CULTURE

Embodiment of gangsta rap here for his first show

Arguably hip-hop’s most iconic figure, Snoop Dogg, renowned as much for his work as for his notorious adventures and misadventures, gives his first ever Greek performance tonight in Athens. The event’s organizers have announced a late venue switch and transferred the show to a larger venue as a result of higher-than-expected ticket demand. The production has been moved from the Thea club to the Kingdom club, formerly known as On The Rocks, in the seaside suburb of Varkiza. Snoop Dogg’s success and impact on contemporary music is one of the primary reasons for hip-hop’s dominance in the mainstream music charts in the USA, where he has sold half his career’s 40 million albums to date. He is the embodiment of what came to be known as «gangsta rap» in the 90s. Snoop Dogg’s work seemed to blur the lines between reality and fiction. Introduced to the music world through «The Chronic» album by Dr Dre, one of the most sought-after producers in contemporary music, Snoop Dogg gained swift fame both on the fresh appeal of his laconic rhyming and the violence carried by his lyrics, which seemed real. This view was bolstered when, early in his career, the budding rapper was arrested on charges of being an accomplice to murder. The legal wrangles fanned Snoop Dogg’s fame and his debut album, 1993’s «Doggystyle,» entered the US charts at No 1. In the long run, though, the trouble proved a hindrance to his artistic progress. Snoop Dogg, who spent a considerable amount of his time fighting the charges in 1994 and 1995 before being cleared, did not release his follow-up album, «Doggfather,» until late in 1996. In more recent times, Snoop Dogg, now 34, has moved away from his gangsta rap roots for milder lyrics. In Greece, Snoop Dogg has enjoyed enduring popularity with steady sales over his 14-year career. Now, fans get to witness the legendary rap act on stage. Doors open 7.30 p.m. Ticket info: 210.962.5105.

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