Snoop Dogg is a multitalented individual who has made a name for himself in various fields. Although he first gained fame as a rapper with the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg, he has also demonstrated his business acumen, serving as a shrewd entrepreneur and investing in various ventures. Additionally, he has worked as a commercial spokesperson for numerous brands, leveraging his celebrity status to promote products and services.
Snoop has also made strides in the entertainment industry beyond music. He has hosted a game show called “The Joker’s Wild” and a talk show called “GGN: Snoop Dogg’s Double G News Network,” which has featured interviews with a wide range of notable personalities. Furthermore, he has ventured into acting and has appeared in various films and TV shows. In almost every role he has taken on, Snoop has demonstrated his acting chops, and he has a particular talent for stealing the spotlight. One such movie is “THE UNDERDOGGS,” where he plays the protagonist, Jaycen “2 J’s” Jennings, and delivers a standout performance.
When I spoke to him about his character 2J’s here is what he had to say.
“In his mind, Jaycen Jennings is the greatest motherf**ker to ever walk on grass,” Snoop Dogg says of his character. “He’s flamboyant, he’s a winner and he’s also an a**hole. He’s a ‘me’ kind of guy and when he’s forced to go back to his old neighborhood, he has to find his way again and tap into who he is, rather than who he thought he was.”
Like Jaycen, Snoop Dogg also hails from Long Beach, California. He’s a proud alumni of Long Beach Polytechnic High, too. The story that inspired The Underdoggs is based on his real-life journey as
a football coach.
The Snoop Youth Football League was founded in 2005 to provide youth, regardless of race, color, creed or economic background the chance to learn values through football and teamwork. Since its creation, over 85,000 kids have participated with over 20,000 going on to play in college and 25 being drafted into the pros. The league served as an inspiration for the film.
One of those 25 players was Texans rookie sensation CJ Stroud. I asked Snoop what it was like coaching a young CJ and how CJ has used his platform for more than just football.
The Underdoggs follows the story of Jaycen “2 J’s” Jennings (Snoop Dogg) a former football superstar, but his
inflated ego and poor sportsmanship got him tossed off the field. He’s been pissed ever since.
When he’s ordered to perform community service in his hometown of Long Beach, Jaycen signs on to coach a fledging pee wee football team, for selfish reasons. He’s more focused on regaining the spotlight and reuniting with his old girlfriend Cherise (Tika Sumpter), but he knows he has to get the team in shape and keep his homeboy and self-appointed assistant coach Kareem (Mike Epps) on point.
The Underdoggs is directed by Charles Stone III, with a screenplay written by Isaac Schamis and Danny Segal, and stars Snoop Dogg, Tika Sumpter, Mike Epps, Andrew Schulz, Kal Penn, Kandi Burruss and George Lopez. The Underdoggs will stream globally on Amazon Prime on January 26th.