Katy Perry has admitted that she asked rapper Snoop Dogg to feature on her new single to make herself looker cooler.

The rapper makes a special guest appearance on 'California Gurls', which is currently number one on the the UK chart.

In an interview with Esquire magazine, Perry said she asked the West Coast hip-hop star to feature in order to create the ultimate “California anthem”.

“I can't let the Beach Boys down. I can't let Tupac down,” she said.

“I had the idea to put Snoop on — I thought he would be the cherry on top, and it would make me look cooler."

'California Gurls' is taken from Perry's new album 'Teenage Dream'.

The follow-up to 2008's 'One For The Boys' is due to be released in August.

(by Jason Gregory)