"THE KING OF THE WESTCOAST"
| Birth Name: |
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. |
| Aka: |
Snoop Doggy Dogg
Snoop
Tha Doggfather
Niggaracci
"King of the West Coast" |
| Born: |
October 20, 1971 (age 35) |
| Origin: |
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California |
| Genre: |
West Coast hip hop
Gangsta rap
G-funk |
| Occupation: |
Rapper
Acting |
|
Years Active: |
1991 – present |
| Label: |
Death Row / Interscope / Universal
(1992–1996)
No Limit / Priority / EMI
(1997–2002)
Star Trak / Interscope / Universal
(2002–2005)
Geffen / Interscope / Universal
(2005 – present)
Doggystyle (2000 - present) |
| Associates: |
Dr. Dre
213
Tha Dogg Pound
Tha Eastsidaz
LBC Crew
The Game |
| Website: |
www.snoopdogg.com
|
Snoop is best known as an MC in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of producer Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. His catch phrase is widely known as "fo' shizzle, ma nizzle," meaning, "for sure, my nigga." That style of slang was invented by Frankie Smith and The Gap Band in the early eighties, and popularized in part by fellow rapper E-40, much of which is simply derived by adding an "izz" or "-izzle" sound to the word.
His mother nicknamed him "Snoopy" as a child because of how he would dress but also because of the Charlie Brown cartoons that he often watched; he took the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg when he began recording. He changed his name to Snoop Dogg in 1996, when he left his original record label Death Row Records and signed with No Limit Records.
Several of his cousins also became hip hop artists and Aftermath collaborators, including RBX, Nate Dogg, Daz Dillinger, and Joe Cool. R&B singers Ray J and Brandy are also his cousins and he recently released "Smokin trees" with Ray J and a duet with Brandy was pre-recorded for Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, but was not part of the album.
