Snoop Dogg

Gangsta rap had no superstars before Snoop Doggy Dogg. At least not in the sense of someone whose popularity extended to a non-Hip-Hop audience. What separated Snoop from all the other gangsta rappers before him was his mesmerizing melodic flow. The content was just as violent, but the delivery was so smooth that it could almost mask the graphic nature of his lyrics. Radio didn't even bother to edit the hook for "Deep Cover." His 1# song "Drop it Like It's Hot" had a blatant reference to his life as a former gang member. Snoop was so nonchalant and effortless with his gift that, at times, it seemed like all he had to do was freestyle to make a hit. Dr. Dre recalled that "Nuthin" But A 'G' Thang" came together because Snoop didn't realize he was being recorded while going off the top. VIBE magazine proclaimed Snoop's first album "the most eagerly anticipated debut in Hip Hop history." This was no hyperbole. No Rapper had ever had this type of setup before. Whether they knew it or not, Dre and Snoop pioneered a model for breaking a rap superstar. Which has since been used time and again.