Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., is an American rapper, entertainer, and entrepreneur who became one of the defining figures of West Coast hip-hop. Emerging in the early 1990s under the mentorship of Dr. Dre, he built a decades-long career marked by a distinctive laid-back vocal style, broad mainstream crossover appeal, and ventures extending well beyond music into film, television, and business.

Early life

Calvin Broadus was born in Long Beach, California, in 1971. He was nicknamed Snoop by his mother as a child. He grew up in Long Beach and was active in music and sports during his youth, while also encountering trouble with the law in his late teens. He began recording homemade tapes with friends, which eventually circulated and drew the attention of Dr. Dre.

Career

Snoop first gained wide notice through his featured appearances on Dr. Dre's landmark 1992 album The Chronic, including the single Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang. His debut solo album, Doggystyle, released in 1993 on Death Row Records, debuted at number one on the Billboard chart and became a foundational release in G-funk, spawning hits such as Gin and Juice and Who Am I (What's My Name?).

Throughout the later 1990s and 2000s he continued releasing albums and evolved his image and sound, moving from Death Row to other labels, including No Limit Records and later Doggystyle Records, and scoring crossover hits. Albums such as Tha Doggfather, Tha Last Meal, and R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece kept him commercially relevant across changing eras of hip-hop. The 2004 single Drop It Like It's Hot, produced by Pharrell Williams, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Over his career he has recorded numerous albums and collaborated widely across hip-hop, pop, and other genres, and he experimented with reggae under the name Snoop Lion for a period after a trip to Jamaica.

Recent work

Beyond music, Snoop Dogg has become a ubiquitous entertainment personality. He has appeared in numerous films and television programs, hosted shows, and developed a popular media partnership with Martha Stewart. He has built business interests spanning the cannabis industry, gaming, food products, and digital media, and acquired a stake associated with the Death Row Records brand. He drew widespread acclaim for his enthusiastic broadcasting role during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where his commentary and event appearances reached a broad television audience. A longtime cultural fixture, he is recognized both as a pioneering rapper and as one of hip-hop's most enduring crossover stars.