Snoop Doggy Dogg was born Calvin Broadus on October 20, 1971 in California. He acquired his nickname from his mother after the famous cartoon dog.
Snoop Doggy Dogg was born Calvin Broadus on
October 20, 1971 in California. He acquired his nickname from his
mother after the famous cartoon dog.
The music world first became aware of Snoop Doggy Dogg when he appeared on the soundtrack for Deep Cover and when Dr. Dre hit itbig with "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" in 1993. Snoop stood out in Dr. Dre's the mvideos with his laid-back appearance and art for rapping. As his star began to rise, controversies outside usic studio crept in: the same year he was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was later acquitted of the charges.
His debut LP, Doggystyle, was released in 1994 and shot to Number 1 on r&b and pop charts. The LP sold over 5 million copies and contained to Top 10 pop hits: "What's My Name?" and "Gin And Juice."
In 1996, Snoop released Tha Doggfather and continued the hip-hop and rap sounds with gansta themes. The LP sold well but the field of male rappers releasing hit LPs overshadowed his new LP.
Also in 1996, Snoop settled out of court in a wrongful death suit brought against him three years earlier by a family accusing Snoop of being involved with the shooting death of 22 year old Phillip Woldemariam who was shot and killed by Snoop's bodyguard. The shooting occurred from the back of a moving car that Snoop was driving. Snoop and the bodyguard had claimed self-defense in the shooting.
Snoop Doggy Dogg and Death Row Records are being sued (10-97) by a Virginia concert promoter who alleges they tricked her into transporting packages containing marijuana. The concert promoter was asked in January, 1997, to pick up some packages at a nearby hotel and to deliver them to a club where Snoop was to perform. She was then arrested but not charged. The packages contained seven pounds of marijuana and the promoter feels she was conned by Snoop and/or his people. The lawsuit is asking for over $500,000 for such issues as embarrassment, humiliation, fraud, and false imprisonment. Snoop was not charged with anything from the incident because he did not take possession of the packages.
In January, Snoop told the Long Beach Press - Telegram that he's leaving Death Row Records for fear of his life: "I definitely feel my life is in danger if I stay in Death Row Records. That's part of the reason why I'm leaving.... there's nothing over there. Suge Knight is in jail, the president; Dr. Dre left and 2Pac is dead. It's telling me that I'm either going to be dead or in jail or I'm going to be nothing... They don't know how to run business. That's why their business is gone... and I'm no longer a part of them."
Meanwhile, Snoop can be found trying his acting in the movies Half-Baked and Ride.
