![]() Recorded primarily at Jamaica’s luxurious Geejam Studios, the set’s executive producer, Diplo, strikes an alluring balance between roots reggae’s one-drop drum and bass driven rhythms, samplings of classic dancehall beats and his signature electronic flourishes. Its sprinkling of Rasta ideology has, laudably, redirected Snoop’s gangsta lyrical exploits towards enriching themes such as ending gang wars and curbing gun violence. Nonetheless, aside from the casting, Snoop’s grandiose notion of his rebirth as Marley and no guest appearances by those on reggae’s frontline, “Reincarnated” stands as an enjoyable pop record laced with an assortment of roots and dancehall reggae references. In early April, Bunny Wailer “excommunicated” Snoop from Rastafari, (on Facebook, no less) citing “fraudulent use of Rastafari personalities and symbolism.” Wailer didn’t mention if an advance copy of “Reincarnated” influenced his decision. Several tracks celebrate marijuana, considered a sacrament among Rastas, but Snoop did that in his Dogg days and smoking herb does not make a Rasta. ![]() edition yet not a single Jamaica based Rastafarian reggae act, from pioneering singers of the 1960s to 20-something year old sing-jays who keep Rasta struggles in the forefront of their music, participated in Snoop’s reggae venture. ![]() To support his stated mission of “paying homage and giving love to those who created reggae music and what it was made for” Snoop should have recruited at least one veteran Jamaican Rastafarian artist as a collaborator on “Reincarnated.” Guest vocalists are included on 11 of the 12 tracks on the album’s U.S. Such Afro-centric viewpoints were once considered so radical in Jamaica, Rastas were persecuted, driven from their dwellings, their dreadlocks shorn or they were just shot on sight. Rastafari has significantly shaped roots reggae’s subject matter: the reverence of Haile Selassie I (whom many Rastas cite as Christ incarnate or God) and the visionary pan-African teachings of Jamaican freedom fighter Marcus Garvey (which includes celebrating African identity) are two of the faith’s most salient tenets and have been espoused in reggae song’s since the music’s late 60s inception. Alternately viewed as an attention-grabbing career move or a misguided mid-life meltdown, only Snoop knows if his Rasta conversion is the outcome of genuine spiritual enlightenment or feigned cultural affectation but the overall lightweight lyrical content of the “Reincarnated” album, and the absence of (Jamaican) Rastafarian contributions to the project, suggests the latter. Numerous fans and critics have queried Snoop’s credibility as a Rastafarian reggae artist. ![]() “I was at the forefront of the most violent time in hip hop… that’s what forced me to find a new path and I found peace I am still Snoop (motherfucking) Dogg ‘til I die but when I make my reggae music I am in the light of Snoop Lion,” declared the “Gin and Juice” rapper in the Reincarnated documentary. Tired of the rap game, Snoop sought a positive persona, which he found in Rasta and reggae. His reggae album of the same name, recorded mostly during his Jamaica trip, drops today (April 23), when Rastafarians in Jamaica, coincidentally, solemnly observe the 47th anniversary of Haile Selassie I’s only visit to the island, April 21-23, 1966. A feature-length documentary, “Reincarnated,” detailing Snoop’s Jamaica sojourn and spiritual transformation was released in March. Snoop, born in 1971, has declared himself the reincarnation of Bob Marley who passed away in 1981. ![]()
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