Snoop Lion heads to Durban for MTV Africa All Stars concer

Snoop Lion heads to Durban for MTV Africa All Stars concert

Times LIVE | 02 April, 2013 13:49

The Reincarnated rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, actor and reality star will headline MTV Africa All Stars KwaZulu-Natal Province, alongside the most popular contemporary artists from across the African continent. MTV Africa All Stars - KwaZulu-Natal Province will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium, People’s Park, Durban, broadcasting around the world as part of MTV’s acclaimed World Stage franchise on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV’s global TV network.
Snoop Lion was born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. in Long Beach, California in 1971.  A Grammy award nominated rapper, producer and actor, Snoop is a legendary figure in the West Coast hip hop scene, and one of producer Dr. Dre's earliest and most notable protégées.
Snoop made his hip-hop recording debut in 1992 on Dre's debut album The Chronic, followed by his critically acclaimed debut 1993 album, Doggystyle, which climbed its way to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's hip-hop and Top 200 chart.
Snoop has stayed in the headlines for the rest of his 20+ year career, during which he has created 11 studio albums, one collaborative album, 17 compilation albums, one extended play, 20 mixtapes, 124 singles (including 72 as a featured artist) and seven promotional singles, and sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

Most recently Snoop Lion, in conjunction with VICE Media and Stampede Management, released Reincarnated, the multi-media project capturing Snoop’s exploration of reggae music and spiritual growth. The project follows the controversial journey of a modern day icon and includes a reggae-influenced album executive produced by Diplo and Major Lazer, a feature-length documentary of Snoop's journey and career which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews, a photo book, and a self-sustainable gardening initiative named Mind Gardens. In addition, Snoop recently launched a Reincarnated app that provides fans exclusive insight into the project with exclusive footage and commentary. The project recently launched the documentary in select US markets, with the album set for an April 23 release in conjunction with Berhane Sound System, Mad Decent, VICE Music and RCA Records.
Reincarnated features GRAMMY Award-winners Drake, Chris Brown and T.I., rapper Busta Rhymes, Akon, UK singing star Rita Ora, as well as dancehall stars Popcaan and Mavado, and more.  The album includes tracks La, La, La, Ashtrays and Heartbreaks, Harder Times, and the very personal No Guns Allowed, which will serve as the next single off the album.
The song features Drake as well as his daughter, up-and-coming artist Cori B, and shares the message of hope and peace in light of recent events around the world. 
“I’m honoured to bring this important message of peace and love to South Africa,” said Snoop Lion.
“This is the motherland and a place of so much history and strife. I hope that this concert reminds us it is also a place of joy, love, celebration and peace - which is very much in line with where I am as an artist right now. I want to thank all the incredible artists joining me and props to MTV for sharing this important moment with the world.”
Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, “As one of hip hop’s most influential artists, we are delighted that Snoop Lion will be headlining the MTV Africa All Stars concert in Durban in May.”
The new pan-African music and youth empowerment campaign MTV Africa All Stars salutes the star quality and widespread appeal of contemporary African musicians, providing exposure to the continent’s hottest musical innovators and pacesetters.  A joint initiative by MTV Base and the KwaZulu-Natal Province, MTV Africa All Stars also aims to raise the international profile of KwaZulu-Natal as a premiere destination for tourism and economic development.