Personalities | Snoop Dogg | Nineties | Rock

(Rapper, b. 1971)

Raised in Long Beach, California, his teenage years often found Calvin Broadus – a.k.a. Snoop Dogg – in trouble with the law. He was fortunate that Warren G., his collaborator in early rap explorations, was stepbrother of Dr. Dre of N.W.A.. Dre gave Snoop’s laconic style a break on early solo material, notably the classic The Chronic (1992).

A solo career began with Doggystyle’s (1993) tough sexist verbose sex-girls-ganja-gangsta rap over Dre’s soulful G-funk vibe. Tracks like ‘Murder Was The Case’ appeared to be based on personal experience when Snoop was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting. He was cleared, although Dogfather (1996) suffered from media backlash in the wake of Tupac and B.I.G.’s murders. Further albums – guests aplenty – peddling similar themes turned Snoop into rap royalty, yielding film appearances and an autobiography (2001). Whilst others fell by the wayside Snoop’s invention remains strong, especially on R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004).

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Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

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