Snoop Dogg Becomes Snoop Lion, Channels Bob Marley on ‘Reincarnated’ Album

Snoop Dogg has had a spiritual awakening. The rapper has traded in his famous moniker for Snoop Lion and revealed further plans for a reggae album inspired by his journey to Jamaica.

During a press junket at Jamaican-themed record store and restaurant, Miss Lily’s, Snoop introduced his reggae alter ego and Reincarnated project, which includes an album produced by Diplo and the Major Lazer production team, documentary, photo book, and a non-profit initiative called Mind Garden.

He was originally planning to do another “gangsta” album, but had an epiphany one day. “This called me and it put all of that to rest,” he said. “Anytime the spirit calls you, you gotta know that it’s serious and it’s real. When the spirit called me, it told me to find something that was connected towards the Bob Marley spirit. Because I’ve always said that I was Bob Marley reincarnated.”

He hopes the album will appeal to people of all ages. “I’ve always wanted to perform for kids and my grandmother and people around the world who really love me that can’t really accept the music that I make,” he explained. “This reggae music is a music of love, happiness, and struggle. Now as a 40-year-old man in the music industry and the artists call me Uncle Snoop, I gotta give them something new.”

He revealed one powerful song called “No Guns Allowed.” “It’s so real with so much shooting and killing going on in this world, and nobody ever speaks on it until it happens. And I’m tired of it. We made this record because I’ve always wanted to make a song that can stand for something.”

While he may return to rap one day, for now, he’s enjoying being Snoop Lion. “I’m a wise man in the music industry, not that I’m never gonna ever do rap again because I’m gon’ always do what I love, but right now, I’m Snoop Lion and I’m having fun with this reggae movement, so hopefully you guys will enjoy it as well. Jah Rastafari.”

Listen to “La La La,” the first single from Reincarnated.

Category: Entertainment, News

About the Author

New York City’s “Boy Boy,” is an extraordinary business man, entertainer, and event producer. Born and raised on the lower east side of New York City, Boy Boy is a well-known MC whose management skills, determination and confidence have brought him opportunities young adults only dream of. Boy Boy always had an attraction to music and entertainment and at the young age of 15, started marking his territory by MC-ing and hosting Day Jams all over the city. Although incredibly young, he quickly proved to be far from an amateur. His confidence and poise on stage captured audience members’ attention and prepped them for exciting performances to come. Immediately, promoters and organizers started taking note of boy boy’s skills and began requesting him to host shows, events and parties all across New York City. In 2007, Boy Boy established the Desi American Youth Collaboration, a social-networking organization that provides inner-city South Asian young adults with the opportunity to learn more about their culture while having fun. Since its inception, DAYC has produced many successful events, including street fairs, cultural shows and concerts. Boy Boy personally secured some of the biggest names in music to perform at these events, including rappers Fat Joe, Red Café and Notch and renowned reggae artist Sean Paul. He has also worked with Fabulous, Neyo, and South Asian heavy hitters, Da Bilz and Raghav, among others. Today, he is working harder than ever and constantly strives to do things “bigger and better.” He continues to host and MC shows throughout New York and produces events for DAYC. His future goals include launching his own radio station and television show, while continuously placing the Bengalis and their culture on the map. His unrelenting determination and hard work make it clear that for boy boy, the sky is truly the limit.