ARTIST

Snoop Dogg

Leading the pack of second-generation West Coast rappers, Snoop Dogg (a protege of genius producer/rap star Dr. Dre) has remained one of the most distinctive voices in hip-hop since his 1992 debut on the Dr. Dre song "Deep Cover," from the soundtrack of the Lawrence Fishburne film of the same name.

A childhood pal of Dr. Dre's step-brother, Warren G, Snoop (born Calvin Broadus) was once a promising young ball player from Long Beach. He got his first break when Warren G passed his tape to Dre, which lead to Snoop's distinctive nasal monotone rap being displayed on "Deep Cover," and later Dre's top-selling 1992 release The Chronic.

Snoop went on to multi-platinum success with his first solo record, jet-propelled by funk-driven singles and weirdly compelling videos. Appearing in a multitude of guises, he furthermore proved himself a master of image manipulation.

In 1996 Snoop released his sophomore album, Tha Dogg Father, that teamed him with Gap Band lead singer Charlie Wilson on the single "Snoop's Upside Your Head." The album did not yield the acclaim of his previous album, but Snoop kept himself in the forefront of the music scene, appearing on the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence film A Thin Line Between Love & Hate, and on a collaboration with Tupac Shakur.

By 1998, Snoop exited Death Row Records to join the ranks at Master P's No Limit Records. Snoop's first No Limit album, Da Game Is To Be Sold Not To Be Told, proved that Snoop's usual, infectious slow drawl was a poor mesh for the thunderous production sound of the New Orleans-based No Limit. In 1999, Snoop's second No Limit album Top Dogg re-teamed him with Dr. Dre and scored an underground anthem with the song "B Please," featuring Xzibit, that helped Xzibit achieve further notoriety. Snoop's Tha Last Meal, released in 2000, was his final record under Master P's tutelage. The album showcased Snoop's growth as an artist, finally finding his artistic comfort zone with producers other than Dr. Dre.

Additionally, he released two albums with Tha Eastsidaz through a label deal with TVT Records, performed songs with everyone from Keith Sweat to Kid Rock to Tyrese, and appeared on half a dozen soundtracks. His comical disposition also earned him a stack of roles in movies, including John Singleton's Baby Boy, Denzel Washington's Training Day, and a starring spot in Bones.

In 2001, Snoop secured a second label deal, this time with MCA Records, and issued a compilation in 2002. His most recent album, Paid Da Cost To Be Tha Boss, was released in 2002.

Written by Joy Ray