Snoop Dogg is a popular rapper and actor from Long Beach, California, whose real name is Calvin Broadus. He made his debut in 1992 on the Dr. Dre produced theme song for the film Deep Cover, as Dr. Dre's protege.

Snoop has made the suffix "-izzle" popular as his own branding of slang. His mother gave him the nickname Snoopy, as he loved the cartoon Peanuts as a child.http://www2.snoopdogg.com/

After high school, he spent the next few years in and out of prison on various gang related charges. Dr. Dre in fact had met with Snoop just prior to his high school graduation, and immediately got to work recording Snoop in the studio as soon as Snoop was released from jail, setting off Snoop's immensely succesful career.http://www2.snoopdogg.com/

In 2007, his reality show Snoop Dogg's Father Hood premiered on the E! channel. Snoop is also hosting a variety show for MTV called Dogg After Dark.http://www2.snoopdogg.com/

Snoop began his career as a prominently featured rapper on Dre's debut solo album "The Chronic". He appeared on hit singles such as "Nuthin but a G Thang" and "Fuck wit Dre Day."

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were instrumental in popularizing the West Coast "G-Funk" sound, though the two have since pursued their own musical interests in the hip hop genre, with Dre establishing Aftermath Records, and Snoop setting up his group Tha Dogg Pound.http://www2.snoopdogg.com/

After The Chronic, Snoop has recorded a number of successful and critically acclaimed solo albums as a rapper, including Doggystyle, Rhythm and Gangsta, and Ego Trippin', with singles such as "Sensual Seduction" and "Gangsta Luv" scoring high on Billboard Music charts.

Snoop's most recent album, Malice n Wonderland, did not fare as well as his previous efforts, although it did spawn the single "Gangsta Luv" with The-Dream. Snoop is still highly regarded as very relevant and important to hip hop due to his unique flow and instantly recognizable, smooth drawl.http://www2.snoopdogg.com/

Snoop is most known in recent years for his popular single "Drop It Like It's Hot", featuring Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes. The single rocketed to the top of multiple Billboard charts and incorporated a sparse beat with calm and low-key rhymes with a catchy chorus. Previously, his single "Gin and Juice" was his most successful.

Snoop, along with members of his entourage, was accused of assaulting Richard Monroe, Jr. in 2005 after he jumped on stage during one of Dogg's concerts. Opening statements in the civil trial began on April 25, 2009. Monroe is seeking $22 million in damages.Charleston Daily Mail: Civil beating case against Snoop Dogg begins (April 24, 2009)

TMZ.com reported that according to a California Highway Patrol incident report, posted on their website, Dogg "has the dead body of his wife in his basement."

An anonymous person alerted the California Highway Patrol of the alleged murder at 3:19 p.m. on April 9, 2009. The story is said to be so unbelievable, that the CHP didn't forward the report to the sherrif's department.TMZ: Snoop Dogg's Wife -- Deady Dead? (April 10, 2009)

Snoop Dogg's rep later denied the murder rumor stating that it is "ridiculous."MTV: Snoop Dogg's Wife, Is Not Dead (April 10, 2009) Dogg is married to Shante Broadus. The couple have three children together.

In 2009, Snoop announced he had become a member of the Nation of Islam after appearing at the Nation's annual Saviour's Day convention in Chicago. During the event, Snoop sat on stage with Doug E. Fresh and T.I. while Louis Farrakhan gave a speech. Afterward, Snoop told the press,

"My whole thing is not about really trying to push my thing on you. It's just about the way I live, and I live how I'm supposed to live as far as doing what's right and representing what's right - that's why I was here today".BBC: Snoop Dogg joins Nation of Islam (March 2, 2009)

• 1993: Doggystyle
• 1996: Tha Doggfather
• 1998: Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told
• 1999: No Limit Top Dogg
• 2000: Tha Last Meal
• 2002: Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss
• 2004: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
• 2006: Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
• 2008: Ego Trippin
• 2009: Malice in Wonderlan