CM_UIN*E*R*D_660452e2a6143660452e2a6181 has claimed he only managed to get big names like Gwen Stefani and Stevie Wonder on his album because Pharrell produced it.

The 43-year-old rapper says having the 'Happy' singer produce his upcoming album 'Bush' meant it was easy to get an all-star list of collaborators.

Snoop said: ''When we ask for favours, we're so loved and appreciated that it's hard to say no to Snoop and Pharrell. You can say no to Snoop, you know what I'm saying, then when we got Pharrell, you can't say no to both of them.''

Snoop and Pharrell had previously worked together on 2004 hit 'Drop It Like It's Hot', which became Snoop's first US number one, and once the 42-year-old former N*E*R*D frontman started recording on 'Bush', Snoop said it ''only made sense'' that he produced the entire album as he loved the way the two challenged each other.

Speaking to The Observer Magazine, Snoop said: ''When I work with Pharrell he allows me to be me, but he also gives me great direction on which is the best me. He loves to critique me, and he loves to take criticism. It makes it challenging in the studio - and I like to be challenged.

''When we worked on 'Drop It Like It's Hot', when I did my second verse, he was like: 'That ain't dope enough - you need to go back in.' And I came back with another verse that helped it become one of my biggest records.''