Snoop Dogg bumpin' onto Rock Band

Those worried that their Rock Band wasn't straight gangsta enough are in luck. Today, Snoop Dogg (real name: Calvin Broadus) announced a deal with MTV that will bring his lackadaisical vocal delivery to Rock Band. According to the agreement, the Harmonix-developed, Electronic Arts-distributed rhythm series will receive a selection of hits from the back catalog of the rapper-actor-TV-personality. No specific songs were mentioned.

Dogg's Rock Band debut won't be his first appearance in a video game. He lent his likeness and voice to EA's Def Jam Fight for NY (2004) and also made a cameo appearance as himself in Activision's True Crime: Streets of LA (2003). The multihyphenate was also supposed to star in Midway's John Singleton-produced game Fear & Respect (bottom), but the project was unceremoniously canceled in 2006.

In addition to Rock Band, Snoop's deal with MTV will see the network distribute his forthcoming album, Malice in Wonderland, which features appearances by Dr. Dre and Lalo Schifrin, who composed the iconic soundtracks to the classic films Dirty Harry and Bullit. Snoop will also host an all-new weekly variety show called Dogg After Dark on the youth-oriented, virtually music-video-free network.