Snoop Lion aims for the White House with new album ‘Reincarnated’

theGRIO REPORT - Snoop Lion, has shifted from the grim realities of hip hop to the positive vibrations of reggae with his new album and documentary film, 'Reincarnated'...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Wailer appeared highly supportive of Snoop Lion’s new venture in the movie, even recording vocals on Reincarnated. This January however, he changed his tune, claiming both the album and documentary were a “fraudulent use of the Rastafari Community’s personalities and symbolism,” and threatening legal action against the star. Bob Marley’s son Rohan defended Snoop from Wailer’s assertions, yet Snoop refuses to entertain the issue.

“I didn’t hear him physically say that, so I can’t believe it’s so,” Snoop remarks. “I just keep on pushing out positive energy, and say I love Bunny Wailer. I don’t believe it until I hear it from him personally.”

Furthermore, Snoop insists that from the beginning, he hasn’t been worried about public acceptance of his new image.

“I wasn’t really trippin’ off what people were going to say,” he comments. “I was so confident with the producers and the writers and the attitude going into the record. So, once it started to come back to me and I started to hear it and hear my vocals, I got more and more confident. Now, as I’m starting to hear the mastered mixes, I mean I know it’s a success. I just have to be able to pull it off on stage.”

The album blends the traditional sound of roots reggae – Snoop’s original intentions – with its more modern deviations like dubstep and dancehall. He says the “grooves kept changing” as the trip progressed, and a lot of the work was created “on the fly,” but he enjoyed the process as it was a challenge. It forced him to sing while rap music had become “like riding a bike.” Featured artists include Drake, Chris Brown, Rita Ora, and Akon.

Along with his new style, Snoop Lion feels his patience has increased with his adaption of the Rasta spirit. He’s adopted a better way of life, hoping to be an expression of love and a more knowledgeable source about the world. Furthermore, he aims to take better care of himself through his words and actions, and by emoting a sense of positive energy.

Die-hard Snoop Dogg fans need not worry however, as the rapper will be back in action soon enough. Even when he’s performing as Snoop Lion, he says he will include some reggae rendition of “Gin and Juice” to give the people what they want. Not that he’s not worried about his fans appreciating his new look anyway, rather he knows they will never lose interest.

“No matter what it is – what the moniker is – they appreciate what Snoop brings to the table,” he comments. “So, I never worry about the few people who may have something to say. I know with this album, I put a picture up on Instagram of a lion; somebody might have said something like you know, ‘Where’s the old Snoop Dogg?’ And I don’t pay no attention to that because somebody always answers real quick, you know, ‘F*** you.’ Soon as somebody say something, there’s always somebody there to get my back.”

He adds, “It’s an awesome journey for people to be able to roll with me and see exactly what I’ve been through. Not to turn away from Snoop Dogg, but as you see, when you’ve been doing it for 20 years, and you the s*** for 21 years, I gotta let these other things in.”

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