Snoop becomes Rasta, changes name

THE LION DOGG: Jah rules, homies! The Rapper Formerly Known as Snoop Dogg is now Snoop Lion, having changed his handle in conjunction with his upcoming, Diplo-produced reggae album Reincarnated, his first for Vice Records. Snoop claims that when he was making the record in Jamaica last February, he underwent a transformation to Rastafarianism, having been “called by the spirit” to switch modes from hip-hop to reggae. If Snoop gets tired of Lion, we hear Ochocinco has just become available. Check out the fully baked Q&A with Snoop and Diplo on Rollingstone.com. (8/1a)