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In a recent press conference, Snoop Lion – formerly known as Snoop Dogg – announced that he was dropping the latter part of his stage moniker, and adopting an all-new pseudonym.

Hip-hop’s favorite ganja connoisseur revealed that his recent trip to Jamaica – where he says he was “born again” – served as the predominant inspiration for his shift.

“I went to the temple,” said Snoop, “[and] the High Priest asked me what my name was, and I said ‘Snoop Dogg.” And he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘No more.’ You are the light; you are the lion.’ From that moment on, it’s like I had started to understand why I was there.”

DETAILS: Diplo & Snoop Dogg Working On Reggae Album 

But Snoop’s month-long journey not only inspired a name change, it also inspired an all-new sonic direction for the Death Row rapper: reggae.

Reincarnation, the title to both Snoop’s upcoming documentary and premiere reggae album, couldn’t have described the rapper’s shift more precisely.

However, Lion isn’t the first artist to ever remix his catalogue.

Before Katy Perry was well, Katy Perry, she was Katy Hudson – a gospel rock Red Hill Records recording artist.

And before Pink went platinum blonde and rocked out on Funhouse and I’m Not Dead, she was a contemporary R&B siren.

DETAILS: Snoop Dogg Presents: ‘Rolling Words: A Smokeable Songbook’ 

Many of these ‘re-born’ artists subsequently blew up after they made their move. And if Snoop’s new project successfully delivers, it could very well be his second coming as well.

But if you’re still skeptical, take a look at the list we compiled of a few more artists who managed to successfully re-invent their sound.

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Though Queens rapper N.O.R.E. never truly strayed from his rapping roots, he did cross over to the Latin Carribbean Reggaeton, claiming he wanted to get in touch with his Puerto Rican side. In 2006, N.O.R.E. released a hip-hop and reggaeton mixtape – N.O.R.E. y La Familia… Ya Tu Sabe – featuring his hit reggaeton single “Oye Mi Canto” as a bonus track.

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Sia’s 1997 debut studio album OnlySee was a solid offering of Trip-Hop music. But her 2010 release, We Are Born was straight pop and dance-pop music.

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Nelly Furtado started out her music career as a folk, pop rock artist. But by the time her 2006 effort Loose dropped, she had already progressed into the pop realm with the help of Timbaland. 

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Jewel first appeared on the music scene with Pieces of You, an adult contemporary album. But she later tapped into pop and dance with her ­­­fifth studio effort 0304, and explored country music with her seventh and ninth albums, Perfectly Clear and Sweet And Wild, respectively. 

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Around late 2008/early 2009, Queens rapper Nicki Minaj was the top femcee making moves in the underground hip-hop scene. But once her sophomore studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded hit the shelves, it could no longer be denied – Nicki was surfin’ on a whole new sonic wave. 

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We were first introduced to Pink as the glamorous ghetto girl from the block we all wanted to hang with. “There You Go” and “You Make Me Sick” were solid summer anthems. However, by the time her third studio Try This album released, it was clear that Pink had taken her talents over to pop rock.

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Before Katy Perry grew to become the buxom bombshell responsible for hit tracks like “I Kissed A Girl” and “Hot and Cold,” she was a Gospel recording artist at Red Hill Records.

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Everlast started his career as the front man to the rap-group House of Pain, but in 2000, he slowly started to explore an alternative rock sound.

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Chris Cornell is best known for lending his vocals to the alternative rock band Soundgarden. But in 2009, Chris decided to try something new and teamed up with hip-hop producer Timbaland for an all-new sound. Their collab effort, Scream, which featured pop rock and psychedelic pop, debuted at the #10 spot on the Billboard 200 charts.