Born Calvin Broadus, Jr in Long Beach, California, Snoop Dog has gone by several nicknames in the hip hop industry, including Snoop Doggy Dogg and Snoop Lion. He got his nickname Snoopy from his mother and stepfather, who thought he looked like the cartoon character as a child. He grew up in the Baptist church and sang in the church choir when he was a child. However, by the time he reached sixth grade, he was teaching himself how to rap and how to write hip hop music. He graduated from high school in 1989 and reportedly joined a street gang, which led introduced him to using and selling drugs. He was arrested for drug possession and spent time in jail, in fact.
After his release, he and two of his cousins began making mixtapes. One of the tapes caught the attention of Dr. Dre, who invited Snoop Dogg to come and audition for him. Dr. Dre took a liking to Snoop Dogg and began teaching him how to become a professional hip hop artist. In 1992, Snoop Dogg recorded and released his first album, entitled “Doggystyle,” which enjoyed a meteoric rise on the Billboard charts. Many music industry observers say that much of the artist’s earliest successes can be linked directly to Dr. Dre’s guidance of Snoop Dogg and the massive amount of exposure Dr. Dre gave him prior to the album’s release.
In 1998, Snoop Dogg signed with No Limit Records and released a second album, entitled “Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told.” Shortly thereafter, he released two more albums for that label, “No Limit Top Dogg” and “Tha Last Meal,” which sold more than one million copies. By that time, he was an established fixture in the hip hop industry. In 2001, he published his autobiography, “Tha Doggfather.” These early successes played a huge role in why his net worth right now is estimated to stand at $135 million.
How Much Is Snoop Dogg Worth Now?
Along with being a highly visible and widely respected hip hop artist, he adds to his Snoop Dogg net worth of $135 million by acting and appearing on TV. In fact, he famously appeared in the 1998 movie “Half Baked” as the character Savenger Smoker. This movie starred Jim Breuer and Dave Chappell. In 1999, he had a starring role in “The Wrecking Crew,” playing the character Dra-Man. To date, he has 28 film credits to his professional resume, most recently starring in the film “Scary Movie 5” in 2013. He has a new movie in the works, which has been titled “Dispensary.” It should be released sometime in 2015.
When he is not acting or making music, Snoop Dogg is advocating for the legal use of marijuana. In fact, his use of marijuana has become a central part of his brand. He describes himself as a born-again Rastafarian and considers marijuana to be an important part of his spirituality and identity. However, he also is medically certified to use it for migraines in the state of California. Along with advocating for marijuana use, Snoop Dogg also occasionally ventures into politics. He has gone on record as supporting third-party candidates like Rand Paul. However, he admitted to voting for Obama in the 2014 election.
Now a well-respected figure in hip hop, Snoop Dogg will lend his talent to fellow artists in collaborative songs. For example, he chimed in on Katy Perry’s song “California Gurls” and also joined Australian singer Jessica Mauboy on her song “Get ‘Em Girls.” He is married and has three sons with wife Shante Taylor.