On Monday, Snoop Lion – formerly the rapper known as Snoop Dogg – posted a piece online calling for an end to gun violence. “Growing up in the streets of Long Beach, I’ve seen lots of homies fall victim to gun violence. Whether they were the ones behind the barrel or in front, in the end it never worked out,” he wrote. “As I hear more and more stories in the news about violent acts of terror and school shootings that leave innocent kids dead, it makes me upset to live in a world full of negativity.”
Snoop Lion is promoting his new album and the hashtag #NoGunsAllowed all at once:
From my new album Reincarnated, the song “No Guns Allowed” is a call to action for people everywhere to come together and help end the senseless gun violence that claims lives every day. I’m not saying I’m against guns, but I’m saying that people need to think about their actions and be responsible for them, ya dig?! A lot of the people pullin’ the trigger haven’t lived long enough to experience a long life full of love, but I know there’s still time for them to walk in the path of peace.
Snoop Lion (aka Calvin Broadus) was a member of the Rollin’ 20 Crips as a teenager, and was arrested for possession of cocaine during that time. In 1996, he was acquitted of murder over the shooting of a gang member.