Snoop Dogg releases 213 on July 20th

NEW YORK (TVT Records announcement) - TVT Records has announced the worldwide signing of hip-hop supergroup 213, featuring acclaimed hip-hop artists Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Warren G. 213's debut album, The Hard Way, will be released on TVT Records on July 20th, 2004. A decade-plus in the making, the group's highly anticipated first full length album release The Hard Way is set to rock the hip-hop world with the unprecedented combination of these three talented hip-hop stars.

Named after the area code of Long Beach, CA, the city in which all members of the group grew up, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Warren G originally formed 213 as teenagers in Los Angeles before breaking off to have renowned and record breaking solo careers. Upon splintering in the late 80's, they made a pact that, if they all succeeded as solo artists, they would return to their roots and pick up 213 where they left off. After a couple of stints attempting a reunion, most notably on the track "Ain't No Fun" on Snoop Dogg's critically-acclaimed album Doggystyle, it was not until the three combined forces again for a song off Warren G's 2001 release Return to the Regulator, that they were able to make 213's reunion official.

Before completing work on The Hard Way, 213's bootleg track, entitled "So Fly," exploded on to airwaves all over their hometown of Los Angeles. The track featured the instrumentation of Monica's "So Gone" and became the No1 song on Power 106 in Los Angeles, in addition to receiving heavy rotation on The Beat. The tremendous success of the song highlighted the excitement surrounding this trio's return, dominating the West Coast's top urban radio stations.

As the buzz on this highly anticipated record and reunion continues to build, the album's first official single, "Groupy Luv" is starting to bubble up on radio station playlists nationwide.