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become one of the most popular hip hop artists having made numerous collaborations. He has also received much credibility as a successful record producer and actor.

Calvin Broadus, Jr. was born on October 20, 1972 in Long Beach, California. His mother nicknamed him "Snoopy" as a child because of the droopy appearance of his eyes. He attended the Long Beach Polytechnic High School where he would compete in MC freestyling competitions in the schoolyard. Snoop eventually ran into numerous trial and tribulations with the law. Soon after his high school graduation, he was arrested for cocaine possession and was arrested several times in the span of three years. He was involved in the local Long Beach Crips gang, ES Rollin' 20's Crips and was also a member of 213 (derived from the Long Beach area code) with friends Nate Dogg and Warren G. Trying to escape a life of crime, Snoop began recording homemade tapes with his best friend Warren G. who was rapper Dr. Dre's stepbrother. Warren G. handed a tape to Dre who eagerly began collaborating with the rapper.

The two first teamed up to record the theme song for the film Deep Cover and later for Dre's debut album The Chronic. Dre's singles "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day", both significantly featuring Snoop, became Top Ten crossover hits. Soon after, he released his very own debut album, Doggystyle, in 1993. The album received much praise due to Snoop's recent exposure from Dre's album as well as the attention he was receiving from the law. In August of 1993, he was arrested for the drive by shooting death of Phillip Woldermarian, a gang member who was supposedly obsessively stalking the rapper. Snoop was eventually acquitted in February 1996 declaring self-defense. Popular singles from the album "What's My Name" and "Gin & Juice" peaked in the Top Ten and Doggystyle became the first album ever to debut at number one.

Due to the three year trial, Snoop released his follow-up album a few years later in 1996. Tha Doggfather unfortunately did not receive much attention. It seemed that the rap phase had begun to fade with the controversial death of 2pac Shakur, and the denunciation of Death Row co-founder Suge Knight. The album sold a mere 2 million and was considered a letdown compared to his debut.

He recorded a few albums on rapper Master P's label No Limit which were moderately successful. In 2001, he produced the pornographic film Snoop Dogg's Doggystle with Hustler magazine. Snoop Dogg returned to the music scene with major comeback Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$ in 2002. The album featured the hit singles "Beautiful" and "From Da Chuuuch to Da Palace" which were both collaborations with The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams. Due to the heavy rotation of both music videos, the songs topped the charts worldwide and the album was eventually certified platinum. Two years later Snoop, Warren G and Nate Dogg as 213 released The Hard Way which peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 album charts.

In 2004, Snoop signed a contract with The Neptunes' label Star Trak Records and released R& G (Rhythm & Gangsta) The Masterpiece. The first single "Drop It Like It's Hot" which features Pharrell, peaked at number one on the Hot 100 for three weeks. The album also received much attention in the UK with the single "Signs" featuring pop icon Justin Timberlake. Snoop's DVD documentary Mandatory Business is currently in production and he is also expected to release his eighth solo album The Blue Carpet Treatment in fall 2006.