Artist facts
Snoop Dogg (also known as Snoop Lion or the Original OG) is an iconic gangster rap artist affiliated to the West Coast. Born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., Snoop currently is a Hall of Fame rapper who established himself back in the 1990s.
Artist Background
A master lyricist and phenomenon maestro in the art of gangster Rap, Snoopgot his breakthrough after producer Dr. Dre gave him a marque appearance in his debut album ‘The Chronic’ back in 1992. Though he did not get the deserved attention as a singer, Dr. Dre saw significant potential in Snoop Dog, helping him sharpen his skills by taking the role of a co-conspirator on Snoop’s debut album,’ Doggystyle’. The track ‘Gin and Juice’ was an instant hit and soon after Snoop was on the map of stardom a journey that has lasted for over quarter a century. Thanks to his entrepreneurial mind, his rap empire has grown exponentially identifying his mas a modern day legend.
Born on October 20, 1971 as the second of three sons as Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., in Long Beach, California, US, he enjoyed singing and playing the piano from a young age. He started rapping in sixth grade. In 1989, Snoop graduated from the Long Beach Polytechnic Highschool.
Artist music career
Briefly after his graduation from high school, Snoop was put behind bars for cocaine possession. The next three years saw Snoop often in and out of prison. It was at this time that Snoop together with his cousins documented homemade tapes, calling their group ‘213’, named after the Long Beach area code. One of his early solo free styles over En Vogue’s “Hold On” made it into a mixtape that was heard by the significant producer Dr. Dre, who then later requested him formally to an audition.
Known for his of beat laid-back style, Broadus stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg fit his rap profile perfectly and soon after his establishment as an up and coming rap icon he began working on Dre’s debut solo album, “The Chronic, which became totally a success. As a result of this exposure, “Doggystyle”, which was Snoop Dog’s debut album in 1993, also became an absolute success. His second studio album ‘Tha Doggfather’, was released in 1996 and even though the album was encountered with affirmative approval, it wasn’t as successful as the preceding one.
Snoop later signed with Master P’s No Limit Records in 1998 and made a debut on the label with ‘Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told’. In the subsequent years, his other albums titled ‘No Limit Top Dogg’ (1999) and ‘Tha Last Meal’ (2000) were released. In 2002, he released the album ‘Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$’ which featured the success singles “From tha Chuuuch to da Palace” and “Beautiful”. Snoop’s album ‘R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece’ was released in 2004 which introduced the single “Drop It Like It’s Hot”. Consequently, during the same year, an additional album, ‘The Hard Way’ was also released, inclusive of the single “Groupie Luv”
‘Tha Blue Carpet Treatment’ album released in 2006 and its second single “That’s That Shit” were also well appraised. During the following years, Snoop released several albums, all in his name. They included; ‘Ego Trippin’ (2008), ‘Malice n Wonderland’ (2009), and ‘Doggumentary’ (2011) respectively.
Artist major works and achievements
In 2012, Snoop embraced a fresh stage name, Snoop Lion. Later on, in March 2013, his documentary ‘Reincarnated’ was released and the subsequent month, his new studio album of a similar name was also released.
Apart from his musical career, Snoop Dogg has also performed in a starring role in numerous movies such as ‘The Wash’ (2001) and ‘Bones’ (2001) and ‘Mac and Devin Go to High School’ (2012). He also had various supporting and cameo roles in several films including ‘Half Baked’ (1998), ‘Training Day’ (2001), ‘Starsky & Hutch’ (2004), and ‘Brüno’ (2009). Furthermore, he has also appeared in several Tv programs such as ‘Doggy Fizzle Televizzle’, the sketch comedy shows and reality show ‘Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood’.
The originally released single “Drop It Like It’s Hot” from his 2004 album ‘R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece’, was one of his most fruitful works and achievements. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Snoop’s first US No. 1 single. Moreover, in 1994, he received the Billboard Music Award in three categories; ‘Top R&B Album Artist’, ‘Top Billboard 200 Album Artist – Male’, and ‘Top R&B Album Artist – Male’. During the same year, Snoop Dogg won the MTV Video Music Awards in the group ‘Best Rap Video’ for the song ‘Doggy Dogg World’ and later went on to win the American Music Award for the ‘Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist’ in 1995.Years later in 2005, Snoop Dogg was given the ‘International Dance Music Award’ in the category ‘Best Rap/Hip-Hop Dance Track’ for his song ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’. Snoop has also has other numerous accolades to his name including the ‘Urban Fashion Award’, ‘MOBO Award’, ‘Stony Award’ and ‘Source Award’.
