INTERVIEW: Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson On Leaving The Streets For Acting, Michael K. Williams, 'Trap Queens' + More

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club - Interview with Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson

Episode Information

• Title: INTERVIEW: Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson On Leaving The Streets For Acting, Michael K. Williams, 'Trap Queens' + More
• Release Date: August 15, 2025
• Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God

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1. Introduction to Snoop Pearson

In this compelling episode of The Breakfast Club, hosts DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God welcome Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson, best known for her role in the critically acclaimed series The Wire. Snoop Pearson brings a wealth of real-life experiences from the streets of Baltimore to the acting world, offering listeners an unfiltered glimpse into her transformative journey.

2. From the Streets to The Wire

Snoop Pearson shares her unconventional path to acting, emphasizing that her role in The Wire wasn't premeditated but rather a serendipitous opportunity.

“I never watched The Wire. I was outside hustling.” ([04:52] Snoop Pearson)

Pearson recounts meeting Michael K. Williams, who played Omar Little in The Wire. Their immediate connection led Williams to see potential in Snoop, ultimately securing her a role that mirrored her real-life experiences.

“Mike kept looking at me like I did something to him. So, I gave him my phone number, and the rest was history.” ([05:32] Snoop Pearson)

3. Navigating Typecasting and Expanding Her Craft

Despite her authentic portrayal, Pearson faced typecasting due to her background in street life. Determined to diversify her acting repertoire, she took on roles that showcased her versatility.

“I did the Spike Lee joint because I didn't want to be typecast. Spike let me know what it was, and I was hyped.” ([06:48] Snoop Pearson)

Her collaboration with Spike Lee, where she portrayed a prostitute, marked a significant step in breaking stereotypes and proving her range as an actress.

4. Life After Prison and Personal Transformation

Pearson delves deep into her personal struggles, including her time in prison for a first-degree murder charge at the young age of 14½. This pivotal moment forced her to confront her actions and seek redemption.

“I regret taking the life. Yeah, most definitely.” ([36:42] Snoop Pearson)

Her experiences in prison and the streets instilled in her a profound sense of responsibility and a desire to help others avoid the pitfalls she encountered.

5. Current Projects: American Gangster Trap Queens

Transitioning from acting, Snoop Pearson is now channeling her life story into developing a series titled "My Life Story." This project aims to portray her trials and tribulations, offering an authentic narrative distinct from The Wire.

“It's about my life story, man. Trials and tribulations that I went through.” ([08:03] Snoop Pearson)

Additionally, she discusses her involvement in BET's "American Gangster Trap Queens," where she aims to inspire young women by sharing her journey from the streets to success.

“We got you. What you looking for? So I was the highest ever, ever paying Trap Queen.” ([36:15] Snoop Pearson)

6. The Impact of Michael K. Williams' Death

The untimely passing of Michael K. Williams deeply affected Pearson, both personally and professionally. Their bond was not just as colleagues but as family.

“It hurt me, man. Because we had so many plans. If he would have never said nothing to me, I probably would have been dead or in jail.” ([22:32] Snoop Pearson)

Williams' influence was instrumental in Pearson's decision to leave the streets and pursue acting, highlighting the profound impact of mentorship and friendship.

7. Misconceptions and Authenticity

Pearson addresses common misconceptions about her life, clarifying that her time on The Wire was grounded in truth, yet her portrayal was far from the fictionalized versions often perceived by the public.

“You think that Snoop was in the streets? When I left the streets, I was on The Wire.” ([15:50] Snoop Pearson)

Her commitment to authenticity ensured that her characters resonated with genuine emotion and lived experiences, earning her respect in the acting community.

8. Advice to Youth and Community Engagement

A passionate advocate for change, Pearson offers heartfelt advice to young people feeling trapped by their environments. She emphasizes perseverance, faith, and self-belief as keys to overcoming adversity.

“Just keep going. It don't matter if your mother, father, sister, brother don't believe in you. Just keep going.” ([29:08] Snoop Pearson)

Her initiatives, such as back-to-school drives in Baltimore, demonstrate her dedication to giving back and empowering the next generation.

9. Reflections and Regrets

Pearson candidly reflects on her past actions, expressing regret over her involvement in criminal activities. Her journey of reconciliation, particularly with her family, underscores her quest for personal redemption.

“When I got up on her, I told her, I said, man, I know you mad at me. I know you hurt. I know you won't ever forgive me, but just pray.” ([37:20] Snoop Pearson)

This moment of vulnerability highlights her growth and the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends.

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson's interview on The Breakfast Club serves as a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and the enduring impact of community and mentorship. Her story not only entertains but also inspires listeners to pursue their passions and overcome their circumstances.

“Trials and tribulations that you go through don't make you or break you.” ([32:00] Snoop Pearson)

Pearson's journey from the streets of Baltimore to becoming a respected actress and community advocate exemplifies the potential for change and the importance of staying true to oneself.

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Notable Quotes:

• Snoop Pearson on Opportunity:

  “I just let the kids know that trials and tribulations that you go through don't make you or break you.” ([32:00])

• On Losing Michael K. Williams:

  “If he would have never said nothing to me, I probably would have been dead or in jail.” ([22:32])

• Advice to Youth:

  “Just keep going. It don't matter if your mother, father, sister, brother don't believe in you. Just keep going.” ([29:08])

---

Key Takeaways:

• Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson's transition from street life to acting was both challenging and transformative.
• Her role in The Wire was a pivotal moment that reshaped her life trajectory.
• Pearson emphasizes the importance of authenticity in her acting roles and strives to break free from typecasting.
• Personal struggles, including time in prison, have fueled her passion for community engagement and mentorship.
• Her ongoing projects aim to inspire and educate others through her life story and experiences.

Snoop Pearson's narrative is a powerful blend of real-life adversity and triumph, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on fame, personal growth, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[State Farm Representative]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

Morning everybody. It's D. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lola Rose is here as well and we got a special guest in the building. Yes indeed, we got Snoop in the building what up, Snoop?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, yeah. Thanks, man. Felicia, Snoop here.

[DJ Envy]

Of course. The new season of American Gangster Trap Queens is out right now, but how are you doing, Snoop? We ain't see you in a long time. We ain't seen you in a minute.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

First of all, Snoop ran in here, so if you see her breathing hard, don't be on the Internet talking about Snooping there on drugs and all type of shit.

[Snoop Pearson]

It's New York traffic, man. I had to get out of the traffic and start hilling, man.

[Angela Yee]

All right, so you got out and just ran?

[Snoop Pearson]

I ain't lying. I ain't want to hear your mouth.

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling, Snoop?

[Snoop Pearson]

I'm feeling blessed, black, and highly fav.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

There you go. There you go.

[Snoop Pearson]

Like it, sir. Get your breath.

[DJ Envy]

ST used to be out with me in the clubs all the time, every night. Snoop used to be out with me.

[Snoop Pearson]

I ain't lying. That's that. That done cleared up now. I got older, man. I only get three drinks and it's over. It looked like I probably had a whole bottle and I only had two shots.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I know you're here to talk about American Gangster Trap Queen, but I have to ask you about the Wire because It's been celebrating 23 years of the Wire.

[Snoop Pearson]

That's been that long.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

23 years?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, earlier this year, we had Trey Cheney and who else was up here? A bunch of the brothers from the Wire was up there. Andy was up here. What does the Wire mean to you? 23.

[Snoop Pearson]

The wire meant everything because that's where I came from. That's where I started from, you know, I didn't know that I knew how to act or, I mean, just to be in this entertainment business, period. So, you know, the Wire just mean everything from me, you know?

[DJ Envy]

Well, for those that don't know, how did you get the role in the Wire? Break that down to how they chose you, your character and all that.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah, because I know a couple other studs that auditioned. But they gave it to you.

[Snoop Pearson]

Nah, nah, that wasn't the case. Michael. Ken Williams, they didn't ever have a part for me. So that's why you see Felicia, Snoop Pearson on there, they kept my name and everything, even my nickname, the same, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, you know, I met Michael K. Williams. God bless the dead. I miss you. I love you, bro. I met him in Club one. Remember Club One? And he kept looking at me like I was. You know what I mean? Like I did something to him. So I never watched the Wire While everybody was watching the Wire, I was outside. Yeah. Me hustling.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah.

[Snoop Pearson]

So I seen him. He kept looking at me. You know, looks could be deceiving, right? He got a scar on his face, looking crazy. So I was like, man, what the. What's going on? Yeah, I'm ready to go lay for yo outside. And my boy was like, nah, man, that's. That's Omar, the gay person from off the Wire. Now. I was like, oh, word. Every. So Mike came over there to me, and he was like, man, you're a boy or girl? And I was like, man, listen, I don't play like that. I love. You know? I mean, can I say I love you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You got to say. You can't say.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, yeah. But, yeah, I told him I don't play that. No. He's like, nah, nah, nah, nah. Like, I love your swag. I love everything about you. Yeah, man, Give me your phone number. And I'm looking at him like, what phone number? Like, come on, man. But, you know, I gave it to him, and the rest was history. I went, like, a block away where they were shooting at, like, because I was living with my grandmother, you know what I'm saying, at the time, because me and my female friend was beefing, you know what I'm saying? So he was a block away. I was on Oliver and Marfin. Yeah, yeah. She kicked me straight out. I was with Oliver. Martha. He was on Martha and Landville. So that's a block away. I ran up there, and the rest was history. They. Yeah, I mean, start. You know what I mean? They love how I talk, you know? See, my vocabulary wasn't like this at first. Everything was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

I mean, you feel what I'm saying?

[Snoop Pearson]

I ain't, man. I was like, oh, my. Oh. I had to clean everything up. So, you know. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Then you was. You was like, in the street. From what I mean, from what I heard back in the day, you used to sell heroin.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So you was really in the street. So it kind of. You kind of got typecasted a little bit.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, yes. Most definitely. Most definitely. That's why I did the Spike Lee joint, because I didn't want to be typ cast. Spike hollered at me like, yo, I mean, come on. Him and Mike and my godmother, like, come on, man. I played a prostitute. Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How did the streets accept you at that point, though? Did they be like, all right, Snoop, go do your thing, man. You don't need to be out here with us. No more. And when did you realize you ain't had to do that shit?

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, when'd you quit?

[Snoop Pearson]

I quit when I was on the Wire. I mean, I quit when my trap phone kept ringing. And then Ed Burns, David Simon, and, you know, Nina was like, yo, like, come on, stop. You know what I mean? Like, we want you. You is amazing. See, people, you don't see yourself, what your worth is because it's you. Yeah, yeah. I mean, and then once they see, like the outside person see you and they let you know, you probably think they hating or they mean whatever. But, you know, them people said that I was a star, man. I believed them. And I just. I just stopped. I promise you, I just stopped. But, you know, I mean, the last time when I got. I mean, incarcerated, I was around people trying to keep it real. You know what I'm saying? I wasn't selling no drugs. I just. There, you know what I mean?

[Angela Yee]

So, you know, you working on something else with Ed Burns, too, aren't you?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes. My life story, man. My life story. Yeah, it's a series. Yeah, man. We in. Develop. In development right now, you know what I'm saying? Looking for the highest bidder still on the table, you know what I mean? But it's a series. It's about my life story, man. It's trials and tribulations that I went through. It ain't nothing like, it ain't gonna look like the Wire, but it is, because I'm from Baltimore. You can't get that about me. I love my. You know what I mean? So it's like. It's a series, man.

[Angela Yee]

And it starts with, like, your childhood.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. When I was. When I was first born, you know what I mean? I died three times addicted to crack because my mother was, you know what I mean, getting high, you know, I'm adopted, went to jail, you know what I mean? Well, prison at the age of 14 and a half, you know, for first degree murder. Nothing that, I mean, proud of or nothing. But it's my life. I can't change it. So I have to make changes when I get older, just right now, you know what I mean? So I can make the right decisions.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you, you've lived through experiences that most people only see on shows like the Wire. How do you think your early life shaped the way you approach, like, your acting and your storytelling.

[Snoop Pearson]

For the gangster shit? It's like, man, it's in me, you know what I mean? It's like, you know, but the other actor, like. Like my Female part, like my versatility, you know, I'm still working, man. I know how. I know how walking hills now, okay? Six inches, period. So Tammy and Ikea taught me how to do that.

[DJ Envy]

Now break down the prostitution.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Tammy and Ikea?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, Ikea. God, that's my God sister, Tammy Rivera. That's.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I thought it was some girl named Tammy you met in I Killed.

[DJ Envy]

So when they approached you to do the prostitute role.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah. Look at you.

[DJ Envy]

Was you all the way in that person? So break that down. We want you to play a prostitute.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yo, so Michael K. Williams, go bless the dead. I love you, bro. He hit me. It was like, Spike watch you for a role. And I was hyped like, Spike. Oh, right. Yes, sir. What's up? A legend icon. So once I got the round, Spike. Spike let me know what it was. And I was looking at Spike like. Like, you sure? But Spike helped me. And another thing, Spike helped me, man. Spike took me to. What was that? El Dos. That's what it's called, Aldos. The shoe store. The shoe store. And they helped me try to walk in hills, man. Spike. Spike, man. Spike. Took his. Yes with me. Pick my hair out, my dress. You know what I'm saying? No talk like this. And I was like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know what I'm saying?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes. Yo, like, man, Spike. I love Spike, man. Spike.

[Podcast Host]

First time in the 6 inches light.

[Snoop Pearson]

Because that's with Spike. No, no, no, no, no. I was with Dream Hampton.

[Podcast Host]

Did you do smaller hills first? Did you do smaller hills first and then the six?

[Snoop Pearson]

No, you went right to the straight to the six.

[Angela Yee]

So you jumped out of Butters and went straight to the six.

[Snoop Pearson]

Straight to the six. You know what I'm saying? And look, the first time when I was sitting Dream Hampton, Michael K. Williams, I was trying to walk. Almost broke my ankle. Dream was like, nah, nah, just lay her up on the chair. Just go ahead and lay there like you pretty. I was like, oh, shit.

[Angela Yee]

Did you have fun?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah. Yes. Yes, I had fun.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's dope. When people see things in you that you don't see in yourself.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, that's always. That's always a plus. Like, I never try to take people advice as criticism, you know what I'm saying? Because it's like, yeah, man. Like, nah, like you said, like, you looking in so you can see something that I don't see, you know? That's all.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you talked about your life after prison. What was. What was the single hardest moment in that journey that, like, what kept you moving forward after changing your Life after coming out of prison.

[Snoop Pearson]

When I first came home, before the wire, I had what, three jobs? I had working for Ford, making bumpers. And then, well, now I had two jobs making Ford bumpers. Then I went to the book factory. And then once them people was like, yo, yo, I mean, no, we find your ass because you have criminal background. I'm like, yo, what the fuck? I'm gonna throw a book at somebody and kill them? Like, what you talking about? Like, you know what I'm saying? It's a book factory. We rocking books, you know what I'm saying? And right there I was like, man, forget that. So I took my last little check and I went and got me some yams. You wanna know what that is? Yeah, yeah, Grams.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That'S great. But you blessed though, man, because so many people end up in that situation and they don't get a second chance. Yeah, throw these little kids away.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, but at the same time, man, like, what? The last time when I just got incarcerated, like, a lot of people turned their back on me, man. That hurt it, because it was like, I mean, like, yeah, everybody know that I came from the streets, but they still thinking that I'm in the streets. Nah, I'm sitting here trying to keep it real, you know what I'm saying? I'm trying to keep it real and people ain't trying to keep it real with me, you know what I mean? But they just here for the glams and the glitter, you know what I mean? But when I got in trouble the last time I was living with Mike, Mike moved. And then like I was in the Bronx, 176 in McCoons. And my mad mother living room on a blow up bed for a year and a half, you know what I'm saying? And it's how, how bad you want it? I wanted it bad. I ain't want to sell drugs because I wasn't selling, selling drugs. That hurting me, man, you know what I'm saying? And people was trying to sit there, oh, you did this. You man did a thing. But there, the wire on the wire, that's their, their headlines. So you think make you, I mean, grab you into the headlines, you understand what I'm saying? It was like, I was like, oh, oh, that's how y' all play. I mean, that's why I stopped doing interviews. Because every time it's like, yo, I say something, people go ahead and misconstrue what I gotta say. You understand what I'm saying? Or make headlines. What they wanted. Nah, man, Going for that, man. Like, real talk. Like, one time I took a reporter out. I ain't gonna say no days. Like, I thought she was cool. I'm paying the tab and all that, you know what I'm saying? We sit there at Moe's, eating, chilling, eating crab legs, all types of shit. Eating a hookup. And this lady sit here and just talk real greasy about me. I was like, dang.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, after that, yes in the pit.

[Snoop Pearson]

Like, yes.

[Podcast Host]

Was y' all out in the interview.

[Angela Yee]

Or y' all just chilling?

[Snoop Pearson]

No, we was chilling, having a conversation. Like, I mean, like, us. And she's a reporter, and she went and just wrote shit that I was like, man. Oh, Went to my victim family house. All types of stuff. Like. And you could have just told me that. Like, you could have warned me, you know? But we was kiki and a kaka. Oh, girl, get another drink. You are. You know what I'm saying? That type. We was cool. You would have thought we was best friends. And that's when I knew right there, I was like, man, these people don't love nobody. Them are just doing their jobs. You know what I mean? So, you know, it's no hard, fearless. But I had to learn. You live and you learn. And once I was coming from the street, so I didn't know how the industry played. Now I know.

[Angela Yee]

How is that now, though? Like, what?

[Snoop Pearson]

I don't take nothing to her. You know what I'm saying? You say something crazy about me, I fuck around, smoke a blunt, and laugh at you. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, but you know, nothing. I don't take nothing to the heart no more.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's the biggest misconception about Snoop?

[Snoop Pearson]

You think that Snoop was in the streets? When I left the streets, I was on the wire, you know? And that was true. Smell. It was just, you know, like, my family. I can't turn my back on my connected friendship. You know what I mean? Like, come on, man. That's where I come from. These four corners with Oliver and Marfit. That's where I come from, you know? So it's like, how can y'? All? I mean, let me. Give me a chance to grow. Give me a chance to figure it out. It was just coming so fast. I was like, oh, shit.

[Angela Yee]

So do you feel like you're rolling the wire Hurt or helped?

[Snoop Pearson]

No, I think it helped, and I think I did. I mean, I take full responsibility for everything that I probably even got in trouble for because I like people. When I first got on, people say, yo, Go ahead and move to la. I'm like, man, I ain't Hollywood, I'm Hollyhood. And I'm out here trying to save my. I mean, save my neighborhood, save my city. And I, I could, I mean, help from a. From. From afar.

[Podcast Host]

What's that balance like now for you? Knowing that like, okay, you helping but from afar. You got things you need to protect, but you still be connected to your people.

[Snoop Pearson]

Y. Yeah, like right now, I always do. Me and Ms. Alvina shout out to Ms. Elvina. I love you, baby. Ms. Alvina, she always helped me with shoe hoops, not guns. That I do in the city of Baltimore for my city back school drive. I come out my pocket. Ms. Alvina keeps saying I need sponsors, but you know, I come out my pocket because people don't know I'm in the hood. I always see what we need. That's right. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, yeah, man, I just come out my pocket and do it myself. So. And what else you said?

[Podcast Host]

No, I'm just wondering that you know, the balance you were talking about trying to figure out the balance and like growing in it.

[Snoop Pearson]

My balance is now that I help from afar. You know what I mean? I go home. You know what I mean? I always go home. I'm always home. But I just from afar, man, I just gotta help from afar. Cause I know too many people in the city, man, I can shake somebody hand. I'm caught up in the indictment. Like. Yeah, that just be stupid.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's just crazy though, because the. Your town, where you from is what gives you your balance. Yeah, it's when you move out to them places like LA is when you lose yourself.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

When you got your boots on the ground still in your city, that's when you.

[Snoop Pearson]

But at the same time, when you know your city and you from there and you in the streets, I ain't talking about the county or the suburbs. When you in the city, you know what it is. So you ain't got to stay right there to help, you know, I wanted.

[DJ Envy]

To ask, you know, I know you and Michael K was so close to help you out. So how did his. His death affect you?

[Snoop Pearson]

Man, it hurting me so bad. I mean, it, it. I got the phone call from Jamie Hector. At first I didn't know what he was talking about. I'm something kind of like a psychic because I felt something, but I thought it was about me, you know? And man, we all have our. Our demons, our vices, you know what I mean?

[DJ Envy]

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[State Farm Representative]

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[DJ Envy]

Into the shower with one goal. To show up as the best version of me. This is where I set the tone, where I decide how I'm going to give today all I got. Confident, focused, 100% myself. Because how I start my day, it matters. And Method Body Wash is more than just soap. It's part of the ritual that gets my head right. The fragrance, not just clean. It's a mindset shift. Transportive grounding. Like flipping a switch from sleep to ready for anything in this world. What's up, y'?

[Snoop Pearson]

All?

[DJ Envy]

I'm DJ Envy. When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is look in the mirror and say, you are somebody. Sorry to give yourself a little confidence. Now suddenly I'm not just washing off yesterday. I'm stepping in today with purpose. Empower to take on the day. Moisturizing suds. No parabens, no phthalates. Cruelty free method transforms you turn your everyday shower into a moment to remember. And try Method body Wash. Now, some.

[Snoop Pearson]

Is loud, some is quiet, you know, and Mike's was in between because he was getting himself together. He had stopped getting high. And, you know, I don't know. I had just talked to him a week before, you know, and it hurted me, man. It hurted me. It hurted me, like, because we had so many plans and, you know, that's how I got my start. If he would have never said nothing to me, yo, but he never heard no, Snoop. Yeah, I mean, I probably would have been dead or in jail.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did you ever ask him, did you ever say to you, him, what did God say to you in the club that night when you were staring at me like, what did you see in me? Did you ever ask him that?

[Snoop Pearson]

He just said he seen an angel. He always called me his angel. He always called me his big brother. His big brother. And you know that's gonna be a whole nother segment, man. Cause I fuck around getting here crying. All the type. Snoop, a punk. I don't care. It's my brother. Nah. And that's another thing too, People, us black people, you gotta show your emotions. You know what I mean? And if you cry and let out some of that frustration, I promise you, or just go ahead and pray to God and cry, you ain't got to tell your friends, family, nothing. Just let out some of that emotion. I promise you some of that killing and some of that hurt in this world is going to stop.

[Podcast Host]

What's your religious background like? You seem like you talk a lot about, like, faith and.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, because that's all I know is God. You know what I mean? That's it. That's it. That's all, man. Like I said, I died three times. I mean, been shot at, like, 80 times. Like, you know me. Like. Yeah, I mean, it's just. That's all I do. That's all I know is God. I believe in God. I believe in angels. I believe in. I believe hell. Hell on earth. I believe that we. This is hell. Once everybody closed their eyes because everybody got a death wish. I mean. I mean, the death date. So, I mean, once you close your eyes, that's heaven on earth. I heard the guy that they OD'd in over there on Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, front of drugs. The man said that he was mad as shit, that they bought him back. Yeah, because he was so peaceful. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, I think it is. Damn. I think it is hell on earth.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn. When you was on the wire, did you feel like a. A sense of responsibility to represent Baltimore accurately?

[Snoop Pearson]

Most definitely. That's why I was telling them people like, nah, we don't say that. You know what I'm saying? What is this, stoop? Yeah, I mean, we say step or the block. You know what I'm saying? Like, stoop. I was like, stoop. No, we say steps. We want to step. Yeah, like that.

[Angela Yee]

But, you know, so they had you. So did you have to do, like. Did they tell you to do that? Like, yo, go do some dialect training with him?

[Snoop Pearson]

Like, nah, they was like. They was like. Like, they give me my script. My script, and I read the script, and I'll be like, script advisory. We don't say that. Can we. Well, can I change that? And they'd be like, yeah, change that for everybody. So, you know, it's just like little things.

[Angela Yee]

How you feeling about the corner when it came out?

[Snoop Pearson]

I never watched. I was incarcerated.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, okay.

[Snoop Pearson]

I never even watched season one or two of the Wire.

[Angela Yee]

What?

[Snoop Pearson]

I told you. I was outside hustling.

[Podcast Host]

You never went back and watched.

[Snoop Pearson]

Now you be inside. I ain't never watched. Come on. I don't even watch myself on TV because I already know what I did because I'm my own worst critic. You know what I'm saying? I be judging. Like, damn, I could have did this better.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah.

[Snoop Pearson]

You know, things like that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So how you feel when they killed you off cuz I think. I think you was making 80 grand an episode.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, man, I was getting. You know what I mean? I ain't had to sell that drugs all night was coming to me like, yo, let me hold something.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did they give you a heads up or you just found out that.

[Snoop Pearson]

No, I got the script and I was mad as a. You hear me? And I was like, who, Tristan? What? Man, I would never go no alleys, but piss on yourself. Damn. Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

When you first got. When you first got the wire, how.

[DJ Envy]

Much were you making when you first got it?

[Snoop Pearson]

Man, them bitches try to get me. Oh, screw free man talk. The whores try to give me 200, I was like, 200 my block, making 10 grand a day. So what the. I don't need that because I'm out of here.

[Podcast Host]

200 per episode.

[Snoop Pearson]

No, no, they. Cause I ain't had no sad card and all that, so. Oh, yeah, they try to. I had to. Yeah. I mean, go through the steps, the channels.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah, man, she wasn't with the union.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah. So I had to. I had to get two speaking roles. Two or three speaking roles, and then I could get in a union and start making that money. Yeah. So my first words. You want to hear my first words? It's about time. It's about time that I'm up here on the Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You been here before.

[Snoop Pearson]

No, I haven't. Charlamagne. Are you lying? Williams with Charlamagne. I was at Wendy Williams. I want said. I thought y' all ain't like me. I said comedy joint with his wife. Remember y' all had a joint n. Come over there with. Yo, I got to look this up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't believe that. You never been here before.

[Snoop Pearson]

Been up here. No.

[Angela Yee]

See, thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Snoop Pearson]

That's crazy, man. That's crazy.

[DJ Envy]

Was up here early on. I don't know why.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Remember?

[Snoop Pearson]

I remember been up here. Yeah, but me, they even had Idris.

[Angela Yee]

Alba up this month.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You been on Breakfast Club before?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yo, crazy man. Wendy Williams. Pull it up.

[DJ Envy]

I'm looking right now. I don't see.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You got to look that up in the archive. I swear. You've been up here before.

[Snoop Pearson]

Little sugar plums over here. Lying man.

[DJ Envy]

Is crazy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What advice would you give to young people in Baltimore or anywhere who feel trapped by the environment?

[Snoop Pearson]

Just keep going. It don't matter if your mother, father, sister, brother don't believe in you. You know what I'm saying? Well, believe in you, don't believe in you. Whatever, you know, just keep going. Just have the Faith, man. Whatever you put your mind to, just do it. You know what I mean? Just do it, man. Cause this world, in this life, don't wait for nobody, man. Like, they want to pass you, they gonna pass you by. It's either you doing good or you doing bad. They still gonna talk, so you might as well go ahead and do good and on them so they can keep talking, you know what I'm saying? So, you know, and keep God first. I'm very religious, man. I ain't lying. I prayed. That's what took me so long. I had to pray. I come up here. You go to church? Yeah, Pastor Jamal Bryant when I'm in Atlanta, you know. But I'm not, like, the churchiest, but I do most definitely pray. I have to pray before I lay down, before I leave the house. You never know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Getting home at night is an underrated blessing. Anytime during the day.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes. Yeah. Especially these days, man. It's just crazy out here.

[Angela Yee]

So you here for the new season of American Gangster? The Trap Queens.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, American Gangster. Trap Queens.

[Angela Yee]

And that's narrated by the Brat?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, the Brat. Do you.

[Angela Yee]

Do you see her on it or does she.

[Snoop Pearson]

No, I ain't see the brat on that. She did it when. When they called her. So we. We all had our own separate sessions.

[Angela Yee]

Okay, cool. You like working on it?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, it was one episode. I just. The reason why I did it. And I mean, let me clear this up on the Breakfast Club. You know, I love all you track queens. I love y', all, dear, you know? But bet, when they reached out to me to do trad Queens, I said, nah, you know what I mean? Because y' all don't have the money that I want, you know what I'm saying? And BET said, hold up, Snoop. We got you. What you looking for? So I was the highest ever, ever paying Trap Queen, you know what I'm saying? It's a bar sitting right here. And I did that episode so I could let the kids know what I've been through, my trials and tribulations, you know what I mean? Because I ain't been around. I mean, I've been around, I'm around, but I'm not around, you know what I'm saying? But I just let the kids know that, you mean. You see what I've been through, man, Somebody would have chopped their head off, you know what I mean? With my life, they would have been killed their self. But you. I mean, like, I did that. So I just let y' all know, like, it's still. It's still hope. It's still faith. It's still. I mean, it's still life out here, you know what I mean? It's still everything, man. Just keep going, like. And just to let them know I'm saying it over and over again just to let them know that trials and tribulations that you go through don't make you or break you.

[Podcast Host]

Is that hard for you, like, going and, like, just recounting, like, different things you've been through in your story and telling some different things that you already got?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, some things and some things in the script, y' all gonna be like, yo, yes, yes, I have a. I have a series. Well, yeah, I have a series. So, I mean, my life is too much to put in and cram up in one movie, you know what I mean? So, you know, you want to act a joke. Gentlemen, I'm giving out jobs.

[DJ Envy]

So get.

[Snoop Pearson]

At me short and then.

[Angela Yee]

All right, so is that what made you want to do your life story yourself? Doing the trap queens, or.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, no, I had told them, like, yeah, I mean, like, yo, if I do the trap queens, this is how. This is how I want it, you know what I'm saying? And just to let people know, you know what I mean, where I've been at, what I've been up to. And here you go, you know, like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I just want you to know. Just don't like that. You asked me before, you asked her what.

[Snoop Pearson]

Just know what guy she got.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I remember when we was at the roof picnic and you jumped on stage, Was it tougher than navigate the streets of Hollywood?

[Snoop Pearson]

Hollywood, I had to learn it because I ain't know nothing about it, you know what I'm saying? The streets, I know everything about it, you know what I'm saying? But Hollywood, nah. And people, like. And, like, for our veterans out there, like, you see a person coming into this industry, please give them, like, some type of advice. You know what I mean? Please let them know, like, the do's and don'ts. Because I just came in here first and went crazy, you know, Mike, he was doing what he doing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Head first and went crazy.

[Snoop Pearson]

Oh, pause. That's the whole point. No, Diddy, pause. But just give them advice, man. Like, just. I mean, words of encouragement, man, just to let them know, like, yeah, I mean, the do's and don'ts in this, you know what I mean? So, you know, that's it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's why you had Mike, though, man.

[Snoop Pearson]

Mike was getting high, man. It's like, no, my brother was getting high. Man, I mean, my brother, listen, that's why. That's why I said, when I get my. My series, you gonna see it, man. My brother Mike, I love him to death, but you wouldn't never know it. My brother was high as Fat Charles ass on the wire, but you never knew it, period. The best night on that bitch. That's why I was so real, so authentic. Yeah, me. Yeah, yeah. Can't wait. My brother story come back is you keep laughing at.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

My brother was getting high.

[Snoop Pearson]

Oh, man, my brother was high as fat, y'. All.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He still gave you good advice, though, man.

[Snoop Pearson]

Brother ain't what brother wasn't right. I had to go get him. I be. Man, that's. But that's what. That's why I said. That's why I made that little speech like, you know what I mean? Just give people words of encouragement. Jesus Christ, let's get people words of encouragement, man. You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What other stories you want to tell behind the camera, Snoop?

[Snoop Pearson]

I don't know, man. For real.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Y.

[Snoop Pearson]

Now you making films and y'. All. So now, what else you want to say? Whatever. What's the. My goodness.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She over here telling herself jokes. She said, charl, they real lovers, Snoop.

[DJ Envy]

American Gangster the Trap Queen, available now on bet. Now, if you don't know what trap queens is, they break down. Each episode is a woman who was out there hustling and getting to it. And this episode is about Snoop.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah. First one, Episode one, Season four.

[Angela Yee]

Hey, first episode.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, sir.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

My last question. When you look back at your life thus far, Snoop, is there anything you would change? Like, do you have any regrets?

[Snoop Pearson]

When I. In 95, when I went to prison for the murder charge, you know, because that broke her family heart. Broke my family heart, you know, especially my grandmother. That's why I turned myself in. Cause of Mama, you know, mom was like, man, they gonna kill you, girl. If I is wrong with you, they gonna kill you. You 14. Fuck is wrong with you? You know what I mean? So, you know, I think, yeah, that. Yeah, most definitely.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is there anything you've done to try to reconcile that situation with the family?

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, I try to reach out. Well, I seen her mother when I was in prison, you know, she was talking smack and stuff like that. And when I got up on her, because, you know, people always talk smack when you ain't around. And then once I got up on her, you know, I told her, I said, man, wow. When I got up on her, I told her, I said, man, I know you mad at Me. And I know you hurt. I know you won't never forgive me, but just pray, you know. And I'm asking God to forgive me, you know, so it ain't nothing me or you could do to bring her back, you know? I'm so sorry. You know, I just. Did you see her in prison? Oh, you see?

[DJ Envy]

Oh, she came to visit you?

[Snoop Pearson]

No, no, no, no. She was locked up. My mother was locked up. Yeah, my mother got locked up and came where I was at, down in Jesse, Maryland.

[Podcast Host]

Did she accept the apology?

[Snoop Pearson]

She gave me a hug. But she told me flat out, I ain't gonna never forgive you. I ain't. Can't do nothing but accept. Yeah, you know, like, you know, like I did something to hurt you, you know, I take my responsibility. And that's a lot of things. I mean, a lot of times, a lot of people don't take their responsibility, you know what I mean? I take mine.

[Angela Yee]

No, Diddy, you said that you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Didn'T.

[Angela Yee]

You said that you regret, you know, going to jail. But I think that that probably definitely is the reason why you still here. You know, that could have saved your life. Because like you said, mama told you, yo, they gonna kill you.

[Snoop Pearson]

You know what I'm saying?

[Angela Yee]

You could have got killed out there if you just kept running or whatever. Cause all that shit do catch up. Yeah, it do, you know, with you. So I think the best thing was you turning yourself in.

[Snoop Pearson]

You know what I mean?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you regret taking the life is what you.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, I regret taking the life, yeah. Yeah, most definitely.

[DJ Envy]

Well, Snoop, we appreciate you for joining us. I swear you've been up here before.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But listen, you've been up here before, man.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yeah, but listen, soon as soon as up I start filming, I'm coming back up. Yeah, I remember you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You was on your body when you was up here.

[Snoop Pearson]

Yes, that's what I remember. That wasn't me. Y' all got me messed up. I wasn't doing no.

[Angela Yee]

Another stud.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, ain't no stud like Snoop.

[DJ Envy]

Snoop, it's the Breakfast Club.

[Snoop Pearson]

Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

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[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.