By Ruscell Boone—-
He kept them waiting on line for hours, but Snoop Lion fans didn’t mind.
“My heart was just beating so fast to meet him,” said one fan.
Not sure who Snoop Lion is? Well, he’s the legendary rapper, formerly known as Snoop Dogg. He has changed his name and his sound. Snoop now makes reggae music.
Songs from his new album, Reincarnated, blared overhead as he greeted fans inside the VP Record Store in Jamaica, Queens.
“I make great music and the genre that I choose right now is reggae music, so reggae music will get all my love and attention,” said Snoop Lion.
VP is one of the biggest distributors of reggae music in the United States, and Snoop says his new name and music was sparked by a trip to the island of Jamaica last year which is now part of a newly released documentary.
In it, Snoop journeys through many of the island’s poor neighbourhoods and into the Rastafari culture which he has since embraced.
“For them to really open their arms up and for me to be accepted and for me to go through these communities and touch base with people, I mean that was more of an experience for me, that is a lifetime experience that I’m going to take to heart,” said Snoop Lion.
He said he took the trip last year after speaking with members of Bob Marley’s family, who also embraced him and took him on a tour of the island.
Since returning to the US, some have criticised Snoop Lion, calling his new persona a gimmick, especially because he believes he’s Bob Marley reincarnated.
“I feel like me going to Jamaica was me tapping into who I am and those who don’t understand it or don’t agree with it … it ain’t for them. This is my journey,” said Snoop Lion.
And while this is his first reggae album, Snoop says it won’t be his last. He is planning to go back to Jamaica where he says he is going to make a lot more reggae music.
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