Osheaga 2012: Snoop Dogg

The big question and joke that circulated Osheaga on Saturday was whether we were about to see a performance by the legendary gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg or his recently reincarnated reggae alter ego Snoop Lion. After taking to the stage forty-five minutes late, dressed in a rasta hat, a rasta Snoop T-shirt, a red jumpsuit and the biggest, blingiest “Snoop Dogg” emblazoned microphone, the Doggfather ran through a little bit of everything. Dropping his verse from such popular, and sometimes unusual features like 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.”, Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”, and Akon’s “I Wanna f–k You”, he also dropped classic jams like “Smoke Weed Everyday”, “Nuthin’ But a G Thang” and “What’s My Name”. Dropping “Gin and Juice” was a nice touch, even though more than half the gathered audience was probably four years old when the song originally came out. A cover of House of Pain’s “Jump Around” and the Pharrell produced banger  “Drop It Like It’s Hot” had people bouncing and singing along. Overall the performance from the hip hop giant was what you would expect from an aging, constantly changing icon who has a back-catalog that spans the better part of two decades. Oh and to answer the earlier question, Snoop Lion appears to be just a hat right now, not that I am complaining.

Take a look at the pictures below.