Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre try out song from London learning disabilities charity | Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has worked with artists like Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry and Mariah Carey – and now a small London charity for people with learning disabilities has joined the list.

The rapper, together with Dr. Dre sampled the song Watermelon Fantasy, released in 2018 by the charity Daylight Studio, for the single Outta Da Blue from her new album Missionary, released on December 13th.

Watermelon Fantasy is performed by three artists with learning disabilities and produced by the founder of Daylight Studio and one of its trustees. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have collectively sold millions of records and have been nominated for 42 Grammy nominations.

Tina Bruins, who takes part in the track and lives in supported housing in north London, said: “I was shocked. I remember thinking, “Whaaaaaat?” I didn’t know it was from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg would be released. I thought no, I thought it was a fantasy.”

Bruins, 40, a longtime fan of Snoop Dogg, remembers watching his music videos on television late at night. “It was a big shock because it kind of proves that I make good music,” she said. “I’m proud of (Watermelon Fantasy) because Snoop Dogg took it over.”

In the month since its November 21 release, Outta Da Blue was featured in the trailer for Back in Action, a Netflix film scheduled for release in January 2025 starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx; about the American football video game Madden NFL 25; and in an Amazon Music Live Series in which Snoop Dogg performed songs from his entire career.

Proceeds from the collaboration will be split equally between Bruins and two other artists with learning disabilities, Mandy Priddice and Cedrick Letshou Olembo, with production shares donated to the charity.

Jack Daley, a sound engineer, and Oliver Price, a songwriter and music producer, made “Watermelon Fantasy” with Bruins, Priddick and Letshou in 2017 while hosting music sessions at Daylight, a day center for adults with learning disabilities run by Islington City Council.

When the center temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, Daley founded the charity Daylight Studio to continue his work composing and producing music with people with learning disabilities, with Price as a trustee.

The Guardian first reported on Daley’s work and Watermelon Fantasy in early 2019. Daley and Price believe that without this coverage, the song would never be released by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre would have been discovered.

“This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I’m pretty sure I can say this year has been the best year of my life,” Daley said. His and Price’s shares would be “life-changing” for the charity and will fund and expand its work over the next few years.

Price said: “I still can’t believe it’s a real thing. It feels kind of divine because the song is called “Outta Da Blue” and it came out of the blue and it’s like we’re living in a watermelon fantasy. It’s all pretty funny really.”

He added: “I’m excited about the charity and bringing attention to people with learning disabilities. They are often put in a box that is separate from society and no one sees them or works with them… But they have a lot to offer, as we just showed.”

Everyone involved would like to collaborate more with local and international artists, leveraging Daylight Studio’s music catalog.

“We want to keep making music and maybe this won’t be the last example,” Price said. “It would be great if Kendrick Lamar or Drake or someone used it. “You just don’t know.”

The Guardian reached out to representatives for Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, but neither of them could be reached for comment.