Snoop Dogg, actual name Calvin Broadus Jr., made a minor sensation in Hollywood when he declared himself a born-again Christian. “Book of Love,” his first gospel record, was just released.
Other gospel musicians on the CD include Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters, Pastor John P. Kee, and Marvin Sapp.
He originally dropped the news of a gospel album during an interview with Beats 1 Radio, when he remarked “I’m working on a gospel record. “I have to do it right now.”
“It’s always been on my heart,” he continued. I simply never got around to it since I was always busy with gangsta business and this and that. But I feel like it’s been on my heart for far too long.”
Several have slammed his religious conversion and choice to release a gospel CD. In 2009, he revealed his membership in the Nation of Islam, then in 2012, he became a Rastafarian. He now professes to be a reborn Christian.
Yet, this isn’t the first time Snoop has mentioned Christianity. In 2016, he shared a video on Instagram of himself singing along to the gospel hymn “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”
His admirers were overjoyed to hear him express his trust in God. “Imagine how many people you will reach with the gospel message of salvation with the platform you have!” Now, hurry up! Snoop, give our heavenly Lord honor with your rap talents!” an admirer commented.
Snoop Dogg addressed his detractors and those who questioned his conversion at the 33rd Annual Stellar Awards in Las Vegas. “The devil is a liar,” he remarked after performing at a gospel music event. “I thought the church was intended to be a haven for sinners.”
“It wouldn’t be proper if the church was full with saints. So, if you see someone trying to find their way back home, the natural thing to do is to be warm inviting, open your arms and say ‘Brother, we embrace you for who you are and what you’re going through. Come as you are. We know you’ve been doing wrong, and we know you want to make things right.'”
“We’re not going to’ throw stones on you as you’re trying to get straight and walking back into the church house. That’s what’s driving people out of the church right now.”
“The only hostility I get is when someone asks me a question, but I’ve never been faced with anyone in the gospel community,” the rapper says.
Snoop adds towards the end of the interview, “How about you? Have you checked your current status? Are you on your way to heaven? Why are you passing judgment on me? “How much service have you given to the Lord?”
When you go further into the CD, you’ll discover a remarkable amount of Christian theology in his songs that depict his spiritual journey. From start to finish, the album is a magnificent testament of Snoop’s meeting with God’s love in his own life.
Relevant journalist Mai Perkins went deeper into his record and said, “He’s not peddling prosperity Gospel. He’s not shaming people for where they’ve been, given how far out of control he’s gone. (And he’s been there!)… He’s merely expressing his own experiences as a terribly flawed individual who also happens to be highly religious. At the same time, he creates an environment in which others can feel safe enough to do the same.”
Religion has entirely transformed Snoop’s life, from his perspective on the gangster lifestyle to his attitude on guns. Snoop even stated that religion has impacted the way he views women. He used to have no problem denigrating women in his songs.
“Because I was producing music for myself and spoke from my point of view,” he stated. “Until I came to the stage when I wanted to convey love and admiration for the woman, my music mirrored that.”
Snoop also wrote the song “No Guns Allowed,” in which his daughter Cori B appears.
“We keep hearing about schools getting shot up, events being shot up, public places being shot up, and we have to handle it. “Who better to do it than me, coming from the gangster lifestyle of carrying a pistol every day of the week?” he asked.
I used to respond to hatred with hatred. As in, if you despise me, I despise you much more. “But today, I respond to hatred with love,” he told The Guardian.
