Snoop Doggy Dogg
*Snoop Doggy Dogg was born on this date in 1971. He is a Black rapper, songwriter, media personality, actor, and entrepreneur.
He was born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. in Long Beach, California, to Vernell Varnado and Beverly Tate. His father, a Vietnam War veteran, singer, and mail carrier, left the family only three months after his birth, and thus, he was named after his stepfather, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Sr. His father remained largely absent from his life. As a boy, his parents nicknamed him "Snoopy" due to his love and likeness to the cartoon character from Peanuts. He was the second of his mother's three sons. His mother and stepfather divorced in 1975.
Broadus began singing and playing piano at the Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church when he was young. In sixth grade, he began rapping. Broadus sold candy, delivered newspapers, and bagged groceries to help his family as a child. He was a dedicated student and enthusiastic churchgoer, active in choir and football. Broadus said in 1993 that he began engaging in unlawful activities and joining gangs in his teenage years despite his mother's preventative efforts. Broadus would frequently rap in school.
As a teenager, Broadus was a member of the Rollin' 20s Crips gang in the Eastside of Long Beach; although, in 1993, he denied the frequent police and media reports by saying that he never joined a gang. Shortly after graduating from high school at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1989, he was arrested for possession of cocaine. His two cousins and friend Snoop recorded homemade tapes; the four called their group 213.
One of Snoop's early solos wound up with Dr. Dre, who called Snoop to audition. He has sold over 23 million albums worldwide; in the United States, he has sold 35 million. His debut solo album, Doggystyle, was released by Death Row Records in 1993.
In 1994, Death Row Records released a soundtrack by Broadus for the short film Murder Was the Case, starring Snoop. It debuted at number one on the albums chart, the Billboard 200, and Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 1996, his second album, Tha Doggfather, also debuted at number one on both charts. The following year, the album was certified double platinum. Snoop married his high school girlfriend, Shante Taylor, on June 12, 1997. On May 21, 2004, he filed for divorce from Taylor. The couple remarried on January 12, 2008. They have three children together; Snoop also has a son from a relationship with Laurie Holmond.
Since the start of his career, Snoop has been an avowed cannabis smoker, making it one of the trademarks of his image. He has been certified for medical cannabis in California to treat migraines since at least 2007. After leaving Death Row Records in 1998, Broadus signed with No Limit Records. 2002 he signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records, releasing Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss. 2004 he signed to Geffen Records, releasing his next three albums. Priority Records released his album Malice 'n Wonderland in 2009, followed by Doggumentary in 2011. Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows. He also coaches a youth football league and a high school football team.
In September 2009, EMI hired him as the chairman of reactivated Priority Records. In 2012, after a trip to Jamaica, he announced a conversion to Rastafari and a new alias, Snoop Lion. As Snoop Lion, he released a reggae album, Reincarnated, and a documentary film about his Jamaican experience in early 2013. His 13th studio album, Bush, was released in May 2015 and marked a return of the Snoop Dogg name. His 14th solo studio album, Coolaid, was released in July 2016.
In March 2016, the night before WrestleMania 32, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame celebrity wing, having made several appearances for the company. In 2018, Snoop announced he was "a born-again Christian" and released his first gospel album, Bible of Love. On November 19, 2018, Snoop Dogg was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He released his seventeenth solo album, I Wanna Thank Me, in 2019.
Snoop's mother, Beverly Tate, died on October 24, 2021. In 2022, he acquired Death Row Records and released his 19th studio album, BODR. Snoop has received 17 Grammy nominations without a win.
To Become a musician or Singer
To Become a Conductor or Composer
