Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.(/ˈbroʊ.dɪs/BROH-dis; born October 20, 1971), also known by his stage nameSnoop Dogg(previouslySnoop Doggy Dogg),[note 1]is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, media personality, and actor. His initial fame dates back to 1992 following his guest appearance onDr. Dre's debut solo single, "Deep Cover", and later on Dre's debut album,The Chronicthat same year. Broadus has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States, and 35 million albums worldwide.[5][6]His accoladesinclude anAmerican Music Award, aPrimetime Emmy Award, and 17Grammy Awardnominations.
His thirteenth studio album, Bush (2015), was produced entirely by frequent collaborator Pharrell, while his fourteenth studio album, Coolaid (2016), was released the same year as his induction into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.[8] In 2018, Broadus became "a born-again Christian" and released his first gospelalbum, Bible of Love in March of that year.[9] In November of that year, Broadus was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[10] In 2022, Broadus acquired Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group (formerly known as eOne Music), and released his nineteenth studio album, BODR(2022)—preceded by the independently-released I Wanna Thank Me (2019) and From tha Streets 2 tha Suites (2021).[11]
Early life
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. was born on October 20, 1971, in Long Beach, California, to Beverly Tate (1951-2021) and Vernell Varnado.[12][13] Varnado, who was a Vietnam War veteran, singer, and mail carrier, left the family only three months after Broadus' birth, and thus he was named after his stepfather, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Sr. (1948–1984).[14] His biological father remained largely absent from his life. As a boy, his mother nicknamed him "Snoopy" due to his love and likeness of the cartoon character from Peanuts.[15] He was the second of his mother's three sons. His mother and stepfather divorced in 1975.[12]
Broadus was raised Baptist and began singing and playing piano at Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church when he was very young.[16][17] His mother, a member of the church choir, was one of his "prime musical influences" growing up and introduced him to old-school R&B music.[18] In his youth, Broadus sold candy, delivered newspapers, and bagged groceries. Broadus was described as having been a dedicated student and enthusiastic churchgoer, active in choir and football.[19]
In sixth grade, Broadus began rapping.[16] He would frequently rap in school, as he recalled: "When I rapped in the hallways at school I would draw such a big crowd that the principal would think there was a fight going on. It made me begin to realize that I had a gift. I could tell that my raps interested people and that made me interested in myself".[19]
In his teenage years, Broadus began engaging in unlawful activities and joining gangs, despite his mother's preventive efforts.[19]He was a member of theRollin' 20s Cripsgang in theEastsideneighborhood of Long Beach;[20]in 1993, however, he denied the frequent police and media reports by saying that he never joined a gang.[16]Shortly after graduating fromLong Beach Polytechnic High Schoolin 1989, he was arrested for possession ofcocaine, and for the next three years was frequently incarcerated, including atWayside Jail.[14]With his two cousins,Nate Doggand Lil' ½ Dead, and friendWarren G, he recorded homemade tapes; the four called their group213after thearea codeof their native Long Beach at that time. One of Snoop's early solofreestylesover "Hold On" byEn Voguewas on amixtapethat fortuitously wound up withDr. Dre; the influential producer was so impressed by the sample that he called Snoop to audition in 1991 for his labelDeath Row Records(then known as Future Shock). FormerN.W.Aaffiliate, American rapper Tracy Lynn Curry, better known asThe D.O.C., taught him to structure his lyrics and separate the themes into verses, hooks, and choruses.[21]
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