Snoop Dogg raps gift for Prince William

Snoop Dogg's new single celebrates William's engagement to Kate Middleton. Photo / Supplied

LOS ANGELES - Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton in April will be a carefully choreographed occasion, steeped in tradition. But his engagement party may be quite the opposite.

Gangster rapper Snoop Dogg appeared to endorse tabloid rumours that he had been asked to perform at the forthcoming event, using his website and Twitter yesterday to inform fans he had dedicated his latest single, Wet, to the future groom.

In comments that were neither confirmed nor denied by St James' Palace, the performer said he was happy to compromise his streetwise profile to entertain guests at the bash, which is expected to be organised by the mooted best man, Prince Harry.

"When I heard that the royal family wanted to have me perform in celebration of Prince William's marriage, I knew I had to give them a little something," read a statement on the "Doggfather's" website. "Wet is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin'."

It wasn't entirely clear, however, whether he was responding to a formal royal invitation or reacting to reports last month in the Daily Mirror, which claimed he had been approached by Prince Harry to perform with British hip-hop artist Tinie Tempah.

A spokesman for the Princes said: "As Snoop Dogg has stated on his Twitter page, he has written a song for Prince William's engagement party. With regard to that, and that party, and the details of that party, it's too early for us to know more at this stage."

Snoop Dogg's lyrics ensure most albums come with "parental advisory" notices. Wet contains several passages that verge on pornographic.

- INDEPENDENT