Snoop Dogg

Rapper

Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., known professionally as Snoop Dogg (formerly called Snoop Doggy Dogg and Snoop Lion), is an American rapper and actor from Long Beach, California. His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre of N.W.A, and as a result was prominently featured throughout Dr. Dre’s solo debut album, The Chronic (1992). He has since sold over twenty-three million albums in the United States and thirty-five million albums worldwide.

Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle, was released in 1993 under Death Row Records, debuting at No, 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Selling almost a million copies in the first week of its release, Doggystyle became certified 4-time platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles, including What’s My Name? and Gin & Juice. In 1994 Snoop released a soundtrack on Death Row Records for the short film Murder Was The Case, starring himself. His second album, Tha Doggfather (1996), also debuted at number one on both charts with Snoop’s Upside Ya Head, as the lead single. The album was certified double platinum in 1997.

After leaving Death Row Records, Snoop signed with No Limit Records, where he recorded his next three albums. Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998), No Limit Top Dogg (1999), and Tha Last Meal (2000). Snoop then signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in 2002, where he released Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss. He then signed with Geffen Records in 2004 for his next three albums R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, and Ego Trippin’. Malice ‘n Wonderland (2009), and Doggumentary (2011), were released on Priority. Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows, including Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood, and Dogg After Dark. He also coaches a youth football league and high school football team. In September 2009 Snoop was hired by EMI as the chairman of a reactivated Priority Records.

In 2012, after a trip to Jamaica, Snoop announced a conversion to the Rastafari movement and a new alias, Snoop Lion. Under the new moniker, he released a reggae album, Reincarnated, and a documentary film of the same name, of his Jamaican experience, in early 2013. His thirteenth solo studio album, Bush, was released in May 2015.

Snoop Dogg holds the dubious distinction of having seventeen Grammy nominations without a win, the most of any artist.

In March 2016, the night before WrestleMania 32 in Arlington, Texas, Snoop was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame having made several appearances for the company, including as Master of Ceremonies during a match at Wrestlemania XXIV. His first cousin, Sasha Banks, is currently a wrestler in WWE and a former Women’s Champion.