Snoop Dogg is making a reggae album. The "Drop it Like it's Hot" rapper has been working with producer Diplo - who has previously produced tracks for Beyonce, M.I.A and Usher - and exploring a new musical direction.

"Snoop Dogg is an icon, man; he's bigger than the music. What we're doing is a reggae record. It's all reggae and he's singing and he's doing a f***ing awesome job and I never knew it, but he had his heart in every song," Diplo told MTV.

Diplo added he and Snoop have started on 18 tracks together, and he's excited to get back to recording in April: "We're going to get back into the production of it next month, and I'm really proud of that record. It's the first record I've ever executive-produced and his crew is amazing."

The producer also admitted he was initially nervous when he teamed up with R&B star Usher, for his track "Climax." "We just had great chemistry. I was super-nervous working with him the first two days. I love Usher. I'm an Usher fan. We did some up tempo stuff too. I don't know what'll make the album, but I think there are definitely three songs that'll make it."