Cordazar Calvin Broadus (born October 20, 1971),
better known by his
stage name Snoop Dogg, is a
Grammy Award-nominated American
rapper,
record producer, and
actor. Snoop is best known as an
MC in the
West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of producer
Dr. Dre's most notable
protégés. He popularized the catch phrase suffix
"-izzle," a slang term or
infix that had been in use for decades, but not nearly to the extent that it currently permeates the pop and hip hop music industry as well as general usage.
Snoop Dogg was a
Crip gang member while in high school; shortly after graduation, he was arrested for
cocaine possession and sentenced to three years in prison, then began his music career in 1992 after his release. He was discovered by
Dr. Dre and collaborated on several tracks on Dre's solo debut,
The Chronic and on the titular theme song to the film
Deep Cover. Snoop's debut album,
Doggystyle, was released in 1993 under
Death Row Records.
Doggystyle went quadruple platinum and spawned several hit singles, including "
What's My Name" and "
Gin & Juice."
