Snoop Dogg: past and present

By John Benson

entertainment@vindy.com

With Snoop Dogg coming to Northeast Ohio, here are 10 things you didn’t shizzle dizzle know about the rapper.

1 Snoop Dogg was born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. on Oct. 20, 1971. Before entering the rap game, he was a member of the Crips. He attended Long Beach Poly High School. One of his classmates was Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz.

2 Reportedly, Dr. Dre first heard Snoop rap at a bachelor party when Warren G popped in a homemade tape.

3 Snoop Dogg made his mainstream debut on Dr. Dre’s definitive 1992 album “The Chronic.” He released his solo effort, “Doggystyle,” a year later.

4 At a time when he was charged with murder, Snoop famously appeared at the 1994 Video Music Awards in a casket. Eventually, he was acquitted of all charges based on self-defense.

5 In addition to starting up his own youth-football league in Southern California, Snoop Dogg annually donates more than $1 million to extra-curricular activities for children.

6 A one-of-a-kind personality, Snoop Dogg has found a lucrative career in feature films. He’s appeared in “The Wash,” “Old School,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “Soul Plane,” “Bruno” and more.

7 In 2007, Snoop ranked No. 7 on the Forbes “Hip Hop Cash Kings” list with $17 million in earnings.

8 Even though he grew up on the West Coast, Snoop is a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

9 Snoop returned to the mainstream last year providing the rap sizzle to Katy Perry’s No. 1 hit single “California Gurls.”

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