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As
the embodiment of '90s gangsta rap, Snoop Doggy Dogg blurred the lines
between reality and fiction. Introduced to the world through Dr. Dre's
The Chronic, Snoop Dogg quickly became the most famous star in rap,
partially because of his drawled, laconic rhyming and partially because
the violence that his lyrics implied seemed real, especially after
he was arrested on charges of being a murder accomplice. The arrest
certainly strengthened his myth, and it helped his debut album, 1993's
Doggystyle , become the first debut album to enter the charts at number
one, but in the long run, it hurt his career. Snoop had to fight charges
throughout 1994 and 1995, and while he was eventually cleared, it
hurt his momentum. The Doggfather, his second album, wasn't released
until November 1996, and by that time, pop and hip-hop had burned
itself out on gangsta-rap. The Doggfather sold half as well as its
predecessor, which meant that Snoop remained a star, but he no longer
had the influence he had just two years before.
Nicknamed
Snoop by his mother because of his appearance, Calvin Broadus (b.
October 20, 1972) was raised in Long Beach, California, where he frequently
ran into trouble with the law. Not long after his high school graduation,
he was arrested for possession of cocaine, beginning a period of three
years where he was often imprisoned. He found escape from a life of
crime through music. Snoop Dogg began recording homemade tapes with
his friend Warren G, who happened to be the step-brother of N.W.A.'s
Dr. Dre's. Warren G gave a tape to Dre, who was considerably impressed
with Snoop's style and began collaborating with the rapper.
When
Dr. Dre's decided to make his tenative first stab at a solo career
in 1992 with the theme song for the film Deep Cover, he had Snoop
rap with him. "Deep Cover" started a buzz about Snoop Dogg that escalated
into full-fledged mania when Dr. Dre released his debut album, The
Chronic, on Death Row Records late in 1992. Snoop Dogg rapped on The
Chronic as much as Dr. Dre's, and his drawled vocals were as important
to the record's success as its P-Funk bass grooves. Dr. Dre's singles
"Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day," which prominently featured
Snoop, became Top 10 pop crossover hits in the spring of 1993, setting
the stage for Snoop Doggy Dogg's much-anticipated debut album, Doggystyle
. While he was recording the album with producer Dr. Dre in August,
Snoop was arrested in connection with the drive-by-shooting death
of Phillip Woldermarian. According to the charges, the rapper's bodyguard,
McKinley Lee shot Phillip Woldermarian as Snoop drove the vehicle;
the rapper claimed it was self-defense, alleging that the victim was
stalking Snoop. Following a performance at the MTV Music Awards in
September 1993, he turned himself to authorities.
After
many delays, Doggystyle was finally released on Death Row in November
of 1993, and it became the first debut album to enter the charts at
number one. Despite reviews that claimed the album was a carbon copy
of The Chronic, the Top 10 singles "What's My Name?" and "Gin & Juice"
kept Doggystyle at the top of the charts during early 1994, as did
the considerable controversy over Snoops arrest and his lyrics, which
were accused of being exceeding violent and sexist. During an English
tour in the spring of 1994, tabloids and a Tory minister pleaded for
the government to kick the rapper out of the country, largely based
on his arrest. Snoop exploited his impending trial by shooting a short
film based on the Doggystyle song "Murder Was the Case," and releasing
an accompanying soundtrack which debuted at number one in 1994. By
that time, Doggystyle had gone quadruple platinum.
Dimensions
approx: 100mm L x 88mm W x 100mm H
Colours: as shown.
Material: PVC rubber, non toxic.
Packaging: Each Celebriduck comes in a clear gift box with hang tag.
...We produce our Celebriducks in limited editions and make changes
as we release each new edition. All first editions done before the
year 2000 were done in editions of 5000 and a number of them are
getting close to being sold out. The early first editions are a
bit larger and a little more firm, but subsequent editions after
the year 2000 reflect a duck which now squeaks, is a little smaller
and softer, has all new packaging, and floats as well or better
than any duckie on the market.
Celebriducks is a registered trademark & licensed product.
Any reproduction or infringement will result in litigation. All
items are licensed. Celebrity ducks cannot be imprinted without
authorisation of the licensor.
