Snoop Dogg Joins Nation Of Islam

Snoop Dogg has joined the Nation Of Islam.

Snoop appeared at the group's Saviours' Day convention in Chicago and sat on stage while controversial leader Louis Farrakhan made a speech.

"I'm already in the Nation, that's why I'm here," Snoop told The Associated Press after the event.

"I'm an advocate for peace. I've been in the peace movement ever since I've been making music.

"My whole thing is not about really trying to push my thing on you. It's just about the way I live, and I live how I'm supposed to live as far as doing what's right and representing what's right. That's why I was here today."

The Nation Of Islam was founded by Wallace Fard Muhammad in the '30s with the aim of improving the lives of black Americans. It uses the teachings of Islam as a framework and became widely talked about in the '50s and '60s when it attracted celebrity converts like boxer Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.

Many Muslims consider members of the Nation Of Islam to be heretics because they believe NOI founder Muhammad (as opposed to the prophet Muhammad) was God incarnate, and Islam teaches that God doesn't take human forms.

Snoop Dogg says he's been affiliated with the movement for a while, but didn't specify when he'd joined the group. He reportedly donated $1,000 U.S. (about $1,290 Canadian) to the cause.

"When you get a speech from Minister Farrakhan, it's about a mirror, it's about looking at yourself," Snoop told AP. "It's about seeing yourself and what you can do to better the situation... We're doing a lot of wrongs among ourselves that need correcting."

T.I. and Doug E. Fresh also attended the Saviours' Day Convention, an annual celebration that marks Muhammad's birthday. T.I. made a speech about education in a pre-recorded video.