I know nothing about his history. I thought he was mostly just a chill guy into weed and music. I understand he's made a shitload of money, but I guess I didn't expect it to be from things like that. Whatever, it's his identity he's selling.
I'm not meaning to be rude about him, he made great music, but I think he himself realized the dark past he had during his Snoop Lion period, where he started distancing himself from the guns and violence glorified in his youth.
I guess my point is simply Snoop has always been a capitalist at heart, someone who was willing to get his hands dirty to make money. He's more chill these days, and I'm glad for that, but to me the stuff he hawks for money isn't that surprising.
source on him being a pimp? I can find that he dealt drugs 89–93 (aged 18–22) and was arrested a few times, but after he was attacked and his bodyguard shot and killed the assailant, he seems to have given up all "gangsta" activities except for weed and instead focused on music, music production, music business and other business pursuits.