Rapper, singer, actor, entrepreneur, Snoop Dogg has officially changed his name to Snoop Lion as he announces his new album, "Reincarnated."
In a press conference from Miss Lily's, a Caribbean restaurant in New York, Snoop Lion said that on this musical project he didn't know that he was going to head to Jamaica to make a reggae album.
"The spirit called me," he said. "Any time the spirit calls you, you gotta know that it's serious and it's real."
The spirit drew him to Bob Marley for this project.
"I always felt he was Bob Marley reincarnated," he said, adding that his trip to a Rastafarian high priest in Jamaica helped guide him through this project and also offered the new name: Lion.
The Marley family has embraced Snoop Lion's new direction and one in particular, Rohan Marley, was at the press conference to support the album and name change.
"My brother Snoop Dogg announcing his reincarnation as Snoop Lion... JAH RASTAFARI" Marley said on his Facebook Page, along with a photo of the two.
"This reggae music is a music of love--happiness and struggle," he said. "And now I get a chance to perform for kids, my grandparent."
"Reincarnated" also is a documentary that has been selected to the Toronto International Film Festival. The album features producers Diplo, Suroosh Alvi and Ted Chung. Fans can purchase it now on iTunes.
Here is the official trailer for "Reincarnated":
Watch the Snoop Lion "Reincarnated" Press Conference below and listen to his explanation for moving toward the reggae and Rastafarian movement:
