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Snoop Dogg Drops Name Like It's Hot, Becomes Snoop Lion

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) He dropped it like it's hot -- his name, that is. One of Detroit's favorite recording artists Snoop Dogg announced during a press conference promoting his new album that he has changed his name to Snoop Lion.

Um, why's that?

"I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated," Snoop told reporters at a news conference in New York, according to the New York Times, adding his new name was bestowed on him by Rastafarian priests during the making of his new album. He added: "I feel I have always been a Rastafari. I just didn't have my third eye open, but its wide open right now."

And his name isn't all that's changed. The West Coast rapper's new album "Reincarnated" is Bob Marley-style reggae. The newly christened Snoop Lion said reggae is the "music of love" and the elder statesman of rap prefers that to hip hop's world of violence. One of the songs, in fact, is titled "No Guns Allowed."

The album will be released later this year, and a documentary recorded while he created it is due out in September.

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