Snoop Dogg Receiving BMI Icon Award

Snoop Dogg will receive one of the highest honors of his career this fall when the rapper is named an icon by Broadcast Music, Inc.

Snoop will be saluted as a BMI Icon at the BMI Urban Awards, slated for Friday, August 26 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

BMI President & CEO Del Bryant will share hosting duties with Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, as the entertainment community gathers to celebrate the most-performed urban songs, songwriters and producers of the previous year.

The evening will include an all-star musical tribute to Snoop Dogg, as well as the presentation of the Urban Songwriter, Song, Producer and Publisher of the Year crystals.

BMI Icons are selected because of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.”

As a BMI Icon Snoop Dogg will join ranks that include George Clinton, The Jacksons, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Bee Gees, Willie Nelson and Carlos Santana, to name a few.

Snoop has received twelve BMI Awards spanning urban and pop point to his prominent role in hip-hop's seduction of the mainstream.

He has been previously honored by the American Music Awards, Source Awards, BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards.

Snoop Dogg  got some time chopped off his five year probation plan yesterday, when a judge waived the remaining 11 months from the rappers restriction period, according to TMZ.

The probation stems from a 2007 drug and weapons possession charge. In 2006, the rapper was arrested after performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno outside NBC studios.

During the arrest officers reportedly discovered marijuana, cocaine and a gun in Snoop's vehicle. The Dog Father was originally given 60 months of probation but a judge waived the remainder of the sentence Thursday.

Snoop's lawyer Donald Etra says the Snoop camp is “pleased” with the outcome.

Snoop's 'Blast By Colt 45' endorsement under fire

Although he made recent headlines for his ties to a Japan benefit t-shirt, Snoop Dogg is making headlines again, this time for being accused of promoting underage drinking.

As previously reported, the Doggfather has joined forces with Colt 45 for their new “Blast” beverage.

According to the Marin Institute, an “alcohol industry watchdog”, Snoop is wrongfully using his power to encourage underage drinking.

The beverage contains both alcohol and caffeine and comes in a colorful can which The Institute fears can be especially attractive to minors.

Marin CEO Bruce Lee Livingston has released a statement on Snoop and the makers of Blast saying,

While the federal government was shutting down dangerous caffeinated alcohol, Pabst Brewing Company was cooking up 'Blast,' a super sweet, fruit-flavored, supersized alcopop containing as much alcohol as four and a half cans of beer. Joose, Four Loko, Tilt and now Blast are racing to the bottom to harm youth. Senator Padilla's bill should limit such products to one standard-size drink."

 

 

Snoop has yet to respond.

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"The Wire" Creator Says Snoop's Arrest Due To Lack Of Black Acting Roles

As previously reported, on Thursday March 10, 2011 Felicia "Snoop" Pearson was arrested charged with conspiring to sell heroin and was one among 64 people charged in a joint state-federal persecution of a large east Baltimore drug gang.

Why it may look like life imitating art as she seems to be causght up in the dope  game like her character in HBO's The Wire, her P.R. team has released a statement on her behalf:

“Felicia Pearson has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. In Felicia's case, she feels that she is being targeted not only because of her portrayal of the memorable character “Snoop” On HBO's critically acclaimed series THE WIRE; but also because of where she is from in Baltimore.

Felicia grew up where high crime rates, drug use and violence are the norm. Felicia has overcome numerous hard ships in her lifetime. She does not expect these hardships to be used as an excuse for illegal activities. She has never stopped working on self improvement. Felicia has made strong statements against drugs and violence of any kind.

She is focused on living a positive life-style encouraging youth and formerly incarcerated women to make positive choices for themselves. She is currently working on 3 films that are shooting in Philadelphia with Len Daniels and T-Town Music Group.

Felicia hopes to return to the Philadelphia film set immediately, and wants her friends and fans to know that she is keeping her head up, shoulders back and that she is prepared to fight these new charges against her.”

David Simon, creator of The Wire, also spoke up for "Snoop" in an interview with Slate.

"First of all, Felicia's entitled to the presumption of innocence. And I would note that a previous, but recent drug arrest that targeted her was later found to be unwarranted and the charges were dropped. Nonetheless, I'm certainly sad at the news today. This young lady has, from her earliest moments, had one of the hardest lives imaginable.

And whatever good fortune came from her role in The Wire seems, in retrospect, limited to that project. She worked hard as an actor and was entirely professional, but the entertainment industry as a whole does not offer a great many roles for those who can portray people from the other America. There are, in fact, relatively few stories told about the other America.

Beyond that, I am waiting to see whether the charges against Felicia relate to heroin or marijuana. Obviously, the former would be, to my mind, a far more serious matter. And further, I am waiting to see if the charges or statement of facts offered by the government reflect any involvement with acts of violence, which would of course be of much greater concern."

Keep ya head up Snoop and Hip-Hop Wired will keep you posted as this story develops.

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Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson Arrested In Drug Raid

Felicia Pearson, known for playing an assassin on HBO's hit series “The Wire” was arrested this morning in connection with a high profile heroin and marijuana operation.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Pearson, known as ‘Snoop' on the television show, was one of 30 people arrested across the city and its surrounding areas.

Raids were carried out this morning by the DEA, Baltimore police and other federal and state law enforcement.

The Sun also reports that the arrests were part of a five month drug investigation.

Pearson was previously convicted of second-degree murder at age 14 and recently refused to testify as a witness at a murder trial.

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The West Coast emcee known for his penchant for marijuana, is now the part owner of the Blunt Magic brand which makes and distributes what's described as a “safe and effective product” for reducing the smell of smoke output when smoking.

Made to spray directly on a smoking product, Blunt Magic is available in Grape or Blueberry flavor.

Speaking on his smell reducing product Snoop has released a statement saying,

“Roll Doggy style with Blunt Magic and see what it do. Check out our product online and in specialty smoke shops and let me know what you think.”

Blunt Magic plans to roll out additional Snoop-created flavors for added variety along with Snoop signature packaging.

Look for Blunt Magic on tour when the Doggfather sets out to promote his new album, Doggumentary and new single “Wet.”

It's available for purchase at local convenience stores, specialty smoke shops and online for $6.99/bottle at www.bluntmagic.com

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The makers of Snoop Dogg's popular OG Bandana sunglasses are taking action to protect its copyrights and trademarks by filing a lawsuit against individuals they believe marketed copies of their eyewear.

Snoop's Serious Pimp apparel brand believes that Greg Stefanik and other defendants sold sunglasses that infringe on the Serious Pimp “Original Gangsta” OG BANDANA design.

The brand claims to have court documents which show the defendants admitting to replicating the distinctive design and to manufacturing and selling the imitation sunglasses in convenience store channels across the nation including 7-Eleven stores.

Serious Pimp also claims that Stefanik admitted to working with Lowrider Magazine who granted him a license agreement permitting him to advertise, sell, and distribute the infringing sunglasses under the brand name “Lowrider.”

The brand's lawyer William E. Levin of Brookstone Law Firm has released a statement on the case saying,

“Serious Pimp” is very serious about enforcing its intellectual property rights against infringements and knock-offs…We simply will never allow competitors to ride on our client's coattails, trade on their hard-earned reputation, or infringe on Serious Pimp's intellectual property rights in any way.”

Snoop has yet to comment on the case.

Serious Pimp® was founded in 1999 by Damian Kutzner in partnership with Snoop Dogg and Bishop Don Magic Juan.
Check out Snoop's "OG Bandanna" sunglasses below.

Diaz was a guest on “Lopez Tonight” Thursday and while on the show dished on her time growing up with the rapper at Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

According to her, she's sure she's bought at least one of the rapper's “special deliveries.”

“We went to high school together, he was a year older than me….He was very tall and skinny and wore lots of ponytails in his hair and I'm pretty sure I got weed from him. I had to have!"

Check out Cameron talking buying weed from Snoop below.

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