Snoop Dogg honored with wax likeness

Justin M. Bowen

Rapper Snoop Dogg unveils the world’s first Snoop Dogg wax figure at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at The Venetian Tuesday.

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 12:07 a.m.

It’s 4/20 and Snoop Dogg is in Las Vegas but the iconic rapper is vowing to “lay low” on the counterculture holiday.

“I lay low, I stay in the hotel so I won’t get in no trouble so the media can keep me out of their face,” he said Monday.

When asked if he’d celebrate 4/20, he said, “You better know that,” – but he wouldn’t go into specifics.

A bright-eyed Dogg began the afternoon by unveiling his new wax figure at Madame Tussauds.

“What better way to celebrate 4/20 than to put yourself in wax?” he said.

Though it’s unlikely that the rapper-producer-actor has shunned marijuana for good, he has recently made significant strides to be a better role model for his young fans.

“I’m supposed to represent at all times and … keep it positive and be very peaceful,” he said, adding, “That’s what I’ll continue to do. ... Whatever’s good I’ve been trying to be involved in.”

The recently reformed rapper, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., announced last month that he had converted to Islam.

Several members of his youth football team, the Pomona Steelers, came to Las Vegas to see their coach reveal his wax statue.

Dogg said it was important to him to have the kids there.

“I just wanted to show them that, you know, I’ve become something and that their coach is somebody that they can look up to and they can want to be inspired by,” he said.

The figure was unveiled Monday during a private event at Madame Tussauds. The figure was greeted by rounds of applause and the sound of his early hit single, “Who Am I? (What's My Name?).”

The statue will live in the museum’s “On Stage” area.

The “Doggfather” and his wax replica wore identical outfits on Monday: Dark Converse Chuck Taylors; tan pants with a black bandana hanging from the left pocket; a white T-shirt; and a Long Beach Loyals team jacket from Dogg’s clothing line, “Rich and Infamous.”

Snoop reportedly hand-picked the outfit for his $300,000 statue – though the wax figure was wearing more bling at the unveiling than the living breathing rapper.

The 36-year-old father of three said he liked the way he looks in wax but said, “It’s kind of scary … it looks just like me!”

Snoop is a busy man: He coaches his son’s football team, has his own clothing line, just completed a new reality-style series for MTV, “Dogg After Dark,” and is working on both a new album and a new line of merchandise, too.

“I’m in the process of working on my new album, 'Malice in Wonderland,' and I’m about to start … a Snoop Dogg school supply (line) for the kids so they can have a piece of me,” he said.

Snoop is also gearing up to hit the road with Slightly Stoopid this summer for a still-to-be-announced tour.

His appearance today at Madame Tussauds came a day after he performed as part of the season opener pool party at Rehab.

The star was far less reserved on Sunday afternoon, dropping plenty of vulgarities during his 30-minute set.

But swear words and sexual references were everywhere at the Hard Rock’s notorious adults-only pool party and no one seemed to mind.

Considering his music career, clothing line, charity and community work, TV shows, and other projects, Snoop Dogg has put his talents on display.

Knowing his audience is just one of them.