"California Gurls" is the lead single by Katy Perry from her third studio album, Teenage Dream . The song features a verse from rapper Snoop Dogg. Both artists co-wrote the song with Bonnie McKee and its co-producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin, with additional production from Benny Blanco. According to Perry, the song is an answer song to "Empire State of Mind" , by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. "California Gurls" is a midtempo disco-pop and funk-pop song with influences of New Wave and e.... {+}