Because If Martha Stewart Can Craft, Snoop Can Praise the Lord
In the year 2018, Snoop Dogg, the rapper known primarily for early ’90s anthems about gin, juice, and systematic distrust of law enforcement, released a gospel album. The project, titled *Bible of Love*, did not feature a cover photo of Snoop holding a blunt in one hand and a Bible in the other, but it easily could have.
The album was no casual detour. Spanning forty tracks and clocking in at over two hours, *Bible of Love* featured collaborations with gospel legends such as Tye Tribbett, Fred Hammond, and The Clark Sisters. There was not a single feature by Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, or anyone else likely to claim ties to the Crips. The album was categorized under “Gospel” by Billboard, iTunes, and the Lord Himself, and upon release, it debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart.
When asked about the genre shift, Snoop clarified that this was not a rebranding, but a reflection of his inner spiritual harmony. “It’s always been on my heart,” he said, while wearing a gold chain likely worth more than the average yearly collection plate haul from a medium-sized Baptist congregation.
*Bible of Love* included musical testimonies, spoken interludes, and the kind of organ riffs typically reserved for Sunday morning service at First Missionary Baptist of Long Beach. There was even a track titled “Call Him,” which, contrary to what longtime fans might expect, is not about contacting a weed dealer, but rather about ringing up God.
Critics were divided—some praised the sincerity, others wondered if this was a method acting project gone too far—but gospel radio gave it rotation, gospel fans bought the album, and Snoop inexplicably, yet undeniably, became a gospel chart-topping artist.
No word yet on whether Snoop plans to follow up with a polka record, but at this point, the answer might lie somewhere in the Book of Revelations.