Snoop's debut album, Doggystyle, produced by Dr. Dre and released in 1993 by Death Row Records, debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Selling almost a million copies in the first week of its release, Doggystyle became certified 4× platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles, including "What's My Name?" and "Gin & Juice". In 1994 Snoop released a soundtrack on Death Row Records for the short film Murder Was the Case, starring himself. His second album, Tha Doggfather (1996), also debuted at number one on both charts, with "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" as the lead single. The album was certified double platinum in 1997.
After leaving Death Row Records, Snoop signed with No Limit Records, where he recorded his next three albums, Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998), No Limit Top Dogg (1999), and Tha Last Meal (2000). Snoop then signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in 2002, where he released Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss. He then signed with Geffen Records in 2004 for his next three albums, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, and Ego Trippin'. Malice 'n Wonderland (2009), and Doggumentary (2011) were released on Priority. Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows, including Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, Snoop Dogg's Father Hood, and Dogg After Dark. He also coaches a youth football league and a high school football team. In September 2009 Snoop was hired by EMI as the chairman of reactivated Priority Records.
In 2012, after a trip to Jamaica, Snoop announced a conversion to Rastafarianism and a new alias, Snoop Lion. As Snoop Lion he released a reggae album, Reincarnated, and a documentary film of the same name, about his Jamaican experience, in early 2013. His 13th studio album, Bush, was released in May 2015 and marked a return of the Snoop Dogg name. His 14th solo studio album, Coolaid, was released in July 2016. Snoop has 17 Grammy nominations without a win.
In 2018, he released his first gospel album, Bible of Love.
Kool Moe Dee ranks Snoop at No. 33 in his book There's a God on the Mic, and says he has "an ultra-smooth, laidback delivery" and "flavor-filled melodic rhyming". Peter Shapiro describes Snoop's delivery as a "molasses drawl" and AllMusic notes his "drawled, laconic rhyming" style. Kool Moe Dee refers to Snoop's use of vocabulary, saying he "keeps it real simple...he simplifies it and he's effective in his simplicity".
Snoop is known to freestyle some of his lyrics on the spot for some songs – in the book How to Rap, Lady of Rage says, "Snoop Dogg, when I worked with him earlier in his career, that's how created his stuff... he would freestyle, he wasn't a writer then, he was a freestyler," and The D.O.C. states, "Snoop's [rap] was a one take willy, but his shit was all freestyle. He hadn't written nothing down. He just came in and started busting. The song was "Tha Shiznit"—that was all freestyle. He started busting and when we got to the break, Dre cut the machine off, did the chorus and told Snoop to come back in. He did that throughout the record. That's when Snoop was in the zone then."
Peter Shapiro says that Snoop debuted on "Deep Cover" with a "shockingly original flow – which sounded like a Slick Rick born in South Carolina instead of South London" and adds that he "showed where his style came from by covering Slick Rick's 'La Di Da Di'". Referring to Snoop's flow, Kool Moe Dee calls him "one of the smoothest, funkiest flow-ers in the game". How to Rap also notes that Snoop is known to use syncopation in his flow to give it a laidback quality, as well as 'linking with rhythm' in his compound rhymes, using alliteration, and employing a "sparse" flow with good use of pauses.
Snoop re-popularized the use of -izzle speak, particularly in the pop and hip-hop music industry.
Snoop Dogg is a lifelong fan of professional wrestling. On March 30, 2008, Snoop Dogg appeared at WrestleMania XXIV as a Master of Ceremonies for a tag team match between Maria and Ashley Massaro as they took on Beth Phoenix and Melina. On a March 23, 2015 episode of Raw, Snoop Dogg appeared in a segment with Hulk Hogan and Curtis Axel. At WrestleMania 32, he accompanied his cousin Sasha Banks to the ring for her match, rapping over her theme music. He was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.
Broadus made a special guest appearance in All Elite Wrestling on the January 6, 2021, episode of AEW Dynamite, titled New Year's Smash. During this appearance, Snoop appeared in the corner of Cody Rhodes during Rhodes's match with Matt Sydal. He later gave Serpentico a Frog Splash, with Rhodes then delivering a three-count.
Snoop Dogg would join The Miz to host both nights of WrestleMania 39. During Night 1, he accompanied Rey Mysterio in a lowrider during his entrance, paying tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero. On Night 2, he introduced Shane McMahon to face The Miz in another spontaneous match. McMahon would sustain a quad injury during the match prompting Snoop Dogg to improvise and finish the match himself, ultimately defeating Miz. Snoop Dogg's improvisational acts were lauded by wrestlers and executives, including WWE chief content officer Triple H.
I Miss You
Snoop Dogg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I love, to give you light)
Yeah, first of all
Givin honor to God, and all the ministers on the pulpits
Ushers, deacons, and my lovely choir
They sound so beautiful, don't you agree?
Yeah, we'd like to welcome y'all inside this R&G
Rhythm & Gangsta: The Masterpiece
Such a, heavenly experience
Alchemist, break it down for me nephew
Let me preach to 'em one time, chuuch
In the beginning as a child I was chosen
Though not knowin' the reason while still my eyes opened
Whatever the purpose, I surfaced above the fog
Love was given to all, outside livin' the ball
As an adolescent, one black child, I had a message
To reach teachin' the masses, I wrote my first passage
It was jotted down, created in the form of a rap
I'm young, livin' in the city of jackers and gangbangin'
And dope dealin', cold feelin' to be a product of niggas around you
Once you get on top they down you
But the temptation got me, streets caught me watchin'
I found myself grindin' on the streets quite often
With a blue rag, bangin' the dub, fo'-fifth coffin
At the spot, 61st, 40 blocks from the Eastside
Where most of the big homies had a Glock and flossed the G-ride
Niggas throwin' up hands but it wasn't no peace signs
Never fo' a second did I think to let my light shine
Hardheaded, thought I was grown, messin up
Disrespectin' my home, not carin' 'bout what moms what sayin
And then I found out that mom wasn't playin'
Today, I love you for it, back then, I couldn't understand
Get my life right, step it up, nigga be a man
Never be a victim, of what the system might hit you with
Through the stripes still gotta shine my light
I've grown, to comprehend the game; my name is Big Snoop Boss Dogg
Just a block and a phone call away
I've reached the status, of a modern day John Baptist
I'm preachin' just what I practice
To each and all, I got a word from the Beach to acros the globe
Man woman young and old
Don't gain the world, lose your soul to spite
Many circumstances Doggy gon' shine my light 'cause I love you
And the people that is locked up, locked down
And the people that's locked down
Also God, should purchase the new, Escalade
On 24's, with the spinnin' thangs, ha ha
I need you to, right now, look at your neighbors
Cause a lot of y'all think y'all goin' to heaven huh
And you ain't gon' go!
So I need you right now to, look at your neighbor
And say neighbor, say neighbor! You ain't going!
You ain't going!
In Snoop Dogg's song "I Love To Give You Light," the rapper expresses his love and appreciation for God and his church community. He begins by acknowledging the ministers, ushers, deacons, and choir members who have made a positive impact on his life. He reflects on his journey as a young black man in a tough neighborhood, where he had a message to share with the masses. However, he also fell prey to the negative influences of gang violence and drug dealing, which led him down the wrong path. Snoop acknowledges that he made mistakes and disrespected his home, but ultimately he is grateful for his mother's tough love and guidance. He uses his platform as a successful rapper to preach a positive message to people all over the world and encourages them not to lose their souls in pursuit of worldly success.
The lyrics illustrate Snoop's personal transformation from a troubled youth to a spiritual leader, while also shining a light on the struggles of young people growing up in impoverished neighborhoods. By acknowledging the role of his community in his success, Snoop reinforces the importance of having positive role models and support systems in place for young people who are trying to make a difference in their own communities. Ultimately, the song is a tribute to the power of faith and community in transforming lives for the better.
Line by Line Meaning
Say man ay ushers, deacons, lock the do'
Hey, church officials, please close the doors and prepare for the start of the song.
Yeah, first of all
To begin with,
Givin honor to God, and all the ministers on the pulpits
I want to show respect for God and the leaders of the church.
Ushers, deacons, and my lovely choir
I also want to acknowledge the church ushers, deacons, and choir members.
They sound so beautiful, don't you agree?
The choir sings wonderfully, don't you agree?
Yeah, we'd like to welcome y'all inside this R&G
I want to welcome you all to my Rhythm & Gangsta album.
Rhythm & Gangsta: The Masterpiece
This is the title of my album and I consider it to be a masterpiece.
Such a, heavenly experience
It is truly an amazing and spiritual experience.
Alchemist, break it down for me nephew
Alchemist, please explain and break down the song for me.
Let me preach to 'em one time, chuuch
Let me preach and share my message one more time, church.
In the beginning as a child I was chosen
As a child, I always felt like I was meant for something great.
Though not knowin' the reason while still my eyes opened
I didn't quite understand what my purpose was, even though I could see things clearly.
Whatever the purpose, I surfaced above the fog
Despite my confusion, I managed to rise above any difficulties or obstacles.
Love was given to all, outside livin' the ball
Love was present everywhere, even in the difficult neighborhoods I grew up in.
As an adolescent, one black child, I had a message
As I grew older, I realized I had a message to share with my peers.
To reach teachin' the masses, I wrote my first passage
I wrote my first rap as a way to teach and reach out to a larger audience.
It was jotted down, created in the form of a rap
I wrote it down and turned it into a rap song.
I'm young, livin' in the city of jackers and gangbangin'
I was young and growing up in a city with high crime rates and gang violence.
And dope dealin', cold feelin' to be a product of niggas around you
Drugs were being sold and I felt isolated in this environment.
Once you get on top they down you
As soon as you become successful, people turn against you.
But the temptation got me, streets caught me watchin'
I was tempted to engage in criminal activity and the streets had a hold on me.
I found myself grindin' on the streets quite often
I was constantly working and hustling on the streets.
With a blue rag, bangin' the dub, fo'-fifth coffin
I was representing my gang affiliation, carrying a gun, and risking my life.
At the spot, 61st, 40 blocks from the Eastside
I spent a lot of time in a specific location, which was 40 blocks away from the Eastside.
Where most of the big homies had a Glock and flossed the G-ride
This was a place where my older peers had guns and flashy cars.
Niggas throwin' up hands but it wasn't no peace signs
Gang members were making hand gestures, but there was no peace between rival groups.
Never fo' a second did I think to let my light shine
I never thought about sharing my positive message or making a difference in the community.
Hardheaded, thought I was grown, messin up
I was stubborn and thought I was mature, but I was making mistakes.
Disrespectin' my home, not carin' 'bout what moms what sayin
I was disobeying my mother and not listening to her advice.
And then I found out that mom wasn't playin'
I eventually realized that my mother was not joking around.
Today, I love you for it, back then, I couldn't understand
Looking back, I appreciate what my mother did for me, but at the time I didn't understand.
Get my life right, step it up, nigga be a man
I had to straighten out my life and become a responsible adult.
Never be a victim, of what the system might hit you with
I learned to not become a victim of the criminal justice system or societal pressures.
Through the stripes still gotta shine my light
Even though I may face obstacles and challenges, I must continue to share my positive message.
I've grown, to comprehend the game; my name is Big Snoop Boss Dogg
I have matured and gained a better understanding of life and my name is now Big Snoop Boss Dogg.
Just a block and a phone call away
I am accessible and easy to reach.
I've reached the status, of a modern day John Baptist
I have achieved a level of success and recognition, similar to John the Baptist from the Bible.
I'm preachin' just what I practice
I am sharing a message that I personally believe in and follow.
To each and all, I got a word from the Beach to acros the globe
I have a message for everyone, from my hometown of Long Beach, California to people around the world.
Man woman young and old
My message is meant for everyone, regardless of age or gender.
Don't gain the world, lose your soul to spite
It's important to prioritize one's spiritual health and values over material success.
Many circumstances Doggy gon' shine my light 'cause I love you
No matter what challenges I face, I will continue to share my positive message because I care about my listeners.
And the people that is locked up, locked down
I also want to include and encourage those who are incarcerated or have limited freedom.
And the people that's locked down
This line is repeated for emphasis.
Also God, should purchase the new, Escalade
This line seems to be a non-sequitur and does not have a deeper meaning.
On 24's, with the spinnin' thangs, ha ha
This line is also a non-sequitur and does not have a deeper meaning.
I need you to, right now, look at your neighbors
I want to engage with my listeners and encourage them to interact with each other.
Cause a lot of y'all think y'all goin' to heaven huh
This line is humorous and playful.
And you ain't gon' go!
This line is also humorous and playful and does not have a deeper meaning.
So I need you right now to, look at your neighbor
This line serves as a transition back to engaging with the listeners.
And say neighbor, say neighbor! You ain't going!
This line is playful and encourages listeners to interact with each other.
You ain't going!
This line is repeated for emphasis.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: ALAN MAMAN, ANDRAE CROUCH, PRIEST BROOKS, Al Johnson, I Dudley, J Harris, Lou Bond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Annie nach
Damn I love this song, 11years down the line still listening to it... Sad the person who introduced me to this song left I can't even recognize him anymore, I did not imagine things between us could end that way..
TEM 14
2021 still loving this song.
Dj Malaicky
Still listening to the same song after a decade... Makes me drop tears for a private reason... Truly, Life changes as the world unveils itself.....
BlackStar1O1
I love this song!
Collin Natangwe Paulus
2021 This song still hit all the spots
iEatFrozenThings
i can relate perfect, i miss my babe soo much. she jus left me with no reason.
MrPaperke
best song when u need a lover and worse when u have a lover...!!!
Mubanga Lester Mwansa
Some feel good music
Multi Purpose Yard
Just know that you not alone here. 🎵
tibetsfinest
even gangstas need love