Snoop Dogg began rapping when he was only six years old. He took this craft to school when he was in his teens. He was so good, such that the large crowds he’d draw were often mistaken for fight scenes by the schools’ administration. His official entry into the music industry came when he recorded homemade tapes with his cousins Nate Dogg and Lil ½ Dead, and friend Warren G. Through the group named 213, a Snoop Dogg freestyle would land in the hands of Dr. Dre, and the rest, as they say, is history.
While Snoop Dogg has a tough hood demeanor written all over his name, he has a softer side that’s empathetic and caring. Through the years, the "Drop it Like it’s Hot" hitmaker has shown this compassion. Here are some of his acts of kindness. They may not add to his street cred, but they sure do prove that the rapper has a great heart.
10 He Gives Away Free Turkeys On Thanksgiving
In the past, Snoop Dogg has termed thanksgiving as one of his favorite holidays. In 2018, he published a cookbook loaded with thanksgiving recipes. Since 2013, the rapper has been giving away free turkeys to residents of Inglewood, California. This he does in a bid to help families who are faced with hardship due to unemployment or other unfortunate circumstances at thanksgiving time.
9 ‘Operation Home Delivery’ For Hurricane Katrina Victims
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage in the millions to the city of New Orleans and its environs, and led to 1800 deaths. As part to the rehabilitation process Habitat for Humanity launched ‘Operation Home Delivery’, a project aimed at rebuilding homes for those affected by the hurricane. In order to raise funds for the initiative, Snoop Dogg auctioned an hour-long studio time.
8 Coaching The Snoop Youth Football League
The Snoop Youth Football League was established in the year 2005 to encourage inner-city kids' participation in football. It’s structured to include season games, playoffs, and the grand finale, a ‘Super Bowl’.At its commencement, over 1300 kids participated. A 2018 Netflix documentary, Coach Snoop, showcased Snoop Dogg’s role as a coach in the league.
7 An Anti-Gun-Violence Campaign
In Coach Snoop, Snoop Dogg revealed that when he was 16, about to turn 17, he ‘wanted to be grown.’ “I wanted to sell drugs and I jumped in. When I jumped in, my mother kicked me out…I have seen things happen differently for me, I got robbed, I got shot at for the first time. We had a gun that we had on the spot, and if something was gonna happen, we were supposed to get the gun and do what we do.” In 2015, Snoop Dogg became part of an anti-gun violence campaign dubbed #I’mUnloading, UnloadingYour401k.
6 Operation H.U.N.T
In 2016, Snoop Dogg partnered with fellow artist The Game to lead a march whose final destination was the Los Angeles Police Department. The parade, dubbed 'Hate Us Not Today' or 'Hunt Us Not Today', was in response to ongoing police brutality, and aimed at initiating dialogue with new police recruits. At the peaceful protest, The Game revealed that it was the first time he’d had a cordial interaction with a police officer.
5 Mentoring Up-And-Coming Artists
While NBC’s The Voice is a job for the judges, it’s also an opportunity for up-and-coming talents to get to work with the best of the best in the music industry. On the 1st of April, it was announced that Snoop Dogg would join Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, John Legend, and Blake Shelton in mentoring the season’s contestants. The Voice is known for its affiliation with celebrity mentors such as Jennifer Lopez.
4 Advocating For Animal Rights
Snoop Dogg’s quest for rights is not only limited to humans, he advocates for animals as well. In the past, he's revealed that he turned vegan and recruited some of his family members. Though he was caught going back on his beliefs by wearing fur, Snoop Dogg has since cleaned up his act and gone fully vegan to lead a healthier lifestyle. He serves as the brand ambassador for Beyond Meat, a company that encourages a plant-based lifestyle.
3 #BlackPantherChallenge
In 2018, the Marvel cult classic Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, and Daniel Kaluuya was released. Frederick Joseph launched a campaign to take 1000 boys and girls to the movies, to watch the film. He challenged Snood Dogg to chime in, something Snoop Dogg did without hesitation.
2 Let’s Make A Wish!
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded to provide seriously ailing children with wishes to the tune of $5000 dollars. In 2017, Snoop Dogg joined high-profile guests at a Make-A-Wish ball afterparty, where he took to the DJ’s booth and entertained the guests. The Make-A-Wish foundation generated $2.3 million that night, making it one of the most successful one-night fundraisers.
1 Personal Donations To Worthy Causes
In 2018, Snoop Dogg donated $25,000 to Mothers Against Police Brutality, as part of Colin Kaepernick’s Million Dollar Pledge, aimed at helping charities that give aid to ill-treated communities. According to Money Inc, it is estimated that Snoop Dogg has donated over $110 million to charity in recent years, and lent his voice to a ton of worthy causes.