Rapper Snoop Dogg goes gospel at Essence Fest 2018 -- no lie

https://www.nola.com/ ^ | 7/7/18 | Doug MacCash

[BBell]

On the first day of Essence Fest 2018, Snoop Dogg created a gospel concert where there was none. And it was good. The multitudes that filled the Mercedes-Benz Superdome witnessed a performance that would have been unthinkable 25 years ago when Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. emerged on the California gangster rap scene.

For the first few songs on Friday (July 6) night, the braided and bespectacled Snoop touched on tried and true topics, such as the consumption of cannabis, mayhem and serial romance. Two scantily clad women added scintillating choreography to the songs. Snoop's mascot, a dude in a plush dog costume, skipped to the front of the stage. Everything seemed normal.

But it was not. After 20 minutes more or less, the 46-year-old tellingly sang a reggae tune titled "Tired of Running," then the whole tone of the concert was transformed. Snoop suddenly forsook hip-hop hedonism and turned to musical salvation.

Wearing an white jersey and pants that glowed angelically in the spotlights, Snoop shepherded one talented gospel singer after another to center stage. Backed by a small chorus and live band, the fiery Fred Hammond, powerhouse John P. Kee and the soulful Clark Sisters (plus one other) praised the Lord in song.

The churchy review was jaw-droppingly incongruous in the context of Snoop's typically debaucherous Dogg Pound persona, for those of us who were unaware of his recent gospel album "The Bible of Love" anyway.

Crosses and stained glass designs were projected at the rear of the stage. Brilliant silver spotlights shone down through theatrical fog like the light of heaven piercing the clouds of sin. As anyone in attendance will attest, it was a joyful, if unshakably ironic, concert within a concert. The impresario Snoop put smiles on thousands of faces Friday night.

[BBell]

Snoop is just falling in line with a long line of entertainers who saw the light as they got older. At 46 he is young so he will be around awhile still. His die hard gansta rap fans may desert him but he will gain new ones.

He actually is a smart guy which is why he has stayed rich and relevant when many have died or just faded away.

Good for him.

[BBell]

He’s done it again!

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Yes indeed good for him and others who have followed similar paths.

[erlayman]

He released a gospel album just last Spring so I am totally not surprised.

[dainbramaged]

I guess his video from last year where he murders President Trump is just a distant memory? Screw him.

[max americana]

you mean the same Snoop Dogg who hates Trump and who wants Trump dead with his ‘corpse” on the CD?

BS. It’s just an act..

[Vaquero]

[max americana]

Exactly. Funny how Freepers have short memories. I hope this asshole burns in hell afterwards..

[Eccl 10:2]

I perceive that the plantation walls are coming down. The old vuard Leftist establishment has screwed up so bad, and the younger crowd no longer goosesteps to the orthodoxy the way they used to.

While many won’t come out go full throated MAGA, certain aspects of Trump’s appeal and success are having various degrees of positive influence on certain minority demographics.

[2banana]

I bet a steak dinner that he will sing at the inauguration of Trump’s 2nd term....!

:-)

[BBell]

That was last year. His recent conversion to gospel is a recent thing. I’m sure he would make more by staying on the gansta rap hate Trump bandwagon than he will by going gospel. He loves money so I don’t think this is an act.

[Fido969]

Snoop is 46? I thought he was like 80 or something.

[Angels27]

I dont buy it for one minute. It’s all about keeping yourself in the news.

Last year he is murdering Trump in a music video. Has he given up his weed?

[Skooz]

His latest CD if full-on Gospel.

[HChampagne]

He has, for many decades, soiled the planet with his porn and vile lyrics.

[Getready]

“Black” gospel has always been fresh...energetic...great vocal...emotional...and frankly one of the few things worth listening to...cuz its usually real...(not much money in it)
For Mr. Broadus...singing Gospel or pushing it...doesnt make one a Christian (ask Jim and Tammy Baker). But pursue Christ and his marvelous work. Get used to being hated by people who dont believe, if you do so.

[BBell]

Making amends?

[BBell]

He has a very lucrative career in gangsta rap and he has no problem keeping himself in the news. Giving it up to go gospel is not a good career move for a gangsta rapper.

As for weed, Who cares. Smoking weed does not make you any less of a Christian IMHO.

[Big Red Badger]

I was just trying to
Find a glimmer of hope
In my Cold,
Empty,
Meaningless
World.
.
.
Sorry for the intrusion.
.
.ha!

[righttackle44]

"There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Good thoughts, feelings, works, or rap does not, will not in eternity bring about Salvation through Jesus Christ.

But, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." [Romans 10:9-10] If this is the case, then he is my brother in Christ. Yes, even if he committed murder or other heinous crimes. Those he will answer in the mercy of Christ for, on his own. If he has not come to Christ after this verse, then he is still in the same lost condition he has been. If his previous crimes have convicted him in his soul for salvation, then I pray he will come to Christ.