Reincarnated | |
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Directed by | Andy Capper |
Produced by | Codine Williams Justin Li |
Starring | Snoop Lion |
Cinematography | Nick Neofitidis Willie Toledo William Fairman |
Edited by | Bernardo Loyola Dave Gutt Emily Wilson Jared Perez |
Music by | Snoop Lion |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | VICE Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 96 minutes |
Countries | United Kingdom United States |
Language | English |
Reincarnated is a 2013 documentary film about the musician Snoop Dogg's explorations of reggae and Rastafari culture, and his transformation into Snoop Lion. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2012, and was released to theaters March 21, 2013. [1] It is a companion film to his 12th studio album, Reincarnated . [2] The film was shot by Andy Capper of Vice Magazine . [3] [4]
From the start, Snoop was known for his gangsta raps, G-funk beats, and reckless lifestyle. His popularity started back when he was a member of Death Row Records, where he released his debut album Doggystyle. The album sold more copies than any debut album ever had, making “Snoop Doggy Dogg” a well-known name. [5] Though he was famous for being “gangsta,” Snoop had shown that he wanted peace as well; especially after he just missed a conviction for murder in 1996 which helped him further himself even more from all the conflict happening in the industry around that time. [6] More recently, his peaceful and nonviolent state of mind became more evident, as he decided to begin participating the Rastafari faith, give himself a new name, and take on a new style of music.
As most of those who follow the Rastafari faith do, Snoop decided to go through a transformation into his new self; his new, Rastafari self. [7] Reincarnated documents Snoop Dogg's transition into Snoop Lion, which involved him taking a trip to Jamaica to make a reggae album and discover more about the Rastafari faith. The documentary starts out by exploring Snoop's past; his time on Death Row Records, the loss of his friends Tupac and Nate Dogg, and the murder accusation. [8] The focus then shifts to his spiritual journey and new style of music. While in Jamaica, Snoop collaborated with a few famous reggae artists, including Bunny Wailer and Diplo, to create the Reincarnated album, which focuses on love and nonviolence. [9] Wailer was Snoop's guide throughout the trip, leading him through his journey into Rastafari. The film includes many intimate moments with Snoop, where he discusses his personal thoughts and reasons for becoming Rasta. The documentary also includes the heavy marijuana smoking in which Snoop participated, which is a common practice among Rastafari, and a common stereotype of how they practice their faith as well. [10]
The film was directed and produced by Andy Capper of Vice Magazine . Capper followed Snoop to Jamaica to record the transformation, and gathered intimate interview footage with him as well. Roughly 200 hours of footage was shot, which was then edited in a two-month span. The documentary was aired at SXSW and The Toronto International Film Festival in 2012. [11] [12]
In a review from The New York Times , writer Andy Webster states, “enlightenment isn’t as evident here as much as a woozy weariness, perhaps a long-term byproduct of being very, very stoned,” regarding the authenticity of Snoop's journey throughout the film. [14] In a review from the Los Angeles Times , writer Mikael Wood explains that the documentary does not teach viewers anything new about Snoop, and that it seems like “just another component in the new album's marketing plan. [15] In two other reviews by Shaka Griffith [16] and Rich Cline, [17] there was mention of lack of authenticity as well; neither could say if the transformation should really be taken seriously. After the film was released, Bunny Wailer made a statement where he indicted Snoop of “outright fraudulent use” of the Rastafari faith. [18]
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., known professionally as Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper and actor. His fame dates back to 1992 when he was featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic. Broadus has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide. His accolades include an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 17 nominations at the Grammy Awards.
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the honoring of God, called Jah by Rastafarians. It is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor. Lyrical themes include spirituality and religion, struggles by artists, poverty, black pride, social issues, resistance to fascism, capitalism, corrupt government and racial oppression. A spiritual repatriation to Africa is a common theme in roots reggae.
Bob Marley and the Wailers were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer.
Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist and Rastafari from Mandeville, Jamaica. His first recording session was with the famous Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd in the late 1960s. While pursuing a solo career, he became the lead singer for Inner Circle, a famous roots reggae band. Miller recorded and toured with Inner Circle until he died in a tragic car crash at age 27.
Midnite was a roots reggae band from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which started playing in 1989.
Judith Veronica Mowatt, is a Jamaican reggae artist. As well as being a solo artist, from 1974 she was also a member of the I Threes, the trio of backing vocalists for Bob Marley & The Wailers.
The Rastafari Movement in the United States is the manifestation of the Rastafari Movement, founded in Jamaica, in the United States.
Robert Nesta Marley was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Marley's contributions to music increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, and made him a global figure in popular culture. Over the course of his career, Marley became known as a Rastafari icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality. He is also considered a global symbol of Jamaican music and culture and identity, and was controversial in his outspoken support for democratic social reforms. In 1976, Marley survived an assassination attempt in his home, which was thought to be politically motivated. He also supported legalisation of marijuana, and advocated for Pan-Africanism.
Snoop Dogg has appeared in various video games, music videos, television series, and film appearances such as the Academy Award-winning drama Training Day and the critically acclaimed cable television series The L Word. He also has appeared in documentaries on Hip hop music and other subjects, and is the subject of a 2012 documentary, Reincarnated, on his transformation into "Snoop Lion", a reggae artist.
Andrew Richard Capper is a British US-based director, journalist and former editor and executive producer at Vice Media. In 2018, he founded Happy Now Film.
Marley is a 2012 documentary-biographical film directed by Kevin Macdonald documenting the life of Bob Marley.
Reincarnated is the twelfth studio album by American recording artist Snoop Dogg. It is his first and so far only release under his reggae persona Snoop Lion. The album was released on April 23, 2013, under Berhane Sound System and RCA Records. The album is his departure from hip hop and his debut in the reggae genre. The album's production was handled mainly by Diplo and his group Major Lazer.
"Ashtrays and Heartbreaks" is a song by American recording artist Snoop Lion featuring American recording artist Miley Cyrus. It was released on April 4, 2013 by Berhane Sound System, Vice Records, Mad Decent, and RCA Records as the fourth single from his twelfth studio album Reincarnated (2013).
"La La La" is a song by American rapper Snoop Lion, taken from Snoop Lion's twelfth studio album Reincarnated (2013). The song was written by Snoop, Ariel Rechtshaid, Ken Boothe, Thomas Pentz, Joelle Clarke and William Cole, with production handled by Major Lazer and Dre Skull. "La La La" was released on July 20, 2012 as the promotional single from the album.
"Lighters Up" is a song by American singer Snoop Lion featuring Mavado and Popcaan. Was released on December 18, 2012 as the second single of his twelfth studio album Reincarnated, with the record labels Berhane Sound System, Vice Records, Mad Decent and RCA.
"No Guns Allowed" is a song by American rapper Snoop Lion featuring Canadian rapper Drake and singer Cori B. Was released on April 4, 2013 as the third single of his twelfth studio album Reincarnated, with the record labels Berhane Sound System, Vice Records, Mad Decent and RCA.
Neville O'Riley Livingston, known professionally as Bunny Wailer, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the longtime standard-bearers of reggae music. He was also known as Jah B, Bunny O'Riley, and Bunny Livingston.
Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM, professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963–1976), after which he established himself as a successful solo artist and a promoter of Rastafari. He was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.
Bible of Love is the sixteenth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released on March 16, 2018, by RCA Inspiration. Bible of Love serves as his debut gospel album, much like Reincarnated served as his debut reggae album. Snoop himself served as executive producer over the entirety of the project, alongside Lonny Bereal. Bible of Love is also his first double studio LP, featuring 32 tracks. It features guest appearances from artists such as Tye Tribbett, Faith Evans, Rance Allen, and Kim Burrell, among others.
Andrew Moon Bain is a visual artist, record producer, musician, songwriter, and designer. He grew up in Seattle, Washington where he was very active in the arts as a youth. He was a young cellist in the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras from ages 8–12. He also formed a hip-hop group in high school and later an original rock band with his younger brother. He relocated to Providence, Rhode Island as a young adult and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design. Bain remained in New England after earning his degree, subsequently becoming an active and integral member of Providence's exploding art community. His visual art is represented in numerous private collections, museums and at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. In the summer of 2019, Bain did a large-scale wall installation at the Brown University Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts entitled “We Are All Carbon Beings”.