Snoop Dogg’s new musical persona Snoop Lion has enraged a few prominent Rastafarians.
Snoop Dogg. Photo by Ros O'Gorman.
Following a trip to Jamaica in February 2012, the rapper changed his name to Snoop Lion.
It’s thought his new handle is a reference to the Lion of Judah which is symbolic in Rastafarian culture.
Snoop has even professed that he is ‘Bob Marley reincarnated.’
Bunny Wailer, original member of Bob Marley and the Wailers, told TMZ that the hip hop star’s projection of his religion is an “outright fraudulent use of Rastafari Community’s personalities and symbolism” and that Snoop has failed to honour certain ‘contractual, moral and verbal commitments.’
Snoop is the star of a 2012 documentary entitled Reincarnation, which follows the musician on his transformation into a Rastafarian.
According to the website, members of the Rastafari Millennium Council sent off an angry seven-page long letter to Snoop on the issue.
‘Smoking weed and loving Bob Marley and reggae music is not what defines the Rastafari Indigenous Culture!” the documents clarified.
Apparently the organisation also wants the rapper to give them the ‘financial and moral support’ the Snoop promised to deliver.
The star is preparing for the release of his first reggae album Reincarnates this year.
