Snoop Dogg Changes His Name to Snoop Lion

The artist formally known as Snoop Dogg will, sadly, no longer be the hip hop representative of the canine world.

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Indeed, Snoop Dogg (née Doggy Dogg) would now like all his minions to refer to him as Snoop Lion. Yeah — doesn't have the same ring to it, but he assures us there's a very deep spiritual reason behind the change.

"I want to bury Snoop Dogg, and become Snoop Lion,” he told reporters, according to news.com.au. “I didn't know that until I went to the temple, where the High Priest asked me what my name was, and I said, ‘Snoop Dogg.’ And he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘No more. You are the light; you are the lion.’ From that moment on, it's like I had started to understand why I was there."

Snoop Lion is also moving away from rap altogether and plans to release a reggae album, Reincarnated. He told reporters during a news conference that while vacationing in Jamaica, he came in contact with Bob Marley's spirit, which now inhabits his soul.

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"I feel like I've always been Rastafarian," he said, adding he wants to create music his children can enjoy. "Reggae was calling ... it's a breath of fresh air. Rap isn't challenging; it's not appealing."

Snoop Lion is also working on a coffee table book documenting his change from West Coast rap star to the peaceful disciple of of Bob Marley. Sounds like an excellent holiday gift!