Image via Complex Original
Snoop Dogg is not your average rapper. Ever since hitting the scene in 1992 as Dr. Dre's first protégé, the Long Beach native has amassed millions in sales, and earned immense success beyond his skills on the mic. Still, it's been his extracurricular activities that set him apart from the rest of his peers in hip-hop.
What other rapper could hang out with Martha Stewart and bake holiday brownies on daytime television? Or smoke in the White House and not get caught by Secret Service? From performing in a Bollywood film to rapping about Hot Pockets, here are 10 Things Snoop Dogg Can Do That No Other Rapper Can.
Change his stage name and music style several times, and everyone is completely fine with it.
Year: Ongoing
In a career that spans 20 years, Snoop Dogg has been able to reinvent not only his style of music, but also his public persona. Best known for his gangster image, Snoop has also dabbled in reggae (as Snoop Lion) and funk (as one-half of 7 Days of Funk), and been fairly successful in each musical venture. It shouldn't come as a surprise that weed is the drug of choice for each of these genres as well.
Make a pornographic film/music video that lands on the Billboard music video sales chart.
Year: 2001
Several rappers have dipped their proverbial foot in the adult film industry—Uncle Luke, Too $hort, and Tyga come to mind—but none have found the commercial success that Snoop Dogg has. Case in point: His 2001 Hustler film, Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, which doubled as a music video. The film landed on the Billboard music video sales chart, making it the first hardcore porn video to ever make it there. Shouts to savvy Snoop.
Perform in a Bollywood film.
Year: 2008
Snoop Dogg took his talents to Bollywood in 2008 when the Long Beach rapper made a cameo in the action comedy film Singh Is Kinng. His role in the movie wasn't much of a stretch—he played himself—but the fact that Snoop walked onto the set without an eyebrow being raised reminds us just how chameleon-like he is. The accompanying music video for the film' s title track is also incredible, and can be viewed above.
Bake secret brownies with convicted felon Martha Stewart.
Year: 2009
Snoop Dogg made a very #rare and #based appearance on Martha Stewart's variety talk show, Martha, in 2009 when the two cooked up a batch of holiday-themed brownies. Green brownies to be exact.
Throughout the episode, Snoop alludes to this specific description, even telling Martha the most important ingredient for baking brownies is, "No sticks, no seeds, no stems." Was there actually weed in the brownies? Probably not. But something tells us Snoop Dogg took Martha Stewart's recipe home that same day and added his own ingredients to the mix.
Collaborate with a Nickelodeon boy band.
Year: 2010
Snoop Dogg has shown a lot of range in his feature work, especially when he linked up with Nickelodeon boy band Big Time Rush on their 2011 single “Boyfriend.” Dare I say it, this song blows Justin Bieber's similarly named track out of the water. “Boyfriend” ended up cracking the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 500,000 copies, making it BTR's first gold single. And how would Snoop's former compadres in the Rollin' 20 Crips react to this unexpected collaboration? Dap him up, because real recognize real.
Rap about Hot Pockets and make it sound super slick.
Year: 2013
Hot Pockets are like the Cadillacs of stoner snacks, so it should come as no surprise that Snoop Dogg endorses this late-night remedy for the munchies. But to actually perform in a commercial for Hot Pockets? Only Snoop could pull that off.
“Smell my savory garlic, but don't disturb/The garden where I grow, flavor-fantastic-al herbs," Snoop raps over the melody of Biz Markie's “Just a Friend.” Oliver Cooper, Bow Wow, KevJumba, and Larry King also make appearances, and with a lineup like that, you probably thought you were high as fuck the first time seeing it. Oh, and did I mention Kate Upton is featured too? This commercial is a national treasure, and we have Snoop Dogg to thank for that.
Set off a fire alarm in an Australian hotel room, and instead of getting in trouble, pose with firefighters.
Year: 2014
Here's a mystery: During a visit to Australia this past January, Snoop Dogg set off a fire alarm in his hotel room, which resulted in firefighters being called up to check on the incident. According to The Guardian, no fire was found in Snoop's room upon entry, nor would firefighters comment on what exactly set off the alarm. However, they were more than happy to pose with the rapper for the camera, with one of the firefighters telling The Guardian, "He asked us for a photo because he said he always wanted to be a firefighter." Or he just wants his nickname to be Smokey.
Get all gangsta with a struggle rap group from Thailand.
Year: 2014
On the other side of the spectrum of unexpected features from Snoop Dogg is “Wake Up (Bangkok City),” his recent collaboration with Thai hip-hop group Thaitanium. Snoop keeps things simple, rapping slick about his smoking habits and stacking paper, even in foreign lands. This track displays exactly why Snoop stays winning despite working with the highest grade of struggle.
Claim he smoked weed in the White House and people don't second-guess it.
Year: 2014
During a recent episode of Snoop Dogg's GGN program, guest Jimmy Kimmel asked the rapper a rather blunt question: "Have you ever smoked at the White House?" And of course, the answer was yes. "In the bathroom," Snoop replies, holding a joint in his hand as he recounts the story of tricking security into letting him light up while he relieved himself.
And what came next? A contact high for Mr. President Barack Obama.
Host his own nature show with legendary commentary.
Year: 2014
Snoop Dogg has been featured several times on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show with his own segment, "Plizzanet Earth," where the rapper breaks down the beauty of mother nature and the animals that inhabit it. In his most recent appearance, Snoop shared brilliant commentary for a video clip of walruses being attacked by a polar bear. Channeling his inner Steve Irwin (R.I.P. doe), Snoop educates viewers on the many techniques (read: failures) of the polar bear, while maintaining a professional candor throughout. As much as we love Kanye West's public persona, there's no way he could deliver this seamless play-by-play.