Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally … Read Full Bio ↴Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, television personality and actor. His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and featured on Dre's solo debut, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's solo debut album, The Chronic. He has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide.

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.

When I Grow Up
Snoop Dogg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

From the Dogg Pound and the L-B-C (yeah, yeah)
Your baby is waiting for you, come on (yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah)

That's that damn Snoop Dogg again
He ain't nothin' but a fuckin' pimp

Man, Snoop, you got a bad car
When I grow up I wanna be just like you

Look here, lil' homeboy, let me tell you somethin'
Don't never let me hear you say you wanna be like me
You could be a doctor, a lawyer
A football player, a Laker, anythin'
Just don't never let me hear you say you wanna be like me
You hear me? (Yeah-huh)
Go take these dollars and go give 'em to your brothers and your sisters
And you run on to school

Thanks, Snoop (I got a letter from my baby, saying)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Snoop Dogg's song "When I Grow Up" touch on themes of identity, ambition, and responsibility. The song features a conversation between Snoop Dogg and a young boy who admires him, looking up to his status as a famous rapper and cultural icon. However, Snoop tells the boy not to aspire to be like him, and instead encourages him to pursue a career as a doctor, lawyer, or athlete, emphasizing the importance of education and hard work. The lyrics also touch on issues of poverty and the importance of supporting one's family, as Snoop gives the boy some money to take home to his siblings.

Overall, the lyrics convey a positive message of empowerment and self-improvement, urging the listener to set their sights high and work towards achieving their goals. At the same time, the song acknowledges the challenges and obstacles that many young people face, and stresses the importance of supporting one's family and community along the way.

In terms of the musical style of the song, it features Snoop's distinctive laid-back flow, set to a mellow, groovy beat. The song draws on influences from classic funk and soul music, with a sample from the song "Singing in the Morning" by the Ohio Players used as the basis for the track.

Overall, "When I Grow Up" is a reflective and introspective song that touches on important themes of personal growth and social responsibility, while showcasing Snoop's unique style and flow.

Line by Line Meaning

From the Dogg Pound and the L-B-C (yeah, yeah)
Snoop Dogg is proud of his origins in the Long Beach City and represents it through his music.

Your baby is waiting for you, come on (yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah)
Snoop Dogg encourages his listeners to prioritize their personal lives over their music career ambitions.

That's that damn Snoop Dogg again
Snoop Dogg's music is well-known and recognizable.

He ain't nothin' but a fuckin' pimp
People have criticized Snoop Dogg for being a pimp and raising prostitution's profile in his music.

Man, Snoop, you got a bad car
Snoop Dogg is wealthy and has expensive cars.

When I grow up I wanna be just like you
The singer wants to achieve Snoop Dogg's levels of success and wealth.

Look here, lil' homeboy, let me tell you somethin'
Snoop Dogg wants to offer advice to the listener, as an authority figure.

Don't never let me hear you say you wanna be like me
Snoop Dogg doesn't want the listener to aspire to become like him, but rather pursue other careers.

You could be a doctor, a lawyer
Snoop Dogg suggests that there are other jobs that are more respectable than being a rapper and pimp.

Just don't never let me hear you say you wanna be like me
Snoop Dogg emphasizes that the listener has more options than following in his footsteps.

You hear me? (Yeah-huh)
Snoop Dogg wants to ensure that his message has been conveyed and understood.

Go take these dollars and go give 'em to your brothers and your sisters
Snoop Dogg wants the listener to prioritize familial relationships and use their wealth to support family members.

And you run on to school
Snoop Dogg encourages the listener to focus on their education and future career, rather than perpetuating a cycle of pimping and drug dealing.

Thanks, Snoop (I got a letter from my baby, saying)
The listener thanks Snoop Dogg for his advice and acknowledges that they have personal relationships and responsibilities outside of music.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Mark S Jordan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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