respect between hip hop legends across coasts and generations.
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