Snoop Dogg’s Life Altered by Murder Case: A Three-Year Ordeal

Snoop Dogg, the renowned musician, found himself entangled in a murder case that consumed his life for a span of three years during his early days as a rapper.

The experience left an indelible mark on him, transforming how he approached his lyrics thereafter.

The rap legend now believes that the words he used in his songs played a role in shaping his life.

Prior to the murder case, which threatened to irrevocably change Snoop Dogg's future, he would rap about his personal experiences.

His songs often revolved around themes of death, violence, crime, and the loss of loved ones – portraying what he referred to as “life as a G.” However, it was the murder charges leveled against him three decades ago that forever altered Snoop Dogg's perspective.

Snoop Dogg's Three Years of Turmoil Following Murder Charges

At the time of the crime, Snoop Dogg was an emerging rap artist in America.

In August 1993, Philip Woldemariam, a gang member, lost his life in a park.

District attorneys accused the celebrity of first and second-degree murder.

Additionally, Snoop's bodyguard, McKinley Lee, faced charges of conspiracy to commit assault related to the case.

Prosecutors contended that Woldemariam was murdered in cold blood, alleging that Snoop shot him in the back and buttocks.

They claimed the altercation occurred after an argument between Snoop, his bodyguard, and the rival gang member at Woodbine Park, where Woldemariam attempted to flee.

However, the defense argued that the gang member reached for a weapon, prompting Lee to fire in self-defense from a car occupied by Snoop.

Testimony revealed that a weapon was indeed found on Woldemariam.

Ultimately, the star, who was just 24 years old at the time, along with his bodyguard, was acquitted by the jury.

However, the jury could not reach a decision on lesser charges of voluntary manslaughter against both men, as well as a charge of conspiracy against Snoop after the fact.

The judge sent the jury back for further deliberation after six days of discussions.

Finally, when the verdict was announced, Snoop's supporters and Lee erupted with joy in the courtroom.

Snoop, with his head bowed and hands clasped in prayer, breathed a sigh of relief as his bodyguard rejoiced.

The emotional moment was captured on television.

Leaving the court, Snoop sported a smile while holding his two-year-old son, Corde, and made his way back to his life in a Rolls-Royce.

“They made the right decision, you know what I'm saying?”

expressed Snoop.

“This ordeal has profoundly impacted our lives for the past two and a half years.

I was uncertain if I would be here to raise my son.”

A Shift in Snoop's Lyrics: Sacrificing Success for a New Perspective

Photo by J. Strauss/FilmMagic

The murder case had a lasting effect on Snoop, as he revealed during an Instagram Live conversation with Fatman Scoop in January 2021.

Snoop altered his approach to rap and the subjects he addressed, realizing that his words held more power than simple entertainment for his fans.

He explained, “During that time, myself, Tupac, Biggie, and Cube… all the rappers of that era were writing about our own experiences.”

“Some of us wrote about life, while others wrote about death, but we were living that reality.”

“On my second album, Tha Doggfather, after I beat my murder case, I redirected my pen to write about life because I felt like I had been writing about death up until that point.”

No longer wanting to “glamorize and glorify” death, Snoop shifted his focus to celebrating life.

However, this change came at a cost, resulting in the loss of fans and stunted success.

He admitted, “I lost many fans and friends because they wanted me to maintain my ‘gangsta' image after beating the murder case.”

Snoop expressed remorse for his past lyrics and acknowledged that his life had been forever altered by the experience, emphasizing that it was a genuine and profound situation.

You can view the inspirational clip here.