Snoop Dogg has hit back at critics who labelled him a "sell-out" following his performance at President Donald Trump's inauguration Crypto Ball in January.
The 53-year-old rapper addressed the controversy during a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club radio show, where he defended his decision to DJ at the event.
Snoop revealed that his newly released album "Iz it a Crime?", which dropped on May 15, serves as a direct response to the criticism he has faced over the past few months.
When questioned about whether the negative feedback bothered him, the legendary artist dismissed concerns, stating that he believed his performance was "for a good cause" and emphasising that it was merely a 30-minute DJ set that allowed him to make "a whole bunch of money" and forge relationships to help inner-city communities.
The rapper was keen to emphasise that his brief performance should be viewed in the context of his three decades of community work
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"I DJ'ed at the Crypto Ball for what, 30 minutes?" Snoop said during his radio appearance.
"Made a whole bunch of money, made a lot of relationships to help out the inner city and the community and teach financial literacy and crypto in a space that it don't exist."
The rapper was keen to emphasise that his brief performance should be viewed in the context of his three decades of community work.
"That's 30 minutes. [For] 30 years, Snoop Dogg been doing great things for the community, building, showing up, standing up for the people, making it happen, being all I can be," he continued.
Snoop made it clear his performance was not an endorsement of Trump or his politics.
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After appearing on "The Apprentice" in 2007 and participating in Trump's roast in 2011, the rapper became a vocal critic
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"Even if I would have done it for him and hung out with him and took a picture with him, can't none of you motherf***ers tell me what I can and can't do," he stated firmly.
During his "Breakfast Club" appearance, Snoop detailed how he directly confronts those who criticise him online.
"I would post s**t, and I see motherf***ers like, 'Oh he a sellout.' You know what I would do? Jump right in their DM with a video, 'You b***h a*s ... What's happening … I'm Snoop Dogg … what you want to do?'" he revealed.
The rapper noted that these critics typically backtrack immediately, responding with: "Oh, man, I'm just a fan man. I'm sorry."
Snoop emphasised that his real-life actions should matter more than his performance choices.
Snoop's stance shifted dramatically after Trump pardoned Michael "Harry-O" Harris, an associate of Death Row Records, in 2021
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"The things that I do in real life should matter to you more, not what I do when I'm deejaying or making music or doing this and that," he said, suggesting people should instead ask, "What is he like as a real person?"
Snoop's relationship with Trump has undergone a significant transformation over the years. After appearing on "The Apprentice" in 2007 and participating in Trump's roast in 2011, the rapper became a vocal critic.
In his 2017 music video for "Lavender", Snoop depicted Trump as a clown and controversially showed him being shot in the head.
In 2020, he expressed his intention to vote for the first time specifically to oppose Trump, saying on "Big Boy's Neighborhood" radio show: "I ain't never voted a day in my life, but this year I think I'm going to get out and vote because I can't stand to see this punk in office one more year."
However, Snoop's stance shifted dramatically after Trump pardoned Michael "Harry-O" Harris, an associate of Death Row Records, in 2021.
Speaking to The Sunday Times earlier this year, Snoop acknowledged: "He ain't done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me."
