Reincarnated (film)

Reincarnated is a 2012 documentary that follows rapper Snoop Dogg as he delves into reggae music and Rastafari culture, eventually rebranding himself as Snoop Lion. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2012, and hit theaters on March 21, 2013. It serves as a companion piece to his twelfth studio album, also titled *Reincarnated*, and was filmed by Vice Magazine’s Andy Capper.

Snoop first gained fame for his gangsta rap style, G-funk sound, and wild lifestyle, rising to prominence as a member of Death Row Records with his debut album *Doggystyle*. That record became the best-selling debut album ever at the time, cementing his name. Despite his tough image, Snoop had shown a desire for peace, especially after narrowly avoiding a murder conviction in 1996, which pushed him further from industry conflicts. Lately, his peaceful, nonviolent mindset became more obvious as he embraced the Rastafari faith, adopted a new name, and shifted his musical style.

The documentary traces Snoop’s journey to Jamaica, where he works on a reggae album and learns about Rastafari. It begins by looking back at his past—his time on Death Row, the deaths of friends Tupac and Nate Dogg, and the murder accusation—then moves to his spiritual shift and new music. In Jamaica, he teams up with reggae artists like Bunny Wailer and Diplo to create the *Reincarnated* album, which focuses on love and nonviolence. Wailer acts as his guide through Rastafari. The film includes personal moments where Snoop shares his thoughts and reasons for converting, along with scenes of heavy marijuana use, a common Rastafari practice and stereotype.

Andy Capper directed and produced the film for Vice Magazine, following Snoop to Jamaica to capture the transformation and gathering intimate interviews. About 200 hours of footage were shot and edited over two months. The documentary screened at SXSW and the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012.

The cast includes Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger, Angela Hunte, Ariel Rechtshaid, Dre Skull, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Andrew aka Moon Bain, Bunny Wailer, Damian Marley, Dave Dale and The Blue Mountain Coffee House Boys, Sister Shirley Chung and Winston Martin, The Alpha Boys, Scaby Dread and the Dudus Family, Cutty Corn, Louis Farrakhan, Shante Broadus, Cori B., Maxine Stowe, Stewart Copeland, Diplo, and Snoop Dogg.

Reviews were mixed.