Snoop Dogg is one of hip-hop’s most beloved stars. From Dr Dre’s prodigy child to a platinum-selling artist, the rapper (real name Calvin Broadus) has been in the spotlight for an exceptionally long time. As one of the main acts of the 1990s, Broadus helped bring G-Funk to the mainstream. However, aside from this, the Long Beach native has made all types of new and exciting music.
Whether it’s his collaboration with Pharrell for ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ or his T-pain-inspired song ‘Sexual Eruption’, the rapper is a legend. Moreover, Snoop has launched various successful ventures outside of music, including his weed strain, a wine collection and several clothing lines. With all this being said, although the rapper is now in retirement, we need to reflect on his beginnings.
First appearing on Dr Dre’s The Chronic album in 1992, the rapper sparked intrigue very quickly and, within a year, had released an project of his own, Doggystyle. Executively produced by Dre (real name Andre Young), Broadus went to the top of the charts, and the rest has been history. However, the rapper admits that he only became a star once he met Tupac in 1994. Speaking with The 85 South Comedy Show hosts, Snoop insisted, “I wasn’t a star till I was next to him! He showed me how to be a star. Like real shit! This nigga was a star! Snoop Dogg was famous, but I didn’t know how to be a star…I was still dressing like a n***a from the hood, khakis, chucks. He said, ‘You gotta change your look! You a pimp, you fly! We gonna get you suited up!'”
The formal yet fly aesthetic served Snoop Dogg very well. Even following Pac’s death, the rapper remained an icon and reached multi-platinum-selling heights that other musicians can only dream of. Constantly collaborating and experimenting, Broadus managed to grow and evolve with his music. At this time, some of his West Coast counterparts stagnated. Furthermore, following his departure from Death Row, he didn’t lean on the man that got him the shine. Not signed to Aftermath records, Snoop continued to perform and record projects and only reunited (in a musical capacity) with Dr Dre years later.
When Snoop was on the rise, despite his affiliation with Tupac Shakur, he made it his business to stay out of the East Coast versus West Coast feud. Snoop has even claimed that in a 1996 interview with Angie Martinez, he declared he wanted to work with The Notorious B.I.G and Diddy. With no hate in his heart for New York or Diddy, Broadus unveiled to Noreaga (the host of the Drink Champs podcast) that his children and Diddy’s kids have been friends since they were seven.
In 1996, Snoop Dogg gave a tour of his house to MTV, featuring one of his young children. Located in Claremont, California, the ‘Gin N Juice’ lyricist explained his love for the LA Lakers basketball team as well as his affinity for dogs. You can watch this recently unearthed footage in the video below.
