Day 8: Snoop Dogg

General Info
Known As: Snoop, Snoop Dogg, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Snoopy, Tha Doggfather
Biography: Nicknamed Snoop by his mother because of his appearance, Calvin Broadus (born October 20, 1972) was raised in Long Beach, CA, where he frequently ran into trouble with the law. Not long after his high school graduation, he was arrested for possession of cocaine, beginning a period of three years where he was often imprisoned. He found escape from a life of crime through music. Snoop began recording homemade tapes with his friend Warren G, who happened to be the stepbrother of N.W.A's Dr. Dre. Warren G gave a tape to Dre, who was considerably impressed with Snoop's style and began collaborating with the rapper.

Snoop joined Dre for his first stab at a solo career in 1992 with the theme song for the film Deep Cover. Snoop had created a buzz by the time Dre released his own debut album, The Chronic, on Death Row Records late in 1992. Snoop rapped on The Chronic as much as Dre, and his drawled vocals were as important to the record's success as its P-Funk bass grooves. Dre's singles "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day," which prominently featured Snoop, became Top Ten pop crossover hits in the spring of 1993, setting the stage for Snoop's much-anticipated debut album, Doggystyle. While he was recording the album with Dre in August, Snoop was arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting death of Phillip Woldermarian. According to the charges, the rapper's bodyguard, McKinley Lee, shot Woldermarian as Snoop drove the vehicle; the rapper claimed it was self-defense, alleging that the victim was stalking Snoop. Following a performance at the MTV Music Awards in September 1993, he turned himself over to authorities.

After many delays, Doggystyle was finally released on Death Row in November of 1993, amid criticism that it was a carbon copy of The Chronic. "What's My Name?" and "Gin & Juice" kept Doggystyle at the top of the charts during early 1994, as did the considerable controversy over Snoop's arrest and his lyrics, which were accused of being exceedingly violent and sexist. During an English tour in the spring of 1994, tabloids and a Tory minister pleaded for the government to kick the rapper out of the country, largely based on his arrest. Snoop exploited his impending trial by shooting a short film based on the Doggystyle song "Murder Was the Case" and releasing an accompanying soundtrack, which debuted at number one in 1994.

Snoop spent much of 1995 preparing for the case, which finally went to trial in late 1995. In February of 1996, he was cleared of all charges and began working on his second album, this time without Dre as producer, The Doggfather (released in November 1996)

Snoop began to revamp his public image, moving away from his gangsta roots toward a calmer lyrical aesthetic. He also began making gestures toward the rock community, signing up to tour with Lollapalooza 1997 and talking about two separate collaborations with Beck and Marilyn Manson. An autobiography appeared in 2001, followed by a stream of movie roles in several high-profile pictures. Late in 2002, Snoop released his first album for Capitol, Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$. He then switched to Geffen for 2004's R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece. The hit album was followed a year later by Welcome to tha Chuuch: Da Album, a collection of tracks from the Welcome to the Chuuch mixtape series.

"I don't regret anything I've ever said or done. Everything is done for a reason - I'm just a child of God doing what He wants me to do. I say what I say, but before I was here it was being said, and when I leave it is going to continue to be said, so don't blame me, don't hate me, hate the game." (September 1999, interview with Dimitri Erlich)


Major Discography:

Doggystyle 1993
Tha Doggfather 1996
Da Game is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told 1998
No Limit Top Dogg 1999
Tha Last Meal 2000
Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss 2002
R&G(Rhythm and Gangsta):The Masterpiece 2004
Tha Blue Carpet Treatment 2006
Ego Trippin 2008

Snoop has also released albums with 213, Tha Eastsidaz, and Tha Dogg Pound, but for Bonnaroo purposes I chose to just concentrate on his solo work being that is what the audience will get.


Sounds Like
Genre: West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop
Similar Artists: Dr Dre, Warren G, Nate Dogg
Similar Bonnaroo Artists: I guess generically you could categorize him with the other "hip hop" artists on the line-up, however, I don’t think anyone on the lineup has a similar style. Murs may be the closest to Snoop’s style

Suggested Listening

Albums:



Though this is Dr. Dre’s album, Snoop contributed significantly and hits such as “Let me Ride” and “Nuthin but a G Thang” reflect Snoop’s early style.





Who doesn’t love Doggystyle? If you only listen to one Snoop album-this is the one I recommend, Snoop’s first solo album and contains his most well-known hits. George Clinton contributed to this album not only through samples, but also on the G Funk Intro. Expect to here quite a few songs from this album at Roo. Hits such as “Lodi Dodi”, “Murder was the Case”, “Gin and Juice”, “Who am I(What’s my name?”





Singles:






Physical Reaction/Live Show
There will be no lights and no flashiness to this show (unless you count bling). There will however be a cloud above the crowd similar to that of Cypress Hill in 2007. I expect half of the crowd to be up dancing the other half to be laid back with their mind on their money and their money on their mind.



Endorsements
• St. Ides
• Snoop Dogg 40 Oz Malt liquor
• Boost Mobile cell phone
• Orbit Gum
• Cal Worthington's Ford dealership in Long Beach, California
• "Snoop Doggs" - foot-long hot dogs manufactured in Massachusetts a joint venture with Platinum One Media
• "Snoop Dogg Board Company (SDBC)" - skateboards and Luggage fabrication company (with Pentagon Distribution)
• "Snooperbowl" and "Snoop Youth Football league"
• "Chronic Candy" - candy that tastes like marijuana (from Switzerland and is currently banned in some cities of US)
• Love Don't Live Here No More, Doggy Tales Vol.1 - love novel (co-written by David E. Talbert, published by Atria and Snoopadelic Films)
• Tha Doggfather : The Times, Trials, And Hardcore Truths Of Snoop Dogg - autobiography
• Fear & Respect (project cancelled as of March 1, 2006) - PlayStation 2 video game (developed by Midway Games)
• "Doggy Biscuitz" - shoe brand (in partnership with Pony International)
• "Snoop Dogg Clothing" - streetwear (distributed at Macy's)
• "WRFF" - unique design scooters (in cooperation with Salton, Inc.)
• "Hip Hop Gaming League" - a celebrity online gaming competition (hosted by Global Gaming League)
• "Snoop Dogg figures" (Vital Toys, SOTA Toys)
• "Snoop Dogg Boxing" - mobile phone game (Sony Pictures Mobile)
• "Snoop Dogg Pet Accessory Line" (in conjunction with Jakks Pacific)
(wikipedia 4/14/09)


Filmography
• 1994: Murder Was the Case (Platinum)
• 1998: Half Baked (cameo appearance)
• 1998: Hot Boyz
• 1998: Ride
• 1999: Whiteboyz
• 1999: Urban Menace
• 2000: Up in Smoke Tour
• 2001: Baby Boy (Gold)
• 2001: Training Day
• 2001: King of the Hill (voice)
• 2001: Bones
• 2001: The Wash
• 2003: Malibu's Most Wanted
• 2003: Old School
• 2004: Starsky & Hutch
• 2004: Soul Plane
• 2004: Volcano High
• 2005: Boss'n Up
• 2005: Racing Stripes
• 2006: The Tenants
• 2006: Weeds: Himself
• 2006: Hood of Horror
• 2007: Arthur and the Minimoys (voice)
• 2007: Monk
o During the opening credits, he covered the title song by Randy Newman It's a Jungle out There.
• 2007: The Boondocks
• 2008: Singh Is Kinng(as Himself)
• 2008: Snoop Dogg's Father Hood (as Himself)
• 2009: Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (voice)
• 2009: Snoop And Jay Are Do Paloma Valley High
• 2009: Dogg After Dark: Himself
• 2009: Xavier: Renegade Angel (voice)
(Wikipedia 4/14/09)