Snoop Dogg

Signed to Dr. Dre's Death Row label, former teenage drug dealer Snoop Doggy Dogg - a nickname coined by his mother - caused a stir in the US with his debut album Doggystyle in 1993 that topped the album chart. With his unique brand of gangster rap embodying G-Funk, Snoop also managed to break into the top 10 with his single What's My Name. Arrested just before his debut album's release, the controversy and continuing drugs charge brought against him seemed to boost his popularity on both sides of the pond. His second album Tha Doggfather arrived in 1996 again hitting the top of the US album chart and spawning hit single Snoop's Upside Your Head, a cover of the Gap Band's hit. His ongoing troubles with the law clearly helped him be prolific as he released three albums in quick succession with Da Game Is To Be Told, Not To Be Sold (1998), Topp Dogg (1999) and Tha Last Meal (2000) that started to highlight the tiredness of his lyrics. After a brief dalliance with softcore porn, he returned in 2002 with Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Bo$$, collaborating with the likes of Pharrell on singles From Tha Church To Da Palace and Beautiful. For 2004's The Masterpiece, he secured a top 10 hit with the excellent Drop It Like It's Hot.