Snoop Dogg Gets Felony Charges

Snoop Dogg, the internationally renowned hip-hop artist and actor, was charged today on two drug related felony offenses, and with possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted on all counts, the rapper could face up to four years behind bars.

The 35 year old rapper, born "Calvin Broadus," was arrested in Los Angeles this past November. Police took him into custody directly after making an appearance as a guest on NBC's late night program "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." On the rapper's way home from the taping, he was pulled over by police, who discovered an illegal hidden compartment in the rapper's car. The compartment contained marijuana, cocaine, and a firearm. Snoop Dogg was brought to jail, then released on $60,000 bail.

This latest set of charges is the most recent in a long series of run-ins between Snoop Dogg and the legal system. In January, the rapper made a "not guilty" plea to felony possession of a deadly weapon, a charge brought after he attempted to bring a collapsible police baton onto an airplane at Southern California's John Wayne Airport in September. A month after the baton incident, Snoop Dogg was arrested again when police searching his vehicle at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank discovered a stash of marijuana, and a handgun. He was subsequently released on $35,000 bail, but quickly found himself face to face with police in November, when his most recent U.S. arrest took place.

Snoop Dogg made his mark on the music industry as one of the icons of 90s gangsta rap, has enjoyed a hugely succesful hip-hop career in the years since. His best-known songs include 1993's West Coast rap anthem "Gin and Juice," and 2004's "Drop It Like It's Hot," which hit number one on the Billboard charts. He has also appeared in films, and made guest appearances on several television shows, including a 2006 cameo on Showtime's "Weeds."

Earlier this year, Snoop Dogg was in the news when he was forced to cancel a UK tour with P. Diddy after British authorities denied him a visa. British government officials cited Snoop's rocky legal history in the U.S. and abroad as the reason for their decision.