“Me personally, I feel like if you banging outside of California, stay there cause if you come back to California where it originated at, we have different sets of rules and regulations that don't apply to you n*ggas and you will become victim of circumstances.”

Gang life used to be a means to bring together Black men and form a type of Brotherhood.  Although prejudged as something negative and only bringing trouble, the origination of the Bloods and the Crips wasn't based around violence, but more of an outlet to build family relations.

These days, gangs have been a catalyst to crime and increased violence within the community as the youth, whether due to ignorance or immaturity, have used their affiliations as a way to intimidate those that are outside of the set.  Gangs have sporadically popped up across the country leaving chaos at their footprints.

As a Crip of the old school, Snoop Dogg caught up with DJ Green Lantern to speak on the current status of gang life and how it has transitioned drastically from what it was initially.

“I'm proud, but at the same time, I'm disappointed because there's no understanding.  It's cool to be in a gang, it's cool because gangs breed love and family and friendship.  A lot of people don't understand the positives of being in a gang.  If there's no understanding or explanation of why this gang was created, what's the origins of this gang, the rules and regulations, then it becomes a disappointment.”

Feeling as though many are heavily influenced by the media, many are feeding into the visuals portrayed on the television or movies and are allowing others to infiltrate their thought process to give them false representation of being in a gang.

“I feel like a lot of these guys watch TV and they see it, then a couple of guys come from out of town and they brainwash them and they get em and they just gangbangin' for no reason.  When we was doing it, we was brought up in it.  We understood the rules and regulations.  We were there for the foundation.  We knew why we were getting involved and knew the consequences.  These youngsta's that's in it right now don't understand the consequences.  They don't realize that their life is on the line every five minute.”

The rapper also spoke on reppin' sets in Hip Hop and how some artists may need to watch how much they expose themselves when they are on music videos and on the Internet.

“Then, when you find a young rapper who takes on the gangbang mode, who ain't from California, and he goes to California, and some real n*ggas ride up on him from the other side, it's like ‘N*gga, what you was claiming?  We done already did our YouTube research on you and all that.  You flaggin that sh*t and you ain't really a real one?'”

Without naming particular rappers, Snoop stated that there are certain rapper flaggin sets in different areas of the country, but will be quickly approached when they arrive in California.  Without particular badges and documentation from people on the West Coast, some of these rappers have landed themselves in hot water once they touched down into the state.

“I've always expressed on songs that if you come to L.A., you need to come get at a couple of people, I'm one of them.  If you don't get at me, you're in trouble.”

“I believe that Snoop Dogg's brand is well known around the whole Globe from the business aspect, as well as the music aspect.  It was a plan that I put together strategically, it was something that happened along the way.”

Since emerging onto the scene alongside Dr. Dre in 1992, West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg has continued to expand in his music, as well as, becoming business savvy.

With countless movie roles under his belt, endorsements from businesses such as Chrysler 300, Orbit Gum, Boost Mobile and many more, Snoop continues to reinvent himself for the better as he has become embraced by the masses whether it relates to music or in general.

Asking the question “What's My Name?” back in 1993, all can raise their hands now and answer Snoop Dogg as he has become a household name.

While promoting his 10^th studio album, Malice-N-Wonderland, the rapper was able to catch up with CNBC and have a sit down discussion with Maria Bartoromo as he spoke on his beginnings entering the game.

“The first thing I wanted to do was create my own sound and diverse look that was non-similar to anyone that was out or anyone that came out before me.  I wanted to also be different and diverse with the dialect that I used.  I didn't want to sound like anybody and I didn't want to use the same words.  I just had a strategic plan as far as just being original and just trying to find out could I really do something that was never done before?”

Most artists lack the balance to maintain the music and the money as Snoop said that he was unable to initially handle the politics of the game.  He was, however, able to trudge his way through.

“It was told to me that it was show business.  I always had the show, but I never had the business and once I got the business, now I'm the kind of show business.”

Never one to forget those that lent a helping hand, he made sure to give Dre a shout-out in regards to how he was able to gain such heavy exposure with the mainstream.

“Not for me because I had Dr. Dre assisting me, who is one of the greatest producers of all time and I basically just rode his coat-tail and performed to the best of my ability.  Through him, I shined and people recognized and they loved me after that.”

Able to see the ramifications of negativity, he added that his lifestyle as a youth made an abrupt transition once he was able to realize the potential that he had musically.

“I dibbled and dabbled into crime in the beginning stages of my adolescence as a young man and once I did I seen that was not the route I wanted to take.  I felt that I had too much intelligence and too much mind power to just continue to belittle myself and be put in that position so once I woke up and realized that there was more to me, I maximized my strength and started studying the great musicians and studying the great business-minded people so I could become who I am today.”

With almost 20 years in the game, Snoop has failed to miss any major steps in his career that he hasn't been able to bounce back from.  As time progresses forward, Uncle Snoop is one that will remain timeless as he remains persistent with building his name and staying a commodity in today's industry of entertainment.

“When you're wrong, you're supposed to admit that you're wrong.”

Snoop Dogg is an artist that has never has an issue with broadening his creativity within his music.  From Death Row to No Limit to his own, the rapper has seen himself within many circles and has been able to provide a universal sound with his music.

With “Sexual Eruption” and Ego Trippin', Snoop showed that his years in the game have given him permission to experiment and go all out with his music, no matter how others may choose to perceive it. 

The new age of music has brought about new rappers that have been given heavy pressure to carry the torch once the veterans finally hang up the mic.  For the most part, people are more willing to hate on something before they congratulate someone for their success.

Snoop was able to man up and states that he too was one of those doubters that fell into the pit of hate.  Speaking with Rasha Entertainment, the West Coast vet admitted that he has committed wrongs and has acknowledged them.

“I didn't understand their music and didn't really have any inside on their hustle and their struggle so I immediately started to knock them ni**as instead of respecting their hustle.” 

Citing rappers such as Crooked I and Souja Boy, the rapper stated he initially disregarded them in the game, but soon grew to liking them once he actually listened and remembered his own days on the come up.  He has since reconciled his differences with the two and even worked with them musically for their upcoming releases. 

Referring to most artists as his nephew, the Doggfather was able to realize that he wasn't being the role model that he should have been with particular artists that he may not have vibed with in regards to their music. 

Too many have fallen into the same trap where they discredit other artists instead of trying to comprehend the method to their madness and even throwing in some words of advice.

“I'm Uncle Snoop.  If I'm your uncle, I'm supposed to respect you as my nephew and hear you out, even if I don't like what you're saying I'm still suppose to encourage you.  That's when I went into my encouragement stage."

Hate has become an epidemic spreading throughout the Hip-Hop community as well as the Black community itself.  Everyone in this world is here to ensure their own survival and will go through any means to make that possible.  Whether people accept it or not, everyone should respect others as they establish their own lane.

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