If you ask Older Millennials and Gen Xers if their younger selves ever thought Snoop Dogg would go from being the face of West Coast “gangsta rap” to swapping recipes and planting tips with Martha Stewart, the answer is probably no. But this longtime hip-hop fixture and style icon mastered the art of the professional pivot to the point that many in the Gen Z and Alpha segments might not even realize his hardcore roots.
Snoop Dogg’s street credibility is undeniable and he has proven that staying true to yourself will always take you further than pandering. So, with decades spent in and around the music industry — to the point that he is a fixture — you might wonder just how much the West Coast rapper, actor and entrepreneur is worth.
A California Story
Snoop Dogg (formerly Snoop Doggy Dogg in his earlier rap days) was born Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. in 1971. From Long Beach, California, Snoop Dogg has a musical path that will sound familiar. As a child he first played piano and sang at the Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church. His mom nicknamed him “Snoopy” because he loved the popular beagle from the Peanuts cartoon.
By sixth grade, he pivoted from singing at church to rapping. Close friends and family from his youth note that he was actually active in school and church, and even played football. But as he got older, Snoop Dogg admits that he fell in with the wrong crowd and frequently got into trouble throughout his teens—even though his mother tried to keep him on the straight and narrow. But during this time, he was also honing his craft, often giving impromptu performances in school hallways.
He began making mix tapes with his cousin Nate Dogg as well as his friend Warren G, eventually having one reach Dr. Dre. Dre loved what he heard and asked Snoop to audition for his label, Death Row Records in 1991. And a year later, he released his first album “Doggystyle” under the artist name Snoop Doggy Dogg.
Top 10s and Controversy
“Doggystyle” was a smash hit with multiple tracks that reached and stayed on the top 10 for months. Memorable songs include “Gin and Juice” and “Who Am I (What’s My Name)” which helped to solidify Snoop Dogg as a household name. While he was firmly categorized as a gangsta rapper — which often made his music a target for censorship — his unique delivery and smooth vocals set him apart from other artists in the genre at the time.
While Snoop was building momentum professionally, his prior bad acts were mounting as he was charged and later acquitted of first-degree murder. This spurred the soundtrack and short film “Murder Was the Case” in 1994. He credits this case as a turning point where he shifted away from the harder elements of gangsta rap and focused more on building out his career and legacy. During this time he launched Doggy Style Records, Inc in 1995, signing icons like Charlie Wilson (of The Gap Band).