Snoop Dogg has undergone a transformation of late.

Whilst announcing the release of his forthcoming Reggae album, Reincarnated, the legendary West Coast rap star also revealed that he would be changing his moniker to Snoop Lion, and spoke extensively on the spiritual journey he undergone whilst making the album. Snoop made his announcement in Manhattan’s Miss Lily’s restaurant.

"I had no plans on going to Jamaica, making a Reggae record or nothing," he explained. "The spirit called me...it told me to find something that's connected towards the Bob Marley spirit because I always thought I was Bob Marley reincarnated. It drew me to Jamaica."

Snoop went on to speak more expansively on the new album, and his spiritual transformation.

"It's not Snoop Dogg on a Reggae track. I want to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion. But I didn't know that until I went to the temple. The high priest, when I walked in, he asked what is my name. I said, 'Snoop Dogg.' He said, 'No more...You are the light. You are the Lion.' From that moment on, I had started to understand why I was there. We hadn't even recorded one song, but I was taking all of this information and spirit."

- By Fiona Guest