by Dominique Zonyéé Scott

REINCARNATED – Soul searching, baptisms, weed, and Calvin Broadus, better known as Snoop Dogg, one of the hip-hops finest. Vice Media and director by Andy Capper followed Snoop Dogg on a trip to Jamaica as he immerses himself in Rastafarian culture, smokes ganga, records his latest album, and draws parallels to his own life growing up in Compton to local artists in Jamaica. The film exposes the artist, the father, the husband, the lover, and peaceful former California gangbanger like never before.

Capper and Vice Media cameras accompany Snoop Dogg on a one-month pilgrimage to Jamaica to record his 12^th studio album and his first reggae album, Reincarnated, executively produced Diplo and Major Lazer. REINCARNATED documents Snoop Dogg’s transition from Snoop Dogg, to Berhane, his Niyabinghi Rastafarian baptismal name.  Throughout his weed infused holy reformation Snoop reflects on his personal and professional past as he sets out to reinvent his career after more than 20 years in the rap industry and more than 30 million albums sold worldwide.

Following the 2012 untimely death of his childhood friend, Nate Dogg, Snoop was prompted to revisit how he wanted to continue his legacy.  “They want me to rap, but I don’t want to rap,” Snoop said in the documentary, “I got rap songs that will never die.” While there are countless Snoop Dogg hits, including his classic album “Doggy Style” which climbed the charts in the early 90’s, Snoop wanted to express his spiritual side with music that did not focus on dehumanizing women, vulgarity, or gangbanging.  “I know Obama wants me to come to the White House, but honest what the f*** can I perform?”

While in Jamaica, Snoop met with Bunny Wailer of The Wailers, local reggae artists, and he travels to Trench Town to retrace the steps of Bob Marley and the Wailers. In between chain smoking sacramental blunts and the occasional chalice hits, Snoop aligns himself with his inner Rastafaria, as he finds peace in the religion and in the enlightening, peaceful messages reggae music provides. Snoop puts his rebirth on wax in the creation of his first ever reggae album. The shift in rhythm features collaborations with Diplo, Major Lazer, and a host of musical talent including Stew Copeland (the drummer from the Police), and vocals from his wife and daughter. “I want a record that means something,” Snoop said while working on Reincarnated in a recording studio in Jamaica.

REINCARNATED’s theatrical run kicks off on March 15, showing at the Sunshine Cinema 143 East Houston Street New York, NY 10002 and Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102. Reincarnated the album is slated for release April 23, 2013.