Snoop Dogg (1972– )

US rap artist and actor. He was a leading figure of gangsta rap during the late 1990s, known for a smooth, relaxed rapping style, but like many of his gangsta rap contemporaries is notorious for his criminal record and violent lyrics. His debut album Doggystyle (1994) generated so much pre-publicity that it became the first album to debut at number one in the US charts, but it was criticized for lyrics that were abusive to women.

His other albums include The Doggfather (1996), Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told (1998), No Limit Top Dogg (1999), and Tha Last Meal (2000). His films include Caught Up (1998), Hot Boyz (1999), The Wrecking Crew (1999), Urban Menace (1999; the later two with rapper Ice-T), The Wash (2001, with Dr Dre), Baby Boy (2001), and Bones (2001).

He was born in Long Beach, California, and derived his stage name from a childhood nickname based on Charlie Brown's dog Snoopy from Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip. He was convicted on drug charges after leaving high school and spent three years in and out of jail. He gained exposure from his contributions to the albums of Dr Dre 1991–92, especially the hit song ‘Nuthn' but a ‘G’ Thang’, which he wrote himself and performed with Dre for Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic (1992). After presenting an award at the 1993 MTV video awards, he surrendered to police on murder charges in a drive-by shooting. After three years of legal wrangling, he was finally acquitted in 1996.