Why Snoop Dogg wants Newark to 'Stand Up'

NEWARK — Snoop Dogg wants you to stand up.

The hip hop icon — born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., sometimes known as Snoop Lion, sometimes known as Snoop Doggy Dogg — released a short video to YouTube asking the people of Newark to take part in the 24 Hours of Peace event on Friday and Saturday.

"Y'all know what it is. It's your homey big Snoop Dogg, pushing that real line — peace, for 24 hours," he said in the video.

The event begins Friday at the intersection of Broad and Market streets and continues for a full day. It began in 2010, founded by then-Councilman Ras Baraka after 12 people were killed in the city in a single day. Baraka has since become mayor.

According to an NJ Advance Media report at the time, last year, two men were killed in Newark during the day the 24 Hours of Peace event was taking place.

Organizers say the event will include music, poetry, dance, film and spoken word, all intended to uplift the community, and to treat violence as a public health issue

Performers this year include Co Host, Tap Dance King, Savion Glover, DJ Antoine Qua, Rah Digga, former First Lady of The Flip Mode Squad, Hip Hop Greats, Treach of Naughty by Nature, Do It All of Lords of the Underground, Jersey Block Entertainment, Rhymageddon and several local artists.

Why Snoop Dogg wants Newark to ‘Stand Up’