Top Picks: Snoop Dogg

Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., known professionally as Snoop Dogg (and previously as Snoop Doggy Dogg and Snoop Lion), is a man of many talents.

He is best known as a hip-hop and rap artist. His musical career kicked off in 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre’s debut solo single, “Deep Cover.” Since then, Snoop Dogg has released 18 studio albums and has received 16 Grammy Award nominations. His work is foundational in the history of West Coast hip-hop and G-funk, but Snoop Dogg's influence isn't contained to just the music industry.

Snoop Dogg has found success as an actor as well. He has appeared on television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Simpsons. In a seemingly unlikely pairing, Snoop Dogg teamed up with Martha Stewart to star in the VH1 series Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, a reality cooking show which aired its third season in 2020. Snoop Dogg also ventured into the sports world when he founded a non-profit youth football and cheer league called The Snoop Youth Football League.

Snoop Dogg’s drawling lyricism and immense popularity make him a cultural icon. As he celebrates his 50th birthday on October 20, check out one of these top picks from his long and successful career. 

The Chronic may be the debut studio album of Dr. Dre, but it also launched Snoop Dogg’s career. Snoop Dogg features on the first half of the album, including on the popular single “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.”

Doggystyle, Snoop Dogg’s debut album, entered the Billboard charts at number one and cemented Snoop Dogg as one of the biggest stars in hip-hop. The album was a continuation of his work on The Chronic and produced singles such as “Gin and Juice” and “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?).”

A trip to Jamaica in 2012 had a strong influence over Snoop – he embraced the Rastafarian lifestyle, briefly changed his name to Snoop Lion, and released his only reggae album to date, Reincarnated.

Snoop Dogg’s music continued to evolve with the release of Bush in 2015. Produced by Pharrell, Bush is a slick, disco funk album with hits like “California Roll” featuring Stevie Wonder and “I’m Ya Dogg” featuring Kendrick Lamar and Rick Ross.

While Snoop Dogg features on only nine tracks of Bible of Love, the album is notable in his catalog for taking a dramatic turn from what most people expect of his music – no profanity or suggestive content here - and his ministerial role in bringing together gospel, blues, R&B, and hip-hop musicians in a contemporary Christian album.

After diving into the culinary world with a cooking show on VH1, cohosted with Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg has come out with his first cookbook, From Crook to Cook. Featuring recipes for baked mac & cheese, fried bologna sandwiches with chips, and of course a recipe for gin & juice, Snoop Dogg shares his favorite recipes along with behind the scenes stories from his career.