Snoop Lion’s ‘Reincarnated’ out April 23; documentary lands in March

Snoop Dogg has been called many things over the course of his two-decade career -- Snoop Doggy Dogg, Bigg Snoop Dogg and Snoop D-O Double G are just a few of the monikers.

When the multi-platinum rapper announced last summer that he’d been reborn as Snoop Lion and would trade in the menacing gangster rap that made him a superstar for rasta patois and issue a disc soaked in reggae rhythms, reaction was mixed, with a few critics writing it off as a gimmick.

The rapper-turned-Rastafarian has announced his new album, Snoop Lion’s debut, “Reincarnated,” will arrive on April 23.

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Executive produced by Diplo and his Major Lazer production team (who even gave Beyoncé a sampling of their dancehall influences) the new album is part of his re-imagining and spiritual awakening that was documented in a documentary of the same name.

The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, explores his pilgrimage to Jamaica, where he immersed himself in the Rastafarian culture. It will open in select cities, including L.A., on March 15.

Snoop Lion’s debut will feature collaborations with Drake, Chris Brown and T.I., Busta Rhymes, Akon, Rita Ora, his daughter Cori B (herself a burgeoning artist) and a number of dancehall acts.

“We were searching for true reggae music and the message of peace and hope it reflects,” he said in a statement. “It’s so much a part of who I am, and this record is all about paying homage and giving respect to those who created and love reggae music, and hopefully introducing it to a whole new audience. I feel truly honored to make this album and respect to all who blazed the path for me.”

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