Long Beach rapper, musician, and all-around local lover Snoop Dogg has always been active from a community standpoint—but lately, it’s more pronounced and I’ve noted repeatedly that as he ages, he is reflecting more.
Snoop Dogg’s “return home” has prompted the creation of things that are seemingly out of the ordinary for a kid who was raised in the epicenter of local gang life during the late 80s and 1990s: He went back to church with a gospel album. He returned to the LBC stage after a lengthy and politically influenced hiatus. He went to the kitchen for a television show (and scored an Emmy nomination) with Martha Stewart. He has written a cookbook. He returned to Long Beach to offer some kids some free advice on creating music.
And now, the musical that reflects much of his own life will make one pitstop in Long Beach on its nationwide tour.
Redemption of a Dogg, written and directed by Je’Caryous Johnson—the man behind the stage version of the classic 1990s crime film Set It Off—and starring Snoop himself, chronicles the life of a Snoop-like character and “examines the internal battle one man has between preserving his lifelong legacy and losing the love of his life when he is faced with choosing fame and fortune over faith and family,” Johnson said.
“I just partnered up with my main man Je’Caryous Johnson on a play—that’s right y’all,” Snoop said in an Instagram post.
Music from the entirety of Snoop’s career—from his recent gospel album all the way back to his debut, Doggystyle, currently celebrating its 25th anniversary—will be featured throughout the play, making it part concert and part storytelling.
Brian Addison is a columnist and editor for the Long Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected] or on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.