Childhood
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. was born in Long Beach, California on October 20, 1971. He was the second of three sons and was named after his stepfather. His father was pretty absent in his life. His mother is Beverly Broadus (née Tate). His father, Vernell Varnado, was a Vietnam veteran, singer, and mail carrier who was frequently absent from his life. His “Snoop Dogg” nickname came from his mother because she thought he looked like Snoopy from the Peanuts cartoon. He was usually addressed him as Calvin at home. He played piano and sang at Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church, before starting rap in sixth grade. After he graduated high school, Snoop started getting in trouble with the law and was arrested for drug possession and spent time in prison.
The Start of His Rap Career
To stay out of trouble Snoop started to make music and recorded early demos with Nate Dogg, his cousin, and friend Warren G as 213. Some of his music caught Dr. Dre’s eye and he then invited Snoop to audition. Afterwards they worked on a song called “Deep Cover” for a film and Snoop became the focal rapper on Dre’s first solo album, The Chronic. Snoop then produced his first album, Doggystyle , in 1993. The album topped Billboard’s charts with successful singles like “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Gin and Juice.” Next came Murder Was the Case, a short film about Snoop Dogg’s murder trial, along with an accompanying soundtrack that went double platinum. Snoop’s next album, Tha Doggfather, did quite well on the charts although Dr. Dre did not work on it with Snoop. After falling out with Suge Knight, Snoop left Death Row and became apart of Master P’s No Limit Records. His next two albums: Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told and No Limit Top Dogg released in 1998 and 1999 topped the hip hop charts. A year later his last album with No Limit, The Last Meal , and sold millions of copies. Overall Snoop Dogg showed a softer side of rap compared to other rap artists. He had a soft vocal delivery that separated and distinguished him from other rappers.
Snoop's Other Ventures
Snoop is one of the most recognizable faces and voices in hip hop but he has branched outside of music into acting appearing in films such as Baby Boy, Training Day and The Wash. He has also been a guest on several television shows as well as having his own reality television show, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood, which premiered in 2007. The show starred himself, his wife , Shante, and three children, Corde, Cordell, and Cori. He can currently be watched on his show on VH1, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. On the show he and Martha Stewart host dinner parties for various celebrities while engaging in fun conversation and showing off their what seems to be unlikely friendship. Snoop has made business investments by launching Leafs By Snoop, a cannabis brand, in 2015. With Leafs By Snoop, Snoop became the first A-list celebrity to brand a line of cannabis products.
