Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., professionally known as Snoop Dogg, is joining Def Jam as Executive Creative and Strategic Consultant.
With an immediate focus on A&R and creative development, Snoop Dogg’s new role at the label will see him act as a senior strategic advisor.
He is based in Los Angeles and reports to Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and Def Jam interim Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Harleston.
In a video announcing the news, Snoop Dogg says that his work with Def Jam will result in music videos, TV shows, content, video games and “hit records”.
He added: “I’ll be going to the catalog, revitalizing that, bringing back life stories on some of these great artists. I’ll also be bringing some new talent to the table, new producers, new artists.”
With nearly three decades’ experience in the music business, Snoop Dogg has released 19 studio albums, sold over 30 million albums worldwide and received 20 Grammy nominations.
Snoop Dogg has also made several investments and endorsements spanning the lifestyle, food/beverage, and cannabis industries. Additionally, he founded the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005 to help LA kids get off the streets. In the process, the Snoop Youth Football League has helped players such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, John Ross, and Ronnie Hillman (the first to make it in 2012) along with 23 others make it to the NFL.
In addition to his work as an artist, as a media personality, Snoop Dogg has made appearances on radio, TV, and film.
He also executive produced the acclaimed Netflix show Coach Snoop, GGN: Double G News and the TNT game show Joker’s Wild, which he also hosted.
Snoop Dogg garnered his first Emmy nomination as Executive Producer for the hit VH1 show, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.
“WE’RE THRILLED THAT THE ONE AND ONLY SNOOP DOGG IS BRINGING HIS DEEP INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE, STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, BOUNDLESS CREATIVITY, AND INFECTIOUS ENERGY TO DEF JAM.”
SIR LUCIAN GRAINGE
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO, UMG, said: “We’re thrilled that the one and only Snoop Dogg is bringing his deep industry experience, strong relationships, boundless creativity and infectious energy to Def Jam.”
“NOT ONLY DOES SNOOP UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST, HE IS ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE, STRATEGIC, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PEOPLE I KNOW.
JEFF HARLESTON, DEF JAM
JEFF HARLESTON, DEF JAM
Jeff Harleston, Interim CEO, Def Jam and General Counsel, EVP Business & Legal Affairs, UMG added: “I have had the pleasure knowing and working with Snoop Dogg for more than twenty years.
“Not only does Snoop understand what it takes to be a successful artist, he is one of the most creative, strategic and entrepreneurial people I know.
“Snoop has a genuine passion for the label and the culture, and we are all excited to have Snoop join the Def Jam Family.”
Said Snoop Dogg in a video announcement: “You may wonder, why so late in my career would I want to work at Def Jam Records? Let me tell you why. As a kid, as a young rapper, Def Jam Records was the Holy Grail of hip hop.
“It was the label all of the artists communicated, connected, put out great music, great videos, movies and they were always on tour together. They were always doing things together. They were like a family. Their street team, the radio team, they executives. They were hip, they made video games, comedy shows. They did all types of shit that I wanted to be a part of.
“Then Death Row Records happened, so I didn’t get a chance to be on Def Jam, but I always had a dream to be on Def Jam, and to be in a place where hip hop was originated. So when I got the opportunity, my main focus on Def Jam Records was to go and help the artists and give them love and give them wisdom, guidance and understanding and teach them the tricks that I learned in the game to diversify their portfolios, to not just be rappers and not just be artist, but to be superstars, superheroes so to speak.”
Snoop Dogg’s appointment as Executive Creative and Strategic Consultant at Def Jam follows the appointment in December in the UK of British rap superstar Wretch 32 as Creative Director of 0207 Def Jam, the recently-launched frontline Universal Music UK label headed up by Twin brothers Alec and Alex Boateng.
