The rapper-turned-entrepreneurial giant, Snoop Dogg, is currently facing a firestorm of criticism for his performance at the Crypto Ball, an exclusive Washington D.C. gala that preceded Donald Trump's January 20th inauguration. When footage emerged of the hip-hop legend taking the stage at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, hosted by former PayPal COO David Sacks, fans erupted in anger and disbelief online. The Shade Room shared a clip showcasing Snoop, alongside Rick Ross and Soulja Boy, belting out tunes, with the comments section swiftly filling up with accusations and disappointment towards the Voice judge's choice. "This is culturally cringe-worthy and deeply disrespectful," read one incensed response. "No amount of money is worth selling one's soul to the Devil," echoed another commentator.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon addressed the performance during his live broadcast, Lemon LIVE at 5, openly wondering if Snoop and fellow Black hip-hop artists were "sellouts or hustlers who only care about the Benjamins?" Actress Amanda Seales also weighed in, taking to social media with a side-by-side video compilation. It paired Snoop's recent performance with an older Instagram post from the rapper, where he pondered which artist would be the first to entertain Trump. "I'm waiting," Snoop had said in the resurfaced video, vowing to "roast" the eventual performer. "I hope it was worth it," Seales commented in her own clip.
This wasn't the first time Snoop had expressed his disdain for the president-elect online. In July 2016, he uploaded a video of himself toking to YG and the late Nipsey Hussle's anti-Trump anthem, "FDT," captioning it, "We ain't voting for your punk ass." Later, he released a music video for his "Nightfall Remix" of BADBADNOTGOOD's "Lavendar," where he fires a toy gun at a Trump impersonator. During the 2019 government shutdown, Snoop had harsh words for Trump, stating, "All you federal workers not getting paid, there's no way y'all could vote for Donald Trump again in 2020. If you do, y'all some dumb motherfuckers."
While Snoop has yet to address the Crypto Ball performance on social media, he did repost an Instagram story featuring him and Ross at the event. Credit where credit is due, the SoCal native has been actively encouraging his fans to donate and distribute essential items for those affected by the L.A. wildfires, hosting a collection drive at his Snoopermarket in Inglewood last week.
Dubbed as a "celebratory affair honoring America's first 'crypto president,' President-elect Donald J. Trump, his incoming cabinet, and administration," the Inaugural Crypto Ball aimed to mark a historic transition. As Monday approaches, President-elect Trump prepares to be sworn into office amidst this controversy.
