Dear Diary,
I’m sure you’ve read the news (being the sentient bundle of pages that you are) that the rapper formerly known as Snoop Dogg (sic) will now be going by the name Snoop Lion.
Sigh.
I guess it’s neat that he is both a cat and a dogg person.
I understand the temptation to change your name. Not only did I go by “Arden Rochelle,” “Diana,” “Allison” and “Sable” at various points during junior and high school, (Apologies Mrs. Livsey, Mr. Young, Mrs. Koepsel for making you indulge me), but I’ve also done it the legal way and not just the ‘surely-this-will-alleviate-some-of-my-unpopularity-oh-what-it-doesn’t-piss-it” route as well.
But Snoop’s decision reminds me of just one more reason why I can’t get on board with RBP music. Nothing wrong with choosing a nom de plume, just make sure that it makes sense.
Snoops aren’t even the best kind of dog.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are.
Nor are they any kind of lion.
Just for “fun” I decided to enter the dark world of rap for one terrifying moment (Don’t worry, I brought safety equipment: pepper spray, Olympic dressage pass, Quiche) and looked up what my rapper names might be. Suggestions included:
- A Velvet
- A Butter Love
- Serious Mystique
- Bootie A Cakes
- A Blunt
- A Missy A
- W Tang (which I’m pretty sure is taken)
These names make no sense. And neither do others Flo-Rida is not a name, it’s a state that everyone forgets is Southern. Method Man sounds like the documentary that accompanies the DVD about how Dustin Hoffman gets into character. And Mike Jones is someone I once auditioned against for All-State band.
Oreo me just can’t help it. I like the good, solid names of people who make good, solid music: Wolfgang, Dick Hyman, Dweezil.
Also, thanks to a typo I just made, I realized: you can’t spell rape without “rap.” I’m not saying that correlation equals causation but whatever, words don’t lie. Unless they’re told by a liar.
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What do you think of Snoop’s decision to dive into Reggae?
What other names do you go by? Why are you trying to hide from yourself (not that I oppose, just curious).
Let us know in the comments!
The Oreo Experience 
let’s not forget “Q-Tip” :o)
Who was the rapper that changed his name to “Big Baby Jesus?”
@ Brad – That was the late Ole Dirty Bastard
Not sure where to begin on this…
Snoop Dogg, always made since, Probably because “Snoopy” is in fact a dog… I believe his nick name comes from the fact that Calvin slightly resembles a rottweiler :),
even tho Snoopy was a beagle .. anyways… Ultimately we all call him “Snoop” So it doesnt really matter what animal he puts next to it…
Many artist change their name, style, everything when they take on a new style of music… Garth Brooks / Chris Gaines, So its not new… and we all know we are all just gonna keep calling the dude Snoop Dogg anyway…
And Oreo, I believe I gave you a Hip Hop name a while back You are “A-Wall” an obvious rework of your name… but also because you escaped ‘RBP’ you just left us… you went AWol on us 🙂
I dub thee once again as “A-WALL – The Real Black Person, Trying To Be A Fake White Person.”
Go fourth… 😉
Well . . . Ray Charles did country. I guess the artist formerly know as Snoop D. O. Double G can go Reggae. Though, where I think Ray did it as artistic exploration, I think for Snoop it’s about $$. It’s tough to be in your 40’s, worth millions and still talking about life on the mean streets of the LBC. I can’t see him having the acting career of LL or even Common so . . . But Snoop Lion??? Course, even Prince eventually changed his name back from the symbol to Prince . . . Maybe it’s just a phase. Time will tell.