Simply Abu Dhabi III

Snoop Dog began life named Calvin Cordozar Broadus (after his stepfather) in 1971 and whilst a youngster his parents nicknamed him ‘Snoopy’. He began singing in Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church and playing piano; when he was in sixth grade. Despite regularly being in trouble with the law, Snoop experimented with music and rapping from an early age and cut his first tracks in 1991 with cousin Nate Dogg and Warren G as part of hip hop group 213 (named after an LA area code). They recorded their first demo in a back room of the now famous VIP record store in Long Beach and, by chance, the tape was heard at a house party by Dr Dre. He invited Snoop to collaborate with him on his debut albumThe Chronic, which was released in 1992 and immediately recognised as one of the greatest hip hop records of all time. The rest they say is history – suddenly the determined delinquent was a superstar. Thirteen years on, Snoop now has 11 solo albums to his name, and boasts worldwide record sales topping 30 million. With such accolades under his belt, we couldn’t wait for the show to start and it exceeded all our expectations. As massive fans of his music it was incredible to get the chance to see him perform up close as Snoop Dogg performed in front of a sell out crowd. He arrived on stage to thunderous welcome from an audience of 10,000 of which we felt like a very privileged two. Snoop drops it like it’s hot – and it is! Proof that hip-hop is very much part of the music scene in the Middle East, Snoop’s appearance in Abu Dhabi had no problems pulling in the crowds. It was great to see some of the region’s most promising up and coming hip-hop artist take to the stage to perform some of their own material – an experience they won’t forget in a hurry. Performing his latest hits, including Prince William’s bachelor party anthem ”Wet” off his latest studio album, Doggumentary, Snoop Dogg had the crowd in the palms of his hands and there’s no place we’d have rather been for the evening. Unforgettable songs and old favourites from the last two decades included tunes such as “Snoop Doggy Dog”, “I Wanna Rock”, “Nate Dogg”, “Hypnotize” and “Drop it”. Performing legendary hits including “Sensual Seduction” and “Kush”, the crowd was heaving with fans of rap music from the Middle East and around the world who wanted a piece of the action. The whole evening was a vibrant, energetic event packed full of fun and astonishment – one surprise being when Snoop appeared on stage wearing the traditional Arab Kandoura. Despite the heat, he danced and performed the first few songs wearing this gift from the renowned Saudi designer and fan, Hatem Al Akeel. His incredible show included moving tributes to his cousin Nate Dogg who died in March from a stroke and to Tupac Shkur and Biggie Smalls – two famous rappers who were murdered. Unlike many big stars these days – who are so inaccessible – fans of Snoop Dog have formed a real connection to him. Having tried his hand at TV and movie acting as well as coaching a successful youth football league, Snoop Dog has also embraced modern technological platforms and social networking, making him more accessible to his fans and so his popularity continues to rise. Whether it’s belting out hits in a packed stadium or ringing out from your mobile phone, Snoop seems to ‘rock it’ almost anywhere. He was definitely rocking it in the Yas Arena. The crowd went wild throughout the evening, dancing and getting their groove on as Snoop – ever the showman – pulled out all the stops to keep us entertained. Watching this hip-hop icon in action was such a thrill and an experience we will always remember. ‘Doggumentary’ is a fitting title for his 11th studio album as this is the man who from humble beginnings in Long Beach has taken the world by storm and now occupies the throne as the world’s most famous rapper. As anticipation grows for his quickly approaching 11th studio album, Snoop’s connection with his fans through his music also grows. Reflecting everything that the world has come to love about the man born Calvin Broadus, Doggumentary combines some of the more verbose street raps that initially propelled Snoop to stardom with the sort of unpredictable collaborations that have made him a pop culture phenomenon. SNOOP DOGG THE ‘DOGGFATHER’ COMES TO TOWN Now as purveyors of the fine things in life it might come as some surprise that we’re more than a little partial to some hip hop and rap, but we like to let our hair down from time to time and know how to rock it with the greatest. And we were certainly in good company as we arrived at the Yas Arena for Snoop Dogg’s sellout show. What a way to wrap up a fantastic weekend of entertainment – the American superstar rapper and self-proclaimed ‘Doggfather’ took the stage by storm at Yas Arena for a sensational finale to the first Yas Island ShowWeekends. The ultimate buzz for all hip hop fans in Abu Dhabi, there was an expectant vibe in the air as news spread the Doggfather, Snoop Dogg was in town for one night only. 75 SIMPLY ABU DHABI

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