Snoop Dogg’s encounter with the ‘crip-walking’ horse will forever stand as a brilliant and unexpected collision of two worlds - equestrian and hip-hop.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were memorable for many reasons, and not just because they took place against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic.
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Gymnast Simone Biles showed resilience to return from mental health struggles and clinch a bronze medal, Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the gold medal in the men’s high jump, and Italian sprinter Marcell Jacobs stunned the world by winning the men’s 100 metres.
But few moments were as unexpectedly delightful as hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg's commentary on an Olympic equestrian event.
The 52-year-old is now one of the biggest fans of the sport and is even still talking about the brilliant moment from Tokyo 2020.
Snoop Dogg falls in love with ‘crip-walking’ horse’
Snoop Dogg’s affiliation with equestrian started when he and comedian Kevin Hart were enlisted by NBC Universal to provide a series of comedic commentaries on various Olympic events for streaming service Peacock.
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The pair first watched a diving clip, before moving on to a dressage event.
In dressage, one of the most advanced forms of horse training, the horse and rider perform a series of artistic movements to music. The pair are judged on the ease and fluidity with which they move around the course.
Despite it not being a sport usually watched by Snoop Dogg, he had an incredible reaction to one of the horses on display.
“Oh, the horse crip-walking, cuh,†he told Hart. “You see that? On the set! That’s gangsta as a motherf***er! This horse is off the chain, I’ve gotta get this motherf***er in a video!"
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The Crip Walk, also known as the C-Walk, is a dance move that originated in Compton, California, in the 1970s. The dance was allegedly created by members of the Crips gang and is associated with West Coast hip-hop culture.
And the fact is, Snoop had a point - the horse was indeed pulling off movements that could have been classed as ‘crip-walking’ - and one of the most memorable moments from Tokyo 2020 was born.
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Working at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Fast forward three years and Snoop Dogg is involved in another Olympic Games. After his successful commentating stint with Hart, Snoop Dogg is set to be a special correspondent with NBC Universal for Paris 2024.
It’s unclear exactly what his role will be, but in a press release announcing his involvement he said he would be 'bringing that Snoop style to the mix'.
The iconic rapper has already given the 200m a go at the US Olympic trials last month and, in an interview with Time Magazine, said: "I definitely want to roll with the US basketball team, and I definitely want to try to get in the water. See if I can get a 50-[second] time out of myself in the 50m freestyle.â€
Snoop added: “I'm just a kid that's living his dream. I ran the 200m today. I wanted to do the pole vault till I seen what that sh*t looks like.
"I was like, ‘No way.’ I’ll try the high jump. It don’t require poles and holding [them] in the air.â€
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Not only did he run 200m, he ran it against former Olympic medalist Ato Boldon and two-time NCAA outdoor 200m champion Wallace Spearmon. He came home in third place, but posted a highly respectable time of 34.44, saying afterwards: "34.44 for a 52-year-old? Ain’t bad!â€
When asked about equestrian, Snoop Dogg sounded like he had not lost his love of the sport and was determined to meet the crip-walking horse from Tokyo.
“Yes, I'm definitely trying to meet him,†he said. “Hopefully he’s in the Olympics so I can say, ‘What’s happening?’ to him. Bring him a couple of carrots, some apples or somethin’, know what I’m saying?â€
Doggy Dogg's dressage date dreams dashed
According to Vulture, Snoop Dogg won’t be able to meet his favourite horse, despite his best efforts.
The horse he watched at Tokyo 2020 was Bella Rose, ridden by Germany’s Isabell Werth. After finishing with a silver medal at the Olympics, Bella Rose no longer competes and is currently 'enjoying her retirement'.
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However, there should still be a number of horses who will be able to entertain Snoop Dogg, such as five-time US Olympian Steffen Peters and his party-loving horse Mopsie.
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The pair went viral at Tokyo 2020 for the equestrian EDM routine, with Mopsie performing to Rune RK's 'Calabria' and Haddaway's 'What Is Love'.
Peters and Mopsie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, so could be the next subject of Snoop Dogg’s hilarious commentary.