Ever since Dr. Dre put him on in the ’90s, Snoop Dogg has managed to maintain a high level of stardom, partly because he isn’t afraid to extend himself in other areas of the pop-culture tapestry. From web shows, to talk shows, to film and TV appearances, Snoop has been just about everywhere, and his swagger has never faltered. With a natural charisma and syrupy slang, just about every D-O-Double-G cameo is worth a glance.
Snoop turned 44 this week, which means that we’re only a few years away from the rapper getting his own Las Vegas residency. Check out these Snoop cameos that you may have forgotten, may not have seen, or just plain ol’ love and want to see again.
The Steve Harvey Show
In the latter half of the ’90s, the East Coast vs West Coast feud in hip-hop was the most heated topic in the genre. The flames of the fire were fanned with the murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., which many attributed to the bi-coastal rivalry. Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy’s appearance on The Steve Harvey Show, in 1997, basically amounted to a public-service announcement stating that the conflict between the two sides was just a media marketing ploy.
Old School
Snoop’s cameo in 2003’s Old School is pretty memorable simply because when a naked Will Ferrell comes onto the stage, you can literally see the Long Beach native try to create as much space as possible by pushing himself against the back of the frame. Ferrell’s a funny guy, but I guess Snoop was none too impressed with his package.
Crank Yankers
Being crank-called by Snoop is akin to being knighted. Despite being told to “See deez nuts,” the female recipient of the crank call should just bow to the glory that is the D-O-G-G. Along with being hilarious, Snoop follows up his punchline with a streak of buttery swag that makes the whole thing even funnier. Also, I want a Snoop puppet.
One Life to Live
What…the…hell. Yes, not only did Snoop star in a story arc for the soap opera One Life to Live, he also performed the theme song for it. It’s pretty clear that absolutely nothing can derail his street cred, because if this didn’t do it, then nothing will. Excuse me now while I put the pieces of my mind back together.
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder
Naked ladies. That is all.
Brüno
For Sacha Baron Cohen’s 2009 follow up to Borat, Cohen brought out another one of his characters from Da Ali G Show, Brüno. In the film, Brüno puts together a ballad with the likes of Elton John, Bono, Slash, and, of course, Snoop. With lines like “Hey Brüno, where da b*tches at?” Snoop really helps the whole thing come together.
WWE Raw
WWE has a pretty ugly history when it comes to guest hosts for their flagship series, Raw. Where does Snoop fall in the pantheon of pop-culture stars to make an appearance on the show? Somewhere in the middle. He’s not altogether terrible in his brief wrestling spot with Chavo Guerrero, but a double-leg takedown that scores as the finishing move of a fight seems pretty flimsy.
90210
When Snoop meets Michael from The Wire (he will always be Mike!) in the reboot of 90210, the two break into an impromptu rendition of “Gin & Juice” before taking a drive for a listening session. What’s the point of this scene? Nothing really. It’s just a chance for a terrible show to add some star power while Snoop makes some dough for licensing one of his tracks. Can’t be mad at that.
Pitch Perfect 2
It’s safe to say that Snoop “gets it” these days. He understands that his cold, streetwise bravado can be used in other ways, as in this scene from Pitch Perfect 2, where he’s singing Christmas carols and really enjoying the sound of his own voice. His original version was just fine, but Anna Kendrick had to go and add drums and sh*t. That ain’t hip-hop.
