Celebrities | Pop Culture | Music | 90s
How Snoop Dogg Went From The Most Dangerous Rapper Of The 90s To BFFs With Martha Stewart
Chances are that even if you're not a fan of rap music, you've heard of Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., AKA Snoop Dogg (AKA Snoop Doggy Dogg, AKA Snoop Lion) at some point in your life.
The Doggfather is one of the most prolific rap artists of all time, with 17 Grammy nominations, several Platinum albums and millions of dollars in album sales. His body of work speaks for itself, but lately he's probably best known for his hilarious (and decidedly un-gangsta) antics on the internet.
Snoop's been spending his later years as basically everyone's cool hip-hop uncle, and it's probably what more people know him for than ever. He's appeared on songs for decidedly less-threatening acts like Katy Perry and Jason Derulo, coaches a youth football league in his hometown, and has developed something of a business and personal relationship with freaking Martha Stewart!
I mean, who doesn't love that clip where he narrates over a nature video?
Suffice to say, he's quite the character. However, for those who were aware of Snoop in the 90s, we remember a distinctly different character; one who legitimately terrified parents and law enforcement alike.
Seriously, Snoop's come a long way...
Snoop's had a pretty extensive "rap" sheet with law enforcement since his teenage years. He began selling drugs in high school (Cameron Diaz has since commented she used to buy marijuana from him), and shortly after high school he spent three years in and out of prison for drug-possession felonies (specifically possession of cocaine).
However, his most-publicized run in with the law came in 1993 during the recording of his debut album, Doggystyle. Snoop and his bodyguard, McKinley Lee, were arrested in connection with the death of Phillip Woldermariam, a member of the local chapter of the Bloods, the rival to Snoop's gang affiliations (he was part of the Crips). Both were charged with murder.
The trial went on for three years, during which Snoop and Lee were represented by the infamous Johnnie Cochran, OJ Simpson's former attorney. The two were ultimately acquitted with the court ruling that the shooting was in self-defense, but the trial was more than enough to cement Snoop's infamy in both the rap community, and amongst parents whose kids loved his music.
Through the 90s and 2000s, Snoop continued to have multiple run-ins with the law, but mostly for possession of marijuana or firearms while on probation. His image has softened since then, but it's still pretty crazy to look at when you remember where he's come from.