Movies

How Snoop Dogg became America’s sweetheart at the Paris Olympics

BBG News

How Snoop Dogg became America's sweetheart at the Paris Olympics

As I delve into the captivating narrative of Snoop Dogg, I find myself marveling at the remarkable journey this multifaceted artist has embarked upon. Born and bred in the streets of Long Beach, California, Snoop’s life has been a testament to resilience, reinvention, and an unwavering commitment to staying true to himself.

1. Experiencing a splash of excitement with Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps in a pool setting.

Snoop la la!!!

At the Summer Games, Biles and U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky might have earned titles of greatest athletes of all time (GOATs). However, they’re not stealing the limelight alone; Snoop Dogg, also known as D-O-Double-G, is captivating Paris with his phenomenon, Snoopmania.

Originally known as a prominent gangsta rapper in the West Coast hip-hop scene, Snoop Dogg has shown versatility this year as a standout figure in NBC’s Olympics coverage, contributing significantly to their success with record-breaking ratings. Since his torch-carrying duty during the opening ceremony, the tall, smooth artist has been omnipresent, skillfully juggling his role as an NBC special correspondent while leading cheers at various events such as fencing, judo, and badminton.

On Saturdays, he confidently strutted into the equestrian competition, fully dressed as an elite horseman, complete with a tailcoat for dressage; this immediately caught everyone’s attention. His interviews with prominent athletes have been a significant part of the network’s prime-time highlights. A popular pin, featuring him blowing out the multi-colored Olympic ring logo in front of the Eiffel Tower (a playful nod to his affection for marijuana), is so sought after that it seems even he can’t get one himself!

“He expressed his enthusiasm for harmony, affection, athletics, and togetherness in a TikTok video, stating that these are the core elements of the event.”

For many years, the rapper has been well-known in popular culture, appearing not only at significant sports events but also on screen in films (“Training Day,” “The Garfield Movie”), TV shows (MTV’s “Doggy Fizzle Television”), advertisements for Corona beer and Tostitos, as a coach on “The Voice,” host of “The Joker’s Wild,” collaborator with Katy Perry on “California Gurls,” and close friend to Martha Stewart. However, his presence at the Olympics has solidified his status as a versatile celebrity with broad appeal across different age groups and backgrounds.

However, a stark contrast emerges for longtime Snoop Dogg fans, who recall the hardcore gangsta rapper known for lyrics about killing police officers and derogatory terms towards women. Yet, in recent times, he is spotted dining elegantly in Paris with Stewart, interacting jovially with U.S. volleyball duo Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng, and dancing with gymnast Simone Biles. This shift might come as a whirlwind for those who remember his past exploits, which included explicit language and dabbling in soft-core pornography through “Snoop Dogg’s Buckwild Bus Tour.”

As a movie critic looking back on 20 years of music, I must say that Kanye West’s “R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece” from 2004 remains a significant part of hip-hop history. This month, the album is being reissued to mark its anniversary, and it still packs a punch with tracks like “Can U Control Yo Hoe?”

The popular song “Drop It Like It’s Hot” from that album showcases intense imagery paired with a catchy rhythm: “If you get too close, you’re in danger / Do you have a gun and want to retaliate? / An AK-47 now silences your attack / With cement shoes on, I’m moving swiftly / Your family mourns as they watch the news / They can’t find you, now they miss you dearly / Must I remind you that I’m here to control you / I’ll pistol-whip you, manipulate, and abandon you…”

In an interview with The Times regarding his album and various endeavors, Snoop himself stated that the project embodies who he is as an artist, encompassing his musical, physical, intellectual, and spiritual identity, reflecting his past and pointing towards his future.

What’s intriguing about his metamorphosis into a beloved American icon at the Paris Games is this: How did Snoop Lion (formerly Calvin Broadus) reinvent himself as a media-friendly personality, acceptable to a major network during their most critical broadcast?

In a different turn of events, I myself, though never shying away nor expressing regret for past statements, managed to skirt the controversy that has befallen figures such as Jo Koy, Andrew Dice Clay, and Don Lemon. Interestingly enough, my softening of edges was a process initiated well before I found myself on the banks of the Seine.

Snoop, a longtime coach for youth football teams, including the Rowland Heights Raiders where his sons played, traditionally gifts each winning player a new WRFF bike. His unwavering commitment to youth sports has made him an ideal candidate for NBC’s optimistic Olympics image. In 2005, he established the Snoop Youth Football League as a nonprofit, aiming to support inner-city children. To date, the program has helped over 60,000 young individuals, as stated on its website.

In his own words, the entertainer views his 1996 not-guilty verdict on first-degree and second-degree murder charges, following the shooting death of a Los Angeles gang member, as a pivotal moment in his life. This event significantly influenced his choice to reinvent himself and strive to be a more dependable figure for his family and the public at large.

Last year, during an interview on the “Jemele Hill Is Unbothered” podcast, Snoop said, “I was often seen as one of the most dreaded and disliked individuals by politicians and government officials. They spoke poorly about me and tried to undermine me because they didn’t know me personally. Their opinions were largely influenced by a preconceived notion of me, stemming from my upbringing and past events that I hadn’t managed to leave behind as I was still signed to a record label that continued to promote my earlier life.”

2004 marked a significant escalation in Snoop Dogg’s transformation, coinciding with the release of his album “R&G.” This was also the year he embarked on a multitude of ventures, one of which was his debut as the lead actor in an independent film titled “The Tenants.” In this movie, he starred alongside Dylan McDermott, Rose Byrne, and Aldis Hodge. Interestingly, Snoop portrayed a tormented novelist in the storyline.

Over the course of his career shift, there have been some challenging periods to acknowledge. For instance, Snoop Dogg’s amiable demeanor on camera didn’t always translate behind the scenes, as he could sometimes be irritable and demanding. This temperament occasionally surfaced in public incidents too. A notable example occurred in 2020 when Snoop Dogg caused a stir by attacking Gayle King following her discussion about rape allegations against the late Kobe Bryant during an interview with Lisa Leslie, a close friend of Bryant’s, shortly after his tragic helicopter crash.

“The rapper angrily stated on a social media post, ‘How audacious of you to attempt to tarnish the reputation of my close friend!’ He warned, ‘Show respect for his family or prepare for us to take action against you!”

After facing criticism from Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and others, Snoop expressed his apologies for the inappropriate language he used and the disrespectful manner: “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” he stated. “I should have addressed it in an entirely different way; I was brought up to behave much better than that.”

Despite occasional slips, these instances are infrequent. Generally, Snoop Dogg has prioritized exploring new interests and strengthening relationships to broaden his fanbase beyond hip-hop enthusiasts – notably, his friendship and joint projects with Stewart, a renowned businesswoman and cultural icon. Their bond blossomed in 2015 during a Comedy Central roast of singer Justin Bieber, leading to an unexpected alliance showcased through multiple appearances, comedic skits, and even a celebrity cooking series called “Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.”

Partnering with Snoop Dogg allowed the meticulous chef and craftsman to reach a more youthful, trendy demographic, while Martha Stewart aided in presenting the rapper as more relatable to a broader consumer base. Their amusing back-and-forth exchanges have been highlighted in coverage of the Olympics.

An aspect worth noting, though not as immediately obvious, is that Snoop’s rise mirrors a significant shift in both hip-hop music and cannabis culture. Initially viewed as harmful influences, the gangsta rap and marijuana use associated with Snoop’s persona have become mainstream, no longer perceived as threats. For instance, Flavor Flav, a member of Public Enemy, has been active at the Paris Games, while Ice Cube, a former N.W.A member, has produced several successful films, many of which, like “Are We There Yet?” and “Barbershop,” have family-friendly themes.

Snoop Dogg’s Olympic journey isn’t primarily a debut of his new, friendly persona, but rather the conclusion of a long-term transformation. He subtly references his past by doing a brief Crip walk during the Olympics torch march and mentioning his “lung power” in the pool with Phelps, suggesting that those aspects are no longer an issue. As one person on Twitter commented, “My mom called me and said she enjoys watching Snoop Dogg at the Olympics, and I had to remind her that she once grounded me for buying his CD.”

Over the past 20 years, his clever strategies in media have kept him connected to his street-life origins, all while expanding his influence to the global arena of the most prominent sports scenes.

The success of this strategy might be due to the fact that it’s more about being authentic than following a structured plan, as Snoop Dogg explained to Hill: “Whenever you see me with Martha Stewart, I’m just being true to myself. In the hood, I’m also being true to myself. It’s always the same person. Being myself is all I know how to do.”

Read More

2024-08-10 01:23

Previous post Mark Hamill joins the cast of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy in full trailer
Next post Project Multi: Dragon Ball MOBA invites to beta testing