SNOOP DOGG

Some soundstage on a forgettable movie lot

Hollywood, CA

February 18, 2001

Photo credit: Snoop Dogg

Smoke. Cloudy, white smoke drifting down the hall and permeating everybody’s everything. Snoop was down the hall. My friend and I were on our way out of a music and dance television show taping where we’d already spent most of the day. The show was called Source Sound Lab and was hosted by Snoop's cousin Ray J. Minutes earlier we'd passed by Ray J.'s sister Brandy who had also come out to support the fam.

As we made our way out through the crowd, my friend noticed an acquaintance of his. Seems this acquaintance is now working as Snoop’s publicist. My friend told her about my idea and asked if she thought he’d be interested.

She disappeared into the smoke and when she returned she said she’d told Snoop about my idea and he liked it. "When he comes out he’ll do it," she said.

So we waited. We were on Snoop-time. Everybody was on Snoop-time. We avoided eye contact with the power-hungry security guard for the next two hours until Snoop finally trudged his way through the crowd. Slowly. 

There’s no denying he is America’s Sweetheart, but he was surrounded by security like he runs the country. We followed him inside to watch him perform a song then promptly returned to our post outside the door.

After the performance, he came through preceded by a camera crew and surrounded by enforcers. The announcement was made, "Comin’ through everybody. Clear the way." 

Yeah, right. As if. 

He was pretty mellow. Chillin’ amidst the madness he created. I moved in closer and my friend called his name, "Snoop... Yo, Calvin!" That should do it. Snoop stopped and looked around thinking only his family calls him by that name. My friend caught his eye and asked him to take my picture. Snoop turned to look at me. I said, "I’m the girl Rosa told you about." He looked confused. Like he knew he should remember what I was referring to, but wasn’t quite sure he did. Nonetheless, he flashed a playful smile and took my camera. 

The security guards wanted to keep him moving. They didn’t have time for this silliness but he was ignoring everyone and giving me his full attention.

Directing our next move like a football play, he said, "Okay. I’m going to say one, two, three then you say dee-zee, and I’ll take it. Okay?" "Okay," I said. I was ready and Snoop Doggy Dogg was about to take my picture. The camera crew was documenting this whole situation and we proceeded. The crowd quieted to watch.

With my 35mm camera pressed to his face, Snoop built some tension as he slowly counted, "One.......................... Two.................................." I waited, ".........................................." and waited "............................" He pulled the camera away from his face and sounded disappointed."You didn’t say dee-zee," he said. “You didn’t say three,” I said. I had a point. The crowd who had been so quiet had a good laugh and we started over.

"Okay," he said. "Are you ready?" I was still laughing. He was entertained and effectively ignoring the people who would have liked him to move more quickly to his dressing room. He pressed the button and gave my camera back.

What a rush. The long wait on Snoop-time in a herb-filled hallway was well worth it and I’m not even counting the contact high.