Snoop Dogg is changing his name to Snoop Lion and many people who know the famous West Coast rapper for decades, are wondering why is he dropping his name.

But the rapper has opened up with the public about his decision, talking to reporters and making a new Twitter account as "Snoop Lion." The Rapper said it's part of a spiritual and artistic rebirth. He revealed he is going to release a new reggae record called "Reincarnated" as part of his transformation.

"I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated," Snoop told reporters at a press conference in New York City on Monday. "I feel I have always been a Rastafari. I just didn't have my third eye open, but it's wide open right now," he added.

"When I make a record I like them to come from my heart. I like to do records that feel good to me," the rapper told reporters on Monday.

"Reincarnated" would be Snoop's 12th album and is scheduled for release later this year. He will also release the "Reincarnated" documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Snoop revealed that a Rastafari priest gave him the name "Lion" in Jamaica where he traveled to start the new project.

The musician says that his trip to Jamaica was inspired by "a call from The Spirit."

"Anytime the Spirit calls you you gotta know that is serious," Snoop said.

Snoop explained that making reggae music -to which he referred as the genre of love- will allow him to perform for audiences like children or seniors, who couldn't accept his previous work.

The Lion of Judah from the Bible is an important symbol for Rastas, a spiritual movement originated in Jamaica that worships the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I and practices smoking mariguana as a spiritual act..

Under the Rasta movement, the "lion" is an ancient Ethiopian title that has been applied to Ethiopian Emperors since time immemorial, according to Wikipedia.

"I wanna bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion," the rapper said.

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