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.
Protocol
Snoop Dogg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm from the west coast I turn his face into a pothole,
15 deep niggas creepin' in da tahoe,
Lets see you act macho when I pull the burner on you
Sideways like a taco,
Rap niggas we all talk like
Trunk full of cargo,
Dry like Barstow,
Get up on em,
Drill em with the clips,
Niggas gon respect mine,
I run this whole shit,
Crip rag in my pocket, three eighty on my hip,
But back to this hip hop,
Who next on the list,
Gangstas don't kiss we get old and die rich,
I smoke till I'm sleep,
Crush these niggas with my fist,
Your daddy was a coward you's a son of a bitch,
So back to the glock with the infra-blue clip,
We hit licks and gang bang,
You on some T-Pain shit,
Chop the pop and 20 crip
Watch the flame til its whip
Then I'm back to the block shit,
Brack shit, hot shit,
Hit em in the chest,
Thug run up in his pockets,
Mis-representing sock em in his eye socket,
I sat back and let you little niggas make your profits,
Nonsense I'm watching hoes out of pocket,
You heard what they say,
Don't block it till you knock it,
You stole my whole style, I'm bout to take you fools hostage,
Brrah, brrah,
From the looks to the hooks,
I'm looking at these new niggas flicking through my book,
There's only one king, you a pawn or a rook,
I got hand machine guns and soldiers on foot,
So beef with me its none, nigga done south huh
I throw a bullet at ya who gon' catch it nigga duck,
Then send the goons at ya, turn ya weapons into dust,
You against me its like trying to fight a bus,
I'm at the B.E.T. awards sitting in disgust,
Its still a G-thing but yet they wanna be us,
They wanna be Daz, they wanna be Kurupt,
Cash on delivery money up front,
Yeah bubble kush out a purple blunt,
Who's the best nigga circle one,
Snoop Dogg
I'm large in the streets,
My arms and my feets knee deep in the game,
I'm the best on the beat, let you little nigga speak
And run for a treat, muthafucking beast
All y'all niggas owe me until you rest in peace,
And that's our D.P.G. mutha fucker,
That's real shit man,
How the fuck you gon keep having these award shows out here
On the west coast
When ain't no mutha fuckers from the west coast winning no awards,
Nigga, its like that, its just like that,
We showed you niggas how to do this shit.
The lyrics in Snoop Dogg's song Protocol depict his pride in being from the West Coast and his desire to protect and defend his territory. He warns others not to speak on what they don't know and threatens violence against anyone who tries to challenge him or his crew. He also calls out other rappers for copying his style and claims to be the best on the beat.
The lyrics display Snoop Dogg's authentic gangster persona, which has been a defining quality in his music throughout his career. He is known for pioneering the West Coast rap scene, along with Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur, and his lyrics often reflect his experiences living in gang-filled neighborhoods. The song Protocol pays homage to his roots and asserts his dominance and authority in the rap industry.
Overall, the song is an intimidating and aggressive call to action, challenging anyone whodares to defy Snoop Dogg and his crew. The lyrics claim that Snoop Dogg has no equal in the rap game, and his presence alone should demand respect from other artists. It's a declaration of power that is both threatening and impressive.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch your mouth never speak on what you not know,
Be careful not to talk about what you don't know.
I'm from the west coast I turn his face into a pothole,
I'm a tough guy from the West Coast, I beat people up.
15 deep niggas creepin' in da tahoe,
Me and my homies are rolling deep in a Tahoe, looking for trouble.
Lets see you act macho when I pull the burner on you
Sideways like a taco,
If I pull my gun on you, you won't be brave anymore.
Rap niggas we all talk like
Trunk full of cargo,
Dry like Barstow,
Most rappers are all talk, they don't have anything to back it up, like a trunk full of empty cargo. They're boring and lame, like Barstow, California.
Arsenal run up on em,
Get up on em,
Drill em with the clips,
Niggas gon respect mine,
I'm not afraid to use my guns, and people will respect me for it.
I run this whole shit,
I'm in charge, I'm the boss here.
Crip rag in my pocket, three eighty on my hip,
I'm representing my gang, the Crips, and carrying a .380 handgun.
But back to this hip hop,
Who next on the list,
But let's get back to rap, who am I going to take down next?
Gangstas don't kiss we get old and die rich,
Real gangsters don't show affection, we just focus on getting rich.
I smoke till I'm sleep,
Crush these niggas with my fist,
I smoke weed until I fall asleep, and I'm not afraid to fight with my fists.
Your daddy was a coward you's a son of a bitch,
You come from a cowardly family, you cowardly son of a bitch.
So back to the glock with the infra-blue clip,
We hit licks and gang bang,
Let's go back to using guns, and committing robberies and other criminal activities.
You on some T-Pain shit,
Chop the pop and 20 crip
Watch the flame til its whip
Then I'm back to the block shit,
Brack shit, hot shit,
You're not a real gangster, you're just doing this for show. I'm really out here committing crimes, and then returning to the streets to do even more illegal activities.
Hit em in the chest,
Thug run up in his pockets,
Mis-representing sock em in his eye socket,
I aim for the chest when shooting, and then rob them. If they disrespect me, I'll punch them in the eye.
I sat back and let you little niggas make your profits,
Nonsense I'm watching hoes out of pocket,
I let other rappers make their money, but I'm always keeping an eye on them, making sure they're not doing anything stupid with their money.
You heard what they say,
Don't block it till you knock it,
You stole my whole style, I'm bout to take you fools hostage,
You heard the saying, don't block your blessings. You stole my style, and now I'm going to take control and dominate.
From the looks to the hooks,
I'm looking at these new niggas flicking through my book,
There's only one king, you a pawn or a rook,
These new rappers are copying my style, but there's only one true king in this game, and they're just pawns or rooks in comparison.
I got hand machine guns and soldiers on foot,
I have both small guns and bigger, machine guns, and loyal soldiers on the ground.
So beef with me its none, nigga done south huh
I throw a bullet at ya who gon' catch it nigga duck,
Then send the goons at ya, turn ya weapons into dust,
Don't mess with me, it's pointless. I'll shoot at you and you better hide. Then, I'll send my goons to finish you off and destroy your weapons.
You against me its like trying to fight a bus,
I'm at the B.E.T. awards sitting in disgust,
Trying to take me down is like trying to take down a huge, unstoppable bus. And even when I go to award shows, I'm disappointed in the industry's lack of respect for real talent like me.
Its still a G-thing but yet they wanna be us,
They wanna be Daz, they wanna be Kurupt,
Cash on delivery money up front,
We're still representing the G lifestyle, but now everyone wants to be like us, like Daz and Kurupt. And now, we only take cash and need to be paid upfront.
Yeah bubble kush out a purple blunt,
Who's the best nigga circle one,
Snoop Dogg
Let's smoke some weed and figure out who the best is. And of course, it's me, Snoop Dogg.
I'm large in the streets,
My arms and my feets knee deep in the game,
I'm the best on the beat, let you little nigga speak
And run for a treat, muthafucking beast
I'm huge in the streets, with everything I do rooted in this life. I'm the best rapper around, and anyone who wants to challenge me better watch themselves, because I'm a beast.
All y'all niggas owe me until you rest in peace,
And that's our D.P.G. mutha fucker,
All of you rappers owe me respect and some sort of tribute until the day you die. And that's my crew, the D.P.G., motherfucker.
That's real shit man,
How the fuck you gon keep having these award shows out here
On the west coast
When ain't no mutha fuckers from the west coast winning no awards,
Nigga, its like that, its just like that,
We showed you niggas how to do this shit.
This is real talk. How are you going to have award shows on the West Coast when no one from here ever wins? We're the ones who showed you how to do this shit, and you're not even giving us any respect!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CALVIN BROADUS, DOMINICK LAMB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MV Bill
nice,nice,very nice. the big is back!!
paperchasin805
Feels Good to see all the Dogg pound together the good old days!!
realmadridhfg
Snoop Dogg, 2pac, and Biggie are one of the biggest legends of Rap/ hip hop.
Robriguez G.
SNOOP IS DA KING FORGET THE OTHERS
zecxixo
It seems 90's are back! cool! love snoop dogg!
BaySix247
Snoop always was en always will be keepin it real
jay wilson
GANGSTAS DON'T KISS WE GET OLD N DIE RICH
TheShortyone90
ohh yeah this is a very great beat chill out weed weed weed good job snoob dogg..
AdamBan
One of the best Snoop tracks ever, kick ass video. WHY THIS IS NOT ON MALICE N WONDERLAND???
Jake Varnham
@513605 thats why i love snoop, and i know he wont take it back if people look at the lyrics where he makes extreme punch lines its obvious