When Snoop Dogg announced that he's a practicing Rastafarian and that he changed his name to Snoop Lion, it left people scratching their heads. But the veteran rhyme-slinger is serious about his newfound spiritual calling and he talks about it in the Oct. 5 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.

In October, Snoop Lion will celebrate a big milestone -- his 40th birthday. In the hip-hop world, he's considered a senior citizen, but the gangsta rap pioneer has maintained his relevance in the rap game when most rappers younger than him have exited.

THR correspondent Shirley Halperin follows Snoop has he invites her into his world of fatherhood, music and blunts. When asked about the controversial photo of him smoking a joint with his 18-year-old son, Corde Calvin Broadus, he scoffs at the notion that he's a bad parent.

"My kids can do whatever the h--- they want," he says. "For me to say otherwise would be hypocritical. A lot of motherf---ers don't have a relationship with their kids, and that's when they get on drugs and have suicidal thoughts and drive drunk. Me and my son is mellow. I'm his father, so I wanna show him the proper way because he looks up to me. What better way to get it than from the master?"

The article also explores Snoop's multiple branding ventures including his online Snoopermarket, his YouTube channel the GGN Network and his cigar brand with Executive Branch. In addition, his documentary, 'Reincarnated,' which chronicles his spiritual pilgrimage to Jamaica and the recording of his reggae album of the same name, recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Snoop Lion is also unapologetic about his weed smoking. While some may think pot heads are lazy, the 'La La La' rapper insists it makes him more productive. With over three requests per month to make cameos on other people's songs, Snoop always tries to accommodate those requests for artists, sometimes charging no fee. "I'm not one of those rappers who's like, 'I'm hot right now, give me $100,000,' he tells THR. "It ain't about the money, it's about respect. I try to make it happen because for them to even reach out to me to be a part of their project, I give them mad respect back."

Currently, Snoop Lion is a free agent and is in no rush to release a rap album. Although he prepping his first reggae album, he maintains that he's not abandoning his humbled beginnings with his re-branding as Snoop Lion.

"I'm not denouncing my past because it's part of who I am. I just try to give them ways to avoid it -- a football league, rapping, doing movies, making music," he says. "Some won't become athletes or musicians -- they may only be gangbangers, but I still try to show them the righteous way to use their mind rather than a weapon or violence. They say sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. I heard that years ago, and I still believe it."

The Oct. 5 issue of the Hollywood Reporter, featuring Snoop Lion, will hit newsstands next week.

Watch the Behind-the-Scenes of THR's Snoop Lion Cover Shoot

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