Snoop Dogg, the West Coast rap icon who once staged a mock assassination of Donald Trump in a music video, is now catching heat for doing something no one expected, performing at a Trump pre-inauguration event. Fans who once cheered his anti-establishment swagger are now calling him out in droves, accusing the rapper of betrayal.
The performance took place at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C., a black-tie gala hosted by BTC Inc. and Stand With Crypto. The event was marketed as a tribute to America’s first “crypto president” and was emceed by incoming administration crypto czar David Sacks.
From “Drop It Like It’s Hot” to Dropping Jaws
Onlookers watched in disbelief as Snoop worked the turntable, performing hits like “Drop It Like it’s Hot” and “Nothing but a ‘G’ Thang”. But while the crowd at the venue may have been vibing, the internet had a very different reaction.
“Incensed social media users swarmed the comments section on an Instagram video of the performance, saying the ‘Murder was the Case’ rapper ‘sold out’ and calling the concert ’embarrassing.'” (Snoop Dogg/Rick Ross/Instagram)
Betrayal or Bold Move?
Liberal fans didn’t hold back. One enraged commenter posted:
“It’s time to throw @SnoopDogg in the dumpster with the rest of Trump’s white supremacist, insurrectionist allies.”
The backlash comes as a shock considering Snoop Dogg’s controversial history with Trump. In the 2017 music video for “Lavender”, produced by Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD, Snoop is seen pointing a gun at a clown dressed as Donald Trump.
The Internet Remembers Everything
“The ‘Sensual Eruption’ rapper had threatened to ‘roast the f—k’ out of any ‘Uncle Tom a- n—a’ who performed for Trump’s inauguration in a video posted to his Instagram January 10, 2017, ten days before he took the oath of office.”
Clearly, Snoop wasn’t always Team Trump. But 2024 brought a surprising pivot.
Redemption Arc or Political Opportunism?
In a January 2024 interview with The London Times, the rapper revealed:
“I have ‘Nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump.'”
“He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris,” Snoop explained.
Michael “Harry-O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records, had been serving 25 years to life for drug trafficking and attempted murder before Trump granted him a pardon in 2021.
MAGA Welcomes Him With Open Arms
The response from conservatives? Surprisingly warm.
“Welcome to MAGA, Snoop!” posted Gen Z social media influencer and Barron Trump confidant Bou Loudon on X.
While liberal fans accuse Snoop Dogg of selling out, conservatives are rolling out the red carpet. The irony isn’t lost on anyone. The same artist who symbolically attacked Trump is now being applauded by his base.
Snoop Dogg’s appearance at Trump’s pre-inauguration crypto gala has reignited America’s never-ending culture war. Whether it’s viewed as a betrayal or a bridge between worlds, one thing is clear: the Doggfather knows how to keep people talking.
