Simply Abu Dhabi III

Run-ins with the law from an early age may have thrust Snoop further into the limelight but a fully fledged American icon emerged amongst the controversy. These days he seems to be showing signs of mellowing, but his ardor is still very much alive in his music and performance. You could feel the passion of the crowd which was heating up from excitement and sheer numbers and as Snoop continued to belt out classics from his twenty year career, he generated a pulsating hip hop state of mania that was completely infectious – it was an amazing audience to be part of. Speaking to told Time Out Abu Dhabi before his Yas Arena gig, the superstar told them; “The fans paid for Snoop Dogg and they gonna get Snoop Dogg. I wouldn’t want to disappoint tha people that paid to see me, ya dig?” Well, disappoint is certainly not a word you’d associate with Snoop, entertain on the other hand… After entertaining the crowd for almost two hours everyone was clapping, cheering and shouting out for an encore, but in true superstar style, Snoop Dog left the stage leaving us wanting more. As Snoop himself once proudly stated, ‘The world keeps spinning to the D-O-double-G’... Well, we can’t speak for the world, but he certainly rocked the Middle East! A&J would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Flash Entertainment and all the staff at the Arena for organising such a fantastic event and giving us a unique night to remember. Providing a fitting finale to a phenomenal six months of entertainment in the capital, we can see why Snoop Dogg’s shining star will continue to rise for many years to come. Globe-trotting tours and album shows are just a small part of the Snoop Dogg Empire. A media machine in the making, Snoop has never shied away from capitalizing on his image. He has collaborated with the pop princess Katy Perry, so knows how to work the mass market. He’s lent his name to everyone from Chrysler cars to creators of anti-virus software, insistently announcing, ‘Hack is wack!’ from gigantic billboards. You can even download his voice to your sat-nav so his dulcet tones can assertively direct you on your travels. Coming seventh in Forbes magazine’s 2010 richest rappers list with an estimated turnover of US$15 million, Snoop has a shrewd business head of his shoulders, but it’s not all about the money. Snoop Dogg’s talent for remaining at the forefront of popular culture and his natural ability to connect with his fans is what keeps him relevant and sees thousands upon thousands of fans flocking to his tours. Snoop’s steadfast appeal to his legions of fans has grown from the strong relationship they have built with him through his music that has been everywhere. 77 SIMPLY ABU DHABI