The legacies of Snoop Dogg and Tupac loom large in Los Angeles, as their fingerprints are all over West Coast rap, but one muralist is trying to preserve a tangible homage to them.
Earlier this week, a Los Angeles painter going by @sloe_motions on Instagram posted that his mural prominently featuring Snoop and Tupac is at risk of being taken down. The late Kobe Bryant, Danny Trejo, Vin Scully, and Oscar De La Hoya are also in the mural.
“SAVE THE LA MURAL IN BELLFLOWER! we recently received a notice to take down this mural in the city of bellflower. I want to reach out to everyone n help get the word spread to keep this up. this is our culture and these are our city’s,government policies n politics shouldn’t have any effect on the peoples art or expression,” the artist captioned an Instagram video showing the mural in question.
The caption continues, “I’m tired of the cities tryna stop artist and make things hard on us when we are the ones giving the inspiration to the community’s n giving back in a real way. this mural is also on the owners property. I want to start fighting for what is ours and stop letting these city people silence our art and making them think there’s no encouragement in our community’s without them. they love to hop on the train tho when we bring good attention n want to act like they were apart of it the whole time and take credit.”
They added, “Everyone i had been in touch with loved this mural and long time residents of the area kept saying ‘we have nothing cool like this in our area.’ let’s get this mural to stay and please share if u can.”
Fox 11 Los Angeles quoted the property’s owner, Renae Cornejo, “I guess [we] broke a code we didn’t know about.” Cornejo was confused as to why city officials are getting involved because “it’s our home; we own the property.”
“We didn’t know about the code violation until we got served last week with it. So we’re doing our best to work with the city,” property co-owner Robert Cornejo added.
The Change.org petition to save the mural was closing in on 5,000 signatures as of April 28.
Los Angeles has long been a hub of entertainment greatness. The Lakers have called the city home since 1960. The Dodgers have been in LA since 1958. The city is also the beating heart of the film industry, anchored by iconic Hollywood. However, perhaps the city’s greatest contribution to entertainment has been the music industry.
In particular, rap and hip hop would not be the genres they are today without Los Angeles. The city was, and still is, the hub of the West Coast scene. This was particularly important in the 1980s and 1990s with the rise of the East Coast-West Coast beef that pitted New York against Los Angeles. However, a mural memorializing that iconic history is now at risk.
Fans Fight To Save Mural Featuring Snoop and Tupac
Street artist Sloe Motions took to Instagram with a passionate plea to save one of their most iconic pieces. “SAVE THE LA MURAL IN BELLFLOWER! we recently received a notice to take down this mural in the city of Bellflower. I want to reach out to everyone n help get the word spread to keep this up. This is our culture and these are our city’s, government policies n politics shouldn’t have any effect on the peoples art or expression. I’m tired of the cities tryna stop artist and make things hard on us when we are the ones giving the inspiration to the community’s n giving back in a real way. this mural is also on the owners property.” read some of the lengthy caption.
The mural in question, located on the side Speedy Auto Tint on Woodruff Avenue, depicts a number of LA icons. Most notably, these icons are legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. A petition launched in defense of the mural notes that “At Speedy Auto Tint we are proud of our mural because we are a Latino/ family-owned small business, and we believe this mural represents the city of Los Angeles and the culture it embodies.” Bellflower city officials have stated that the mural, “Does not comply with the established mural standards in the Municipal Code, and we have received complaints about that fact.”
As of April 2023, Snoop Dogg’s net worth is approximately $150 million. Don’t let Snoop Dogg’s melancholy and comical personality fool you. The California-born rapper achieved his worldwide success through meticulous hard work and persistence. A true OG with well-documented ties to the streets, he experienced plenty of run-ins with the law in his early years. His drug charges would lead to repeated stints in prison, where Snoop Dogg began to make music as a way to cope with his chaotic childhood. Over time, he would morph himself into one of hip-hop’s most reputable MCs and businessmen.
Snoop Dogg proved himself just as much an intelligent businessman as he was a rapper. He utilized his coolheaded image to garner a worldwide fanbase, diving into industries that aligned well with his persona. However, it was his debut solo album, Doggystyle, produced by Dr. Dre in 1993, that established his persona. The project would catapult up to the Number 1 spot on the Billboard 200 with nearly 807,000 copies in its first week, largely propelled by iconic singles such as “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Gin and Juice.” The album is currently 4x platinum.
Snoop would continue to build off of his debut project. Three years later, he released The Doggfather, which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with nearly half of the number of units sold compared to Doggystyle. While the record wasn’t quite as well-received as his debut, he still solidified himself as more than a one-album wonder. Throughout his career, Snoop Dogg would continue to dive into a variety of sonic palettes. For example, he released Reincarnated, a focused detour into reggae, a year after traveling to Jamaica. 2015’s Bush saw him fully dive into the funk and R&B aesthetic of Los Angeles with Pharrell at the helm of production. While Snoop Dogg has made money in a variety of different fields, royalties from his music career remain as his primary source of net worth.
Legal Issues Threatened Snoop Dogg’s Net Worth
(POO/AFP via Getty Images)
Snoop Dogg’s rise to a $150 million net worth wasn’t linear. Even as his music career skyrocketed, he continued to have run-ins with the law. In 1993, he plead guilty to possession of a lethal weapon. This would preface a significant legal battle that took place in 1996, in which he was accused of partaking in a drive-by shooting of a gang member in Los Angeles. Snoop’s bodyguard, McKinley Lee, fired the shot that killed Philip Woldemariam. Snoop Dogg and Mckinley Lee (nicknamed Malik) were acquitted of all charges during the trial. The overarching belief was that Lee shooting Woldemariam was an act of self-defense, as Woldemariam was going for a gun in his waistband.
After the trial, a relieved Snoop Dogg stated, “They made the right decision, you know what I’m saying? This has been an ordeal that has affected our lives for the past 2 1/2 years. I was just trying to figure out if I was gonna be here to raise my son.” Stephen Erlewine of AllMusic stated that after the release of The Doggfather, Snoop began “moving away from his gangsta roots toward a calmer lyrical aesthetic.” His eventual departure from the streets would see him fulfill his potential as a businessman.
He’s Become An Engaging Film Personality
(Photo by Courtesy Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)
Re-directing his energy toward business ventures, Snoop Dogg has become a culturally camouflaged icon. He’s joking about a horse Crip walking with Kevin Hart on NBC and headlining Corona commercials. While diving into a variety of entertainment arenas can be a risk to an MC’s cohesive image, this certainly wasn’t the case for Snoop Dogg. According to the New York Times, he only has one criterion when starting a business: “It’s got to be fun. And it’s going to make funds. So long as the word ‘fun’ is involved, it’s cool.”
Snoop Dogg’s wholesome image has aligned with kids’ audiences, enabling him to appear in shows such as The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run. He even launched his own kid show, Doggyland, equipped with family-friendly nurseries. Snoop’s also appeared in a number of television shows and films, such as Bones and Half Baked. Everywhere he goes, there’s a demand to get him in front of a camera no matter who the audience is. He began to catch onto this after working with Master P at No Limit Records. Snoop stated, “He taught me how to be a better businessman, how to be more than just a rapper, but to be about my business.”
Snoop Dogg’s Endorsement Deals
(Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch)
Outside of acting in films, he’s also appeared in a wide range of commercials as a part of endorsement deals. Most recently, he starred in Skechers’ Superbowl commercial, alongside Martha Stewart. Recently, he also collaborated with The Nelk Boys to create a Happy Dad x Death Row Records hard seltzer. The move has generated some controversy, as the product is a direct competitor to Corona’s hard seltzer. Snoop Dogg is well-known as an endorser for Corona, where he’s appeared in a variety of hit advertisements. Later on in his career, endorsement deals have become one of Snoop’s highest sources of income.
He’s Leveraged His Image Into Cannabis Industry Success
(Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
The most well-known of these organizations is Leafs By Snoop, his own cannabis product line. Launched in 2015 in Denver, Colorado, the product line contains various strains of Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. Snoop stated, “As a long-time connoisseur and cannabis expert, I knew it was time to give my people what they wanted – something they can trust.” The initiative became an instant success in the area, leading to an expansion in different legal states, as well as a partnership with Canadian weed producer Canopy Growth.
Along with spearheading his direct cannabis product line, Snoop also started a cannabis-themed media platform called Merry Jane. The purpose of the platform is to spread awareness and continue the conversation surrounding cannabis use. This is primarily done through videos and editorials on its website and social media platforms. From appearing on podcasts to selling products, his image surrounding marijuana is one of his primary sources of income aside from music.
Snoop Dogg’s Philanthropic Efforts
(Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Outside of his lucrative business ventures, Snoop Dogg has done plenty to give back to his community. He’s emphasized the importance of laying out a better path for the next generation. He currently coaches a Youth Football League in Long Beach, with an overarching message to develop leadership and team-building qualities in kids. In addition, he’s donated to charities such as the Save a Life Foundation and The Healing Circle. Certain reports claim that Snoop Dogg donated an estimated $100M over the course of his career.
Snoop Dogg Recently Purchased Death Row Records
(Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
Back in February of 2022, Snoop Dogg officially became in charge at Death Row Records. The move was a sentimental one, as Snoop started his career at the label with the release of Doggystyle. In an official statement, Snoop said, “I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value.”
Conclusion/TLDR
From heavily diving into the NFT game to driving around in a golf cart for a Chrysler ad, Snoop Dogg has proved over the course of his career that there isn’t a business venture he won’t take on. Often viewed as nothing more than a melancholic cannabis smoker who just happened to become successful, he’s gained a reputation within the industry as a reliable hard worker. Now 51 years old, it still feels like Snoop is only just getting started.
Daz Dillinger has Dogg Pound fans in a frenzy with the announcement of their new album. Dillinger took to Instagram to reveal the cover art for the follow-up to the group’s smash hit debut Dogg Food. Furthermore, the long-awaited sequel to the duo’s 1995 debut will be via Dogg Pound Records and produced fully by Dillinger. In his post, the caption reads, “NEW ALBUM COMING SOON @officialkurupt @dazdillinger ON DOGG POUND RECORDS PRODUCED BY @dazdillinger.”
Since the release of their debut, the duo continued to put out more albums, but never put out a sequel, until now. Only two decades later, the rap duo decided to put out a follow-up tape to their hit record. Dogg Food debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1995 and sold over 200,000 copies in its first week. Hit singles like “Let’s Play House,” and “New York, New York” featuring Snoop Dogg helped lead the effort. Not only that, it was reportedly the last album “officially” produced under the G-funk era of Hip-Hop, soon before Death Row pivoted to a new sound shortly after.
The Dogg Pound, comprised of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt, went on to make numerous works after the release of their debut. The duo was signed to Death Row Records in their early days. However, the pair eventually split ties with the label. Since the announcement, fans are already clamoring in the comments section expecting a bonafide classic. One would think that since it’s been so long, we would never get a sequel to such a classic. Glad to see Daz Dillinger proving all of us wrong.
Moreover, it’ll be interesting to see what new sounds Dillinger will bring to the table. He made it glaringly clear that he is producing this record top to bottom, and I’m here for it. Usually, when we get an album of any caliber that’s self-produced by the artist that’s also RAPPING on the album, it’s guaranteed heat. While the legendary rap pair has the catalog to back it up, some fear that the ship might’ve sailed for this album. However, there’s no time like the present, so why not? Who’s ready for this album to drop? Will you be listening? Let the HNHH staff know below!
Last year, West Coast rap icon Snoop Dogg announced that he was the new owner of the legendary, yet infamous Death Row Records, however, the label’s former owner Suge Knight says that :”Tha Row” has fraudulently fallen into the hands of the Doggfather.
In February, Snoop acquired the imprint through MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music), but in an exclusive interview with TMZ, Knight claims that the deal was totally illegal.
In an interview given from a California State Penitentiary where he is serving 28 years for manslaughter, Suge says the original owner and proprietor of Death Row Records Michael “Harry-O” Harris committed bankruptcy fraud to get the company from him.
Suge contends that Snoop was only able to acquire the label because it was forfeited when a lawyer failed to attend a court proceeding, prompting a default judgement that transferred it into the possession of MNRK in 2013.
Knight doubts the legitimacy of the deal, saying, “First of all, you gotta look at it like this: I am Death Row. So I’m quite sure when it’s said and done, [2Pac’s] All Eyez On Me and Makaveli will definitely come back to me, and the rest of the stuff.”
He added, “But one problem with that is: Snoop has a partner, which is Michael Harris. They committed fraud, they bankruptcy fraud. I didn’t lose my company by doing anything wrong; they went in and the lawyer didn’t show up, and they got a default judgement. I settled the judgement. They turned around and said I didn’t settle the judgement. But they committed bankruptcy fraud which we just found out for sure last week. When they filed for bankruptcy in ’95, they said it didn’t have anything to do with Death Row.”
Former CEO of Death Row Records, Suge Knight, has made headlines claiming that Snoop Dogg’s label purchase may have been fraudulent. Knight’s allegations come amid a long-standing feud, raising questions about the transaction’s legitimacy. Suge Knight, the former CEO of Death Row Records, has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the label’s sale to Snoop […]
Suge Knight is dropping some new information about Death Row Records. The hip-hop tycoon had a conversation with TMZ on Wednesday (April 19) while preparing for the upcoming series on BLK Prime that documents his life and professional journey. In the interview, Suge discussed the environment at Death Row. He acknowledges that it was as brutal as it was portrayed. However, he also mentions that both Pac and Snoop were accustomed to it. Still, it would be fair to say Snoop probably wouldn’t agree. In an interview, Snoop revealed how he felt about everything that went down at Death Row. “N*ggas broke my spirit. Thet broke me, man. They broke my spirit. Look, Doggystyle, workin’ on Doggfather, win my murder case, Dre leaves,” Snoop said. “Tupac get killed, Suge going to jail, Death Row want to kill me. That’s all in the same year.” Sounds like a pretty tumultuous relationship.
Death Row Records was a prominent record label founded in 1991 by Suge, Dr. Dre, and The D.O.C. It was known for their focus on West Coast hip-hop. Death Row signed some of the biggest names in the genre, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. The label gained a reputation for its aggressive and often controversial lyrics. Furthermore, many of its artists had a strong association with violence. Despite its success in the 1990s, the label faced financial and legal troubles, including the imprisonment of Suge Knight and the death of Tupac Shakur. In 2006, a bankruptcy trustee acquired Death Row Records. This effectively ended its run as a major player in the hip-hop industry. However, Snoop Dogg bought the label recently. It was a move that was praised by many.
Suge Says Death Row’s Toxic Environment Was “Like Sports”
Suge Knight had a lot to say about the work environment at Death Row Records in a new interview. “It is true that stuff was aggressive at Death Row,” he said. “But you had your choices. If you wanna be the best, and be a man and do how you wanna do it – do it. Be about your music, be about your lyrics. You know, everybody understood that. So when it came to ‘Pac, I think ‘Pac understood it more than anybody in the world.” Suge went on to say that Snoop understood how things worked as well. “But at the same time, you can’t take nothing from Snoop either because I knew I could get Snoop to come to New York with me and promote Death Row faster than anybody else would.”
Suge went on to describe specifically what the environment at Death Row was like, comparing it to sports. He said that he made sure it was very competitive. “…If you hear any of the albums I did, they was always competitive. It was competition. Because if a person didn’t have a good verse, somebody else had a better verse,” Suge explained. “Just like sports! We didn’t live in church. We not in heaven, you know? That’s like if you in the jungle, you gotta survive! I named my label Death Row Records.” What do you think about Suge’s explanation for Death Row’s environment? Let us know in the comments!
Snoop Dogg has never been shy about speaking his mind. While Snoop may be one to experiment with new sounds, he draws the line at a 2pac & Biggie AI (Artificial Intelligence) album. In an interview with Baller Alert, they asked about the proposed joint collaboration between the two late rap legends. Although Tha Doggfather wasn’t fully opposed to a collaboration album. He doesn’t fancy the idea of an AI-generated album featuring his late friend and the original King of New York. However, Uncle Snoop feels it would be best to find old tracks with their vocals and put together a collab tape that way as opposed to the former.
“I don’t really know about that, with the AI,” Snoop said. “Because that’s like computerized voices. You know?” he continued. While Snoop Dogg may have his late friend’s best interest at heart, however, some feel otherwise. Former Outlawz member Napoleon had some choice words regarding Snoop’s comments. He claims Snoop Dogg’s relationship with ‘Pac was steeped in jealousy. According to Napoleon, Snoop was jealous of 2Pac, who took all his shine when he joined Death Row.
Napoleon believes that Snoop is trying to take the shine away from 2Pac, and that’s why he said what he said during the interview with Baller Alert. In the interview with The Art of Dialogue he spoke on where the jealousy came from. “Imagine you’re the biggest star on Death Row and ‘Pac take all your shine, you understand?” he said. “And 25 years later, ‘Pac died and every time you do an interview that name is brought up,” he concluded. However, Napoleon didn’t stop there. He slammed the Doggystyle rapper for his remarks towards 2Pac’s infamous “Hit ‘Em Up” record after his passing, recommending the now grandfather remember his friend in a more positive light.
Although Snoop is open to a collaboration between the two Hip Hop icons, he’s still skeptical about AI-generated albums. Nothing wrong with appreciating authentic artistry. However, with AI infiltrating every industry, this won’t be the last time we see a proposed AI-generated album. Do you think an AI-generated Biggie and 2pac album would be fire? Let us know in the comments below!
A man dressed as Snoop Dogg appeared at Hyde Park in London during a 4/20 celebration. While there, many fans believed he was the real rapper and mobbed him. A Snoop Dogg impersonator roamed through London on 4/20 while many celebrated the cannabis holiday. The man dressed up as the rap legend and had many […]
Out today, April 20, “Satellite” boasts a trippy video from Venturia Animation. It begins with the real-life Rexha and Snoop Dogg lounging around. Snoop is smoking a blunt, of course, and explains to Rexha that he’s there to help her “do some different things and go to a different place.”
“You know, Snoop, I’ve always wanted to go to outer space, and I heard you’re the right guy to talk to,” she says.
Snoop exhales in Rexha’s direction, and we’re taken into an animated universe. Naturally, an animated Snoop greets us — he has green skin and a goatee in the shape of a marijuana leaf — with, “‘Tis the season for pleasin’! What happens here, stays here. Am I loud and clear? Or is the smoke f*ckin’ with your ear?”
A disco-infused pop beat kicks in, and we find Rexha animated in the style of The Jetsons. “Last night I got higher than a satellite,” she belts. “I took a one way ticket / It’s a one man mission to paradise.”
Snoop adds an infectious flow, “Prepare to take flight / I’m the captain here, my dear / No veers just steer through the atmosphere / D-P-G-C, we be Snoopy Bebe.”
“Fans will be able to immerse themselves even further in the ‘Satellite’ universe with Bebe’s Mothership Hot Box,” a press release explains. “After logging on to the TerraZero Intraverse space, which delivers a higher fidelity experience that’s also mobile-accessible, visitors can explore vintage environments, dive into Rexha’s new music, seek out a very special prize, and of course, smoke a virtual blunt to blast off to the mothership!”
It continues, “The activation was built by TerraZero using their Intraverse technology — the debut of the technology for TerraZero and the first use of the technology for Warner and the music industry.”
Rexha is closing in on the arrival of Bebe, her third studio album due out on April 28.
Watch the “Satellite” video above, and see Rexha’s upcoming Best F*n Night Of My Life Tour dates below.
Bebe is out 4/28 via Warner Records. Find more information here.
Bebe Rexha is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
(@sloe_motions)
