Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (1971– ), born in Long Beach, California, is the birth name of rapper, hip-hop artist, reggae singer, and actor Snoop Dogg (formerly called Snoop Doggy Dog). His parents gave him the nickname because of his resemblance as a young child to the Peanuts character Snoopy the Dog. The prolific musician, who played piano and sang at his local Baptist Church before turning to rap music in the sixth grade, is well known for albums such as Doggystyle (debut album, 1993), Tha Doggfather (second album, 1996), and Reincarnated (twelfth album, 2013, reggae music, using the name Snoop Lion). He has been nominated seventeen times for a GRAMMY Award. His movie credits include The Wash (action/comedy, 2001), Training Day (crime/thriller, 2001), and Starsky & Hutch (crime/thriller, 2004). With the growing cannabis business in the United States, Snoop Dog has initiated several business ventures related to the industry.
