Rappers Snoop Dogg and Nelly are performing at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration events, with Snoop popping up at the first-ever “Crypto Ball” on Friday night and Nelly scheduled for the official Inaugural Liberty Ball on Monday.
The performances mark a significant shift, particularly for Snoop Dogg, who previously criticized Trump and his MAGA supporters.
Newsweek reached out to press contacts for both Snoop Dogg and Nelly via email on Saturday for comment.
What To Know
The Crypto Ball, hosted by incoming White House AI and “Crypto Czar” David Sacks, took place at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. on Friday night, with tickets ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.
Snoop Dogg, dressed in a black jacket with gold buttons and a bowtie, performed hits including “Drop It Like It’s Hot” while DJing a mix of crowd-pleasers from Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” to Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”
The event drew other notable guests including fellow rapper Rick Ross and UFC star Colby Covington.
Meanwhile, Grammy Award-winning artist Nelly, known for his global hit “Hot In Herre,” will perform at the Inaugural Liberty Ball, one of three official inaugural celebrations on Monday according to a press release from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee.
Recording artists Snoop Lion (L) and Nelly attend the 2013 BET Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Snoop and Nelly face backlash for performing at Trump inaugural… Recording artists Snoop Lion (L) and Nelly attend the 2013 BET Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Snoop and Nelly face backlash for performing at Trump inaugural events. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BET)
The Context
Snoop Dogg’s relationship with the president-elect has evolved significantly over the years.
In 2017, he released a controversial music video featuring a Trump-inspired clown character and criticized Black artists who would perform for Trump. However, his stance shifted after Trump commuted the prison sentence of Death Row Records founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris.
Harris had been serving time for attempted murder and cocaine trafficking at Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution when he received clemency on Trump’s last day in office. This came after Snoop worked with activist Alice Johnson and producer Weldon Angelos to advocate for Harris’s release. The Daily Beast reported that despite their previous conflicts, Snoop was “appreciative” of Trump’s decision.
In a January 2024 interview with The Sunday Times, Snoop said that Trump, “Ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris. So, I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump.”
Snoop Dogg and Donald Trump attend the Comedy Central Roast Of Donald Trump at the Hammerstein Ballroom on March 9, 2011 in New York City. Snoop Dogg and Nelly face fan backlash for performing at… Snoop Dogg and Donald Trump attend the Comedy Central Roast Of Donald Trump at the Hammerstein Ballroom on March 9, 2011 in New York City. Snoop Dogg and Nelly face fan backlash for performing at Trump inaugural events. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
What People Are Saying
“This is culturally embarrassing and disrespectful asf [as f***],” wrote one Instagram user, while another referenced late rap icons: “Nipsey and Pac would never!!!”
Podcast host Ryan Snead expressed strong criticism on X: “Yo @SnoopDogg What made you go from this to simping for a felon, business fraud, rapist, and accused pedophile who failed to deliver the first time around?”
Combat veteran and fan Travis Matthew echoed the disappointment on X: “I never thought I’d have Snoop Dogg being a Trump supporter on my bingo card…. What a f****** disappointment.”
X user Lauren offered a broader perspective: “So Snoop Dogg and Nelly are both performing at Trump’s inaugural celebrations. I’m disappointed in both of them. But at the end of the day, we have to remember that rich people do not give a damn about the rest of us.”
Some Trump supporters have welcomed the development, with one X user writing: “People are seeing the light finally,” while another welcomed Snoop “to the winning team.”
What Happens Next
President-elect Donald Trump is set to officially take the presidency for a second time on Inauguration Day, Monday, January 20.
Additional performers include country star Carrie Underwood singing “America the Beautiful,” opera singer Christopher Macchio performing the national anthem, and The Village People, whose generational hit “Y.M.C.A.” is a Trump rally staple.
