Snoop Dogg has unintentionally ruffled some international feathers after he mistakenly referred to a territory in the South Caucasus as belonging to an enemy country.
On Monday (September 4), the West Coast rap legend announced that he would be performing in Armenia — a country in Asia — later this month, but mentioned the Republic of Artsakh as well, which is not apart of Armenia.
“My beloved Armenian people,” Snoop wrote on Instagram. “I am thinking of you and sending love to all Armenian people in Armenia, Artsakh and around the wor[l]d. I’m bringing love and peace and wishing everyone strength. Im coming, September 23rd!!!!!!”
Artsakh is a breakaway state on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, whose territory is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan — which has been locked in a long-running and at times bloody dispute with Armenia over control of the region.
In the late 1980s, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulted in roughly thirty thousand casualties and hundreds of thousands of refugees, according to Global Conflict Tracker.
Even after a ceasefire was declared in 1994, fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops broke out again in late 2020, while in recent months blockades have been installed, limiting travel and supplies into Artsakh.
Tensions still remain high between both countries, as evidenced by the outrage in the comments section on Snoop Dogg’s post.
“For years, the Azerbaijani territory was occupied by Armenia, and now you want to say that Artsakh is Armenia?” one angry Azerbaijani fan wrote.
“This shows that you do not know anything about the country that has occupied OUR AZERBAIJANI territories for over 30 years, in which you are holding a concert, shame and disgrace, money will not cover your conscience! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!”
Another added: “How much did they pay you to write this nonsense? That place you wrote doesn’t exist and never existed. It has always been Karabakh, part of Azerbaijan and always will be!
“If you truly want to help people in need, you should be helping everyone, no matter what background they have! You’re only spreading hate, creating separation and division between people.”
Someone else even threatened legal action against Tha Doggfather for his geographical gaffe, warning him: “Respect the international law, otherwise you will be sued! #noartsakh there is no any Artsakh on the political map of the World.”
Snoop Dogg may not be a popular man in Azerbaijan right now, but he has endear himself to fellow creatives closer to home. In July, the 51-year-old canceled his shows at the Hollywood Bowl in October in solidarity with those on the front lines of the writer and actors’ strikes.
The concerts also boasted Dr. Dre on the lineup and were supposed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle, which arrived in November 1993.
“We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike and the uncertainty when this will be over, we need to cancel the Hollywood Bowl show,” Snoop announced on social media.
“We stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters in the WGA and SAG-AFTRA during this difficult time and remain hopeful that the AMPTP will come back to the negotiating table with a REAL proposal and we can all get back to work.”
Offending a few sensitive people on social media is not creating an international conflict. Snoop never claimed to be an expert in that regions hostory. If you like Snoop, so tò the concert. If not, dont go.
Snoop say crazy s**t when he high
Artsakh is Armenia and always will be Armenia. Stop dreaming dumbass
Artsakh is Armenia you retarded dumbass learn history
You should focus on rap instead of international politics if you are going to write articles using your position of power in the media in a racist way to disrespect and deny the national identity of hundreds of thousands of people living in and descended from Artsakh, a country under occupation by Azerbaijan due to a confusing legal situation. On June 2 1799 Artsakhs kings who have ruled since before Christ were recognized by Russia as independent from Persia, a country that granted the kings independence as vassals since 1501. The Artsakh government was defeated by the newly independent First Republic of Azerbaijan in April of 1920 after the Artsakhi citizens in Artsakhs biggest city Shusha were massacred in a way even the famous Azeri folk singer Khan Shushinski lamented about, then Azerbaijan was taken over by the Soviets who thankfully preserved the territory as a reservation for indigenous local people. As you may know, Native American reservations are filled with poverty and the population are marginalized despite having their right to a reservation. So, in addition to a situation of marginalization, when more massacres against Armenians in Azerbaijan occurred in 1988-1992 the Artsakh people due to being a subtype of Armenian were forced to declare independence after their reservation was eliminated by the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991. Now that you have been educated, I expect you will edit this article headline because Snoop is a Hero for wishing love to Armenians living in Artsakh and he did not commit a blunder in any way: you did, Andre Ellington, by calling Artsakh an enemy nation. You should call Palestine a enemy nation since it is legally part of Israel since you feel that way about Artsakh and see how readers react. Artsakh is Artsakh: it is not Armenia and it is not Azerbaijan it predates both countries by hundreds of years.
This is a hip hop gossip site. Do not waste your time
Please go and check both sides of history and then come to conclusion. Stalin the devil gave it to the Azeries. 99.9% of the population is Armenian and they the people had a referendum to be part of Armenia. If you visit the country you will see Churches and Achiogical sites all dealing about the Armenian history.
The people in Artsakh are Armenian people which is why Azerbaijan has a blockade up, not allowing food, water, or medical supplies to go to these people for months. 120,000 Armenians occupy Artsakh. 30,000 children being starved. He didn’t say anything untrue. Azerbaijan Is upset because they are being recognized for their attempts at ethic cleansing and getting rid of the Armenian people in the territory they want to call their own. Even though it’s full of Armenian people and ancient Christian Armenian churches. But evil people will continue to do evil things. Snoop is awesome for acknowledging what’s going on.
He didn’t accidentally so anything except the truth. The people in Artsakh are Armenian people which is why Azerbaijan has a blockade up, not allowing food, water, or medical supplies to go to these people for months. 120,000 Armenians occupy Artsakh. 30,000 children being starved. He didn’t say anything untrue. Azerbaijan Is upset because they are being recognized for their attempts at ethic cleansing and getting rid of the Armenian people in the territory they want to call their own. Even though it’s full of Armenian people and ancient Christian Armenian churches. But evil people will continue to do evil things. Snoop is awesome for acknowledging what’s going on.