Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg, born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. on October 20, 1971, in Long Beach, California, is a prominent American rapper, songwriter, and media personality. He began his music career in the early 1990s, gaining recognition for his smooth, laid-back vocal style and his significant contributions to the gangsta rap genre. Snoop was part of the hip-hop group 213, collaborating with artists like Warren G and Nate Dogg, before establishing himself as a solo artist with his debut album, *Doggystyle*, in 1993, which became a massive commercial success.
Despite facing numerous legal challenges, including a high-profile murder trial, Snoop Dogg continued to evolve his music and public persona. He transitioned away from gangsta rap themes, embracing a more party-centric style and collaborating with various artists across genres. Notably, he has ventured into television and film, co-hosting shows like *Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party* and appearing in movies like *Soul Plane*. In addition to his music and media career, Snoop is also a well-known advocate for cannabis culture. In 2022, he acquired the rights to Death Row Records, further solidifying his influence in the music industry. Snoop Dogg remains a cultural icon, celebrated for his contributions to hip-hop and popular culture.
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Snoop Dogg
Rapper
A seminal figure in the rise of gangsta rap during the 1990s, Snoop Dogg is known for his simple, relaxed vocal delivery and lyrical depictions of urban life. During the early twenty-first century, Snoop Dogg emerged as a pop culture icon, appearing in television shows and films in addition to touring and recording.
Early Life
Snoop Dogg was born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. on October 20, 1971, in Long Beach, California, to Beverly Broadus and Vernall Varnado, a frequently absent father. Nicknamed “Snoopy” by his mother because of his early resemblance to the cartoon character, Snoop Dogg began rapping in the sixth grade and sang in the choir of a Baptist church. Snoop had several legal problems during his early life. During high school, he was part of the Rollin’ 20 Crips gang, and after graduation he spent three years in and out of prison because of drug convictions.
Early in his career, Snoop Dogg was part of the hip-hop group 213, named for the Long Beach area code at that time. The group also included rapper-disc jockey Warren G and singer Nate Dogg. The group created several homemade tapes, which Warren G constantly passed on to his stepbrother Dr. Dre, a prominent rapper, producer, and partner in Death Row Records. While at first the group did not receive a response, Snoop and Warren were eventually brought in for a meeting with Dr. Dre after one of their mix tapes was played at a party at Dr. Dre’s mansion. Soon thereafter, Snoop began recording and collaborating with Dr. Dre on the Death Row label.
Life’s Work
Dr. Dre first included Snoop Dogg (who rapped under the name “Snoop Doggy Dogg” at the time) on the title track for the sound track to the film Deep Cover in 1992, which was Dr. Dre’s debut solo single. Later that same year, Snoop was featured on more than half of the songs on Dr. Dre’s debut album, The Chronic, and in 1993 Snoop released his own commercially successful debut, Doggystyle. Just as Snoop Dogg’s career was taking off, however, he once again found himself in legal trouble. In August 1993, Snoop Dogg was arrested for his suspected involvement in a fatal drive-by shooting. He was acquitted of all charges in February 1996. Snoop also became embroiled in the East Coast–West Coast feud between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment that was implicated in the deaths of Snoop Dogg’s friend and label mate Tupac Shakur in 1996 and Bad Boy rapper the Notorious B.I.G. in 1997.
Because of his legal trouble, Snoop Dogg’s second album, Tha Doggfather, was not released until November 1996. While it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and US R&B charts, it was not as successful as Doggystyle for a variety of reasons. Dr. Dre had left the Death Row label earlier that year, so instead the album was coproduced by Snoop, Daz Dillinger, and DJ Pooh. Tha Doggfather also was released at a time when gangsta rap was declining in popularity and artists were fleeing Death Row. The lyrics of Tha Doggfather foreshadowed Snoop Dogg’s own transition away from gangsta rap. While the album contains typical violent themes, its lyrics are not as harsh as those found on Doggystyle, and it offers more party-oriented songs, such as the single “Snoop’s Upside Ya Head.” Snoop left Death Row Records after the release of the album because of a contract dispute with label head Marion “Suge” Knight.
After leaving Death Row, Snoop Dogg made a conscious effort to remake his image. He moved away from traditional gangsta rap subject matter, appearing on the rock-oriented Lollapalooza tour in 1997 and dropping the “Doggy” from his stage name. Snoop Dogg signed with rapper Master P’s No Limit Records in 1998 and released three albums for the label, including Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, which topped the Billboard 200. He also acted in a few straight-to-video films directed by Master P. After leaving No Limit, Snoop established his own independent label, Doggystyle Records, and continued to release albums on a variety of major labels, including Capitol Records (2002), Geffen Records (2004–8), and Priority Records (2009). Snoop worked with a large number of producers (including the Neptunes and Timbaland) and notable guest artists (50 Cent, Lil’ Jon, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell). He released his first number-one single, “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” in 2004.
In 2008 Snoop released his ninth studio album, Ego Trippin’, with Geffen Records. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart and its first single, “Sexual Eruption,” peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent albums included Malice n Wonderland (2009) and Doggumentary (2011). In 2012 he released the reggae single “La La La” under the pseudonym Snoop Lion and the compilation album Loose Joints as DJ Snoopadelic. The album Reincarnated (2013) was also credited to Snoop Lion, as the rapper had converted to Rastafari after a trip to Jamaica.
Snoop Dogg also remained active as an actor in both cameo and featured roles in films such as Starsky and Hutch (2004), Soul Plane (2004), Hood of Horror (2006), and Falling Up (2009). He also produced and appeared in the sketch comedy television show Doggy Fizzle Televizzle (2002–3), starred in the reality show Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood (2007–9), and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 2004. In the 2010s, he hosted a number of television and web series, including GGN (2011–) on his own Double G News Network; Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party (2016–17), a cooking show he cohosted with Martha Stewart; and Hockey 101 with Snoop (2018) for the National Hockey League website. In addition, he became well known as a marijuana advocate, and launched the cannabis products brand Leafs By Snoop in 2015.
Snoop Dogg returned to releasing albums credited under that name with Bush (2015). Subsequent releases included Cool Aid (2016), Neva Left (2017), Bible of Love (2018), I Wanna Thank Me (2019), and From tha Streets 2 tha Suites (2021). Snoop Dogg purchased the rights to the Death Row Records brand in February 2022. That same month, Snoop Dogg released the album B.O.D.R. (Bacc On Death Row).
Significance
Snoop Dogg was one of the top rappers of the 1990s and 2000s, releasing many highly successful solo albums and collaborating on countless other recordings. Throughout his career, he utilized a distinctively simple, relaxed vocal delivery featuring a slight drawl. His melodic style of rapping differed from the more staccato style of many of his contemporaries and altered perceptions of how a rapper should sound. While he was instrumental in the rise of gangsta rap during the 1990s, Snoop Dogg was able to remake his image and transition to slightly tamer subject matter celebrating a lavish lifestyle that emphasized partying more than violence. Snoop became a pop-culture icon through his appearances in television shows, films, and other media outlets. His performance at the Superbowl Halftime Show in February 2022 alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent marked the first time any rap act had headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show. He also was instrumental in the music careers of many friends and family members, including Nate Dogg, Warren G, RBX, and Daz Dillinger.
Bibliography
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