Snoop Dogg Biography

Snoop Dogg, real name Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., is a Californian rapper and actor. Ever since the debut of his career, in 1992, with the help of Dr. Dre, Snoop has sold 35 million albums. His very first album Doggystyle was featured in two Billboard charts and was certified 4x Platinum. His second album, The Doggfather,  also appeared on top of the two charts and got double Platinum. Addiontaly, the rapper has started in several movies and hosted a few television shows. Snoop Dogg has a total of fourteen studio albums and seventeen Grammy nominations. He is best known for his song from 2004, Drop It Like It’s Hot. 

The Old Days

Snoop Dogg got his stage name from the childhood nickname Snoopy, received because of his appearance. He began rapping in mid school and had a troubled high-school life. He was often in trouble with the law, even arrested, until his discovery by Dr. Dre, who also served as a mentor. More so, before his debut album, Snoop was featured on Dre‘s The Chronic, along with other members of The Dogg Pound. All this exposure added to the success of Doggystyle. Rolling Stone magazine offered him positive reviews and said that “his soft vocal delivery distinguishes him”.

The “Pimp”

In 1994 he released a shot film and soundtrack based on his murder charges called Murder Was The Case. The film depicts the fictional death of the rapper and his resurrection through a deal with the Devil. He was acquitted two years later. He then collaborated with Tupac for what turned out to be one of the later’s last songs. After his second album, Snoop approached a more diverse bundle of musical styles. In 1998 Snoop signed with No Limit Records. All three of his albums produced there have gained massive success. In 2001 he released his official biography. His sixth album, Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$, represents a hiatus in the rapper’s career. He sold over 1,500,000 copies and established a more influential image of himself – “the pimp”. 

The Masterpiece

2004 came with the release of R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece through Interscope Records. The first single,  Drop It Like It’s Hot, featuring Pharrell, was his first to reach number one in Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, it was designated as the most popular rap song of the decade. Another very highly ranked single from this album was Signs,  featuring Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson. The album sold over 1,700,000 in the US and many songs were heavily broadcasted. In 2007 Snoop Dogg yet again stood out, by releasing the song It’s the D.O.G. as a ringtone before making it a single. Another one of his peculiar experiences was singing for Bollywood, during that same period. One year later he peaked at number 7 on Billboard 100 with another largely exposed single, Sexual Eruption, his first autotuned song. Several singles from his tenth album, Malice in Wonderland, reached Billboard Hot 100.

To The Lion & Back

In 2012, Snoop “resurrected” under a new stage name,  Snoop Lion, after being “rechristened by a Rastafarian priest in Jamaica.” He embraced a reggae influenced style and a more politically correct way of being. Consequently, he released a new album called Reincarnated and a documentary along with it. Under the Lion pseudonym, he also released a compilation of electronic music. However, he released his latest album, Coolaid, using the original name – Snoop Dogg.

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