Models: TONI and ESTHER (www.dimepiece.com)
Aside from the fact that he's one of the most influential rappers in the world, Snoop Dogg is also one of the strongest proponents of lowriding culture. He rides his vehicles as hard as his raps and he's not afraid to hit the switches on the mean streets of Los Angeles. By having Snoop on the cover, it's brought about a galactic change in the fact that this is the first time ever that an African American has graced the cover of what many have said is a "strictly Latino" publication. This is also the first time since the January '02 issue that we haven't shot in a studio, or had a cover car which was a full-blown show car.
Originally, our intention was to feature Snoop alongside a cherry '59 Chevy Bel Air, but this plan met with resistance from Snoop because he wanted to be featured with his own personal rides rather than someone else's. Actually, this opened up a whole new level of respect for a man who we already held in high regards. You see, Snoop commands the attention and respect that so many try to demand, and while his cars aren't the most tricked-out examples that we've featured on our cover, you have to remember that you can never compare a daily driver to a show vehicle which is trailered from venue to venue. The bottom line is that they share the same bloodline which drives all of us, and that's the true spirit of lowriding.
With the help of Snoop and other upcoming artists, we're hoping to not only represent the various ethnicities involved in lowriding, but also give credit to those whose lifestyle promotes lowriding. Let's face it, we're the unofficial bible of lowriding and it's only right that we represent the scene in its fullest light, right? With that said, what we're actually doing is highlighting a lifestyle and a racial segment which has gone overshadowed for way too long. We're giving the world a different twist on the culture that we've all collectively built, and just as Snoop brought back the aura of pimpin', Lowrider is geared towards recapturing the mystique that lowriding once had.
Snoop's career moves have been monumental in every way and he's captured an audience by outshining everyone else around him. His smirk is infectious and his grammatically exasperated text is as catchy as it gets. He's a new school pimp with old school flavor, and the man solely responsible for bringing pimps like the Bishop Don "Magic" Juan back to the roundtable.
Outside, Snoop's vehicles vary in style, size, pump and dump, and are all reflections of his personal style. From the '69 Buick Riviera to his green '74 Cadillac, Snoop's cars are all built for the street. But if he had to pick one car as his favorite, the crown would go to his prized possession, which is his '67 Pontiac Parisienne convertible, which sports a gold and purple L.A. Lakers paint job and a hood signed by various team members including the "Big Diesel" himself, Shaquille O'Neal.
"They're his cars," says "Slice," Snoop's official car customizer and caretaker. "He tells me what he wants and I make sure that all of them get done to spec. As a matter of fact, we'll be tearing down most of the cars to redo them." The cars, which have all been built throughout the past few years, are Snoop's automotive harem and a look into the life which he rides out to the fullest.
They say that a man's car (or cars) is an extension of his personality, and given Snoop's eclectic mix of automobiles, it's safe to say that it must be true. A quick glance into his career will expose one that is filled with nothing but upward strides to total domination and things aren't about to change anytime soon. He's one of the world's most popular and charismatic rappers, he's produced an adult video, appeared in countless movies, brought the pandemonium to Girls Gone Wild, and has a soft side which is evident through his decision to quit smoking and his full-time effort in providing and supporting for his kids.
He just recently appeared as "Huggie Bear" in the movie release of Starsky & Hutch, and is following that up with a starring role in the upcoming movie Soul Plane as Captain Mack. The movie is based upon the character Nashawn Wade. After a humiliating experience on a plane, Mr. Wade sues the airline only to win a huge cash settlement, which is then spent on the full-service airline of his dreams.
Beyond the movies, the fame and the game, Snoop's due diligence in serving up his skills is something to which no other rapper or actor can dare compare. Sure there are other rappers, but none with the street credibility that Snoop has. It's not to say that the others are not worthy of respect, but we all know that earning and maintaining street credibility is something which many have tried but so many fail to achieve.
But the funny thing is that Snoop's roles typically portray him as he is. From true OG, to the smoove-talking ladies man, Snoop isn't really acting but giving us a glimpse into himself. As the years pass, he seems to reinvent himself as both an artist and a family man. Whereas other entertainers are as stagnant as mosquito water, Snoop is always on the edge of the rapids that slowly carve their impression into the sides of the mountains of adoring fans that will always support the "D-O-Double-G."