Born Calvin Broadus in Long Beach, California, the eccentric rapper was nicknamed Snoop by his mother because of his appearance. He took the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg (later changed to Snoop Dogg) when he began recording. As a teenager on the streets of Long Beach, Snoop was always in some sort of trouble, and after graduating from high school, he served three years in prison for possession of cocaine. Like most rappers that walked the streets of the late 80’s and the early 90’s though, Snoop soon found an escape from crime through his musical talents, recording homemade tapes with friend Warren G, who was also related to the infamous Dr. Dre. After Warren introduced Snoop, Dre was instantly impressed with the young rapper’s unique style and menacing appearance, urging him to tag along on his next album, “The Chronic.” As a major player on Dre’s debut solo album, Snoop set the groundwork for his own release, but after he was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting, his highly anticipated album was put on hold. He first appeared in 1990 when helping out Dr Dre on a track called 'Deep Cover', from the film of the same title. Dogg was also ubiquitious on Dr Dre's breakthrough album, The Chronic. 

In '93 Snoop came out with his first solo-album, Doggystyle. Doggy Style was the most eagerly anticipated album in rap history, and the first debut album to enter the Billboard chart at number 1. In '95 Snoop was suspected on the murder of Philip Woldermariam, shot by his bodyguard McKinley Lee, while Snoop was driving the car. The verdict on February 20 1996 acquitted Dogg and McKinley Lee of both murder charges and the manslaughter cases were dropped in April. The trial had not overtly damaged his record sales; his debut has now topped 7 million copies worldwide, and the follow up Tha Doggfather entered the USA album chart at number 1. But in March '98 he left Deathrow Records and he moved to Master P.'s No Limit Records. He released his third album Da game is to be sold, not to be told in August and he is busy with his fourth solo-album Top Dogg. 

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