By SHANON QUINN
for INLAND360.COM
Students and fans counting the hours until the Saturday arrival of Washington State University SpringFest's headliner Snoop Dogg may not know everything about Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., aka Snoop Doggy Dogg, Snoopzilla, DJ Snoopadelic and Snoop Lion.
Relax. We are here to help even those of you who experienced his arrival on the music scene first hand.
Born Oct. 20, 1971, in Long Beach Calif., Broadus was named after his stepfather, and nicknamed Snoopy by his mother.
He’s been asking “What’s My Name” since 1993, with the release of his first album, “Doggy Style,” which went quadruple platinum in 1994.
Although he’s lived the high life since before the birth of many of his fans, he wasn’t always top dogg.
Snoop began his musical life as a child singer and pianist at Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church and started rapping in sixth grade.
Not long after his graduation from Long Beach Polytechnic High he was arrested for possession of cocaine, which began a run of trouble with the law that had him in and out of lock-up for three years, until being discovered by Dr. Dre in 1992.
Life wasn’t all milk and honey – or gin and juice – after that either.
Snoop has spent a chunk of his adult life in trouble over guns and weed – as well as murder – after his bodyguard, McKinley Lee, shot and killed a rival gang member in 1993. Both men were defended by Johnnie Cochran of O.J. Simpson fame and eventually acquitted. These difficulties and more have led to Snoop being denied entry to the United Kingdom, Australia and Norway.
Snoop has released 18 albums in his career – counting collaborations, acted in 38 films and television shows and lent his voice to four video games.
Snoop married his high school sweetheart in 1997, and the couple has raised three children together.
Recently, his highly publicized conversion to the Rastafarian movement, accompanied by the adoption of the new moniker, Snoop Lion and the release of reggae album “Reincarnation” has many fans wondering what to expect, but with Snoop, some things are certain: a molasses drawl, a good show and never a dull moment.
if you go
WHAT: Snoop Dogg with special guest Astro
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., April 26
WHERE: WSU’s Beasley Coliseum
COST: Tickets available at ticketswest.com, $29 for students, $44 for general admission
WSU SpringFest
Snoop Dogg may be getting most of the press, but WSU SpringFest Music and Arts Festival has more going on than just the music. Originally offered in 2002 as an alternative to the Senior Golf event - and attracting a whopping 20 people - the event has grown each year, thanks to careful planning by the Student Entertainment Board.
This year, events include a carnival, complete with rides, food, booths and more than ten bands playing 5 a.m. -11p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, the luminarium Miracoco Wednesday through Saturday.
For more information, visit this shortened link: http://goo.gl/UgTx7A.
