The new documentary Reincarnated aims to explain why rapper Snoop Dogg reinvented himself as the non-rapping reggae artist Snoop Lion. The transformation was about more than just a name change, according to Esquire contributor Jaime Lowe. As it turns out, Snoop is doing some old-fashioned soul-searching because, as Lowe writes, "hip-hop doesn’t have a grow-old plan."

The film is Snoop Dogg’s Eat, Pray, Love moment, Lowe tells Soundcheck, referring to the 2006 bestseller about one woman’s soul searching travels following a divorce. Hear more of Lowe's take on Reincarnated, which premiered at the recent South by Southwest festival and opened in New York this past Friday.

Watch Snoop Lion's new video for "Here Comes the King" (featuring Angela Hunte) from the album Reincarnated, due April 23.

As the Arab Spring echoed throughout the Near East and North Africa, rappers led the way in Egypt, Tunisia, and even in Mali. Two of the leading musicians, Deeb, from Egypt and Amkoullel, from Mali, join us in the studio for a discussion about the importance of their music to their respective countries — and to perform a few songs.

Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" has gotten the treatment. So has Justin Bieber's "U Smile." And David Bowie's "Heroes." Those are just a few examples of songs that have been time-stretched by various producers and remix artists -- meaning that they've been lengthened (sometimes a lot) without any changes in pitch. 

We take a listen to some examples of time-stretched music with author Tamara Palmer and producer TelegenicX, and hear about the history of the technique. 

Can you name all five of Prince's hits that have hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100?

Go ahead, try.

This year's South By Southwest music festival is over, and there's much to recommend. Soundcheck producer Michael Katzif recaps his favorite moments of the week.

Talib Kweli plays at Brooklyn Bowl Monday night. Download “Art Imitates Life" featuring Black Thought & Rah Digga.