Review | Coach Snoop

By Daniel Hart
Published: February 2, 2018 (Last updated: last month)
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Coach Snoop - Netflix Docuseries - Review

Snoop Dogg may smoke weed every day but he has still got time to show California love to the kids. The eight-part Netflix docuseries Coach Snoop shows the rapper taking the unfortunate kids off the streets to train and play for the Snoop Steelers as part of the Snoop Youth Football League.

This may sound like an act of PR but there is a genuine football organisation implemented by one of the legends of Hip Hop. I would have never of imagined back when I was listening to the 2004 R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece that I would witness Snoop leverage his reputation for the purpose of being a role model for the youth. This is the next episode of Snoop’s career.

How does the docuseries play out?

Each episode format is a carbon copy of each other. It represents the Snoop Youth Football League season in eight parts, providing an insight into the kids, their coaches and their parents. At the start of every episode, Snoop provides a narrated anecdote about his rough upbringing. I assumed the point of this reoccurring opening is to lay down the point of why he is doing this. Throughout his career, we have heard his lyrics glorify gang violence and glamorise the lifestyle. In Coach Snoop he provides valuable commentary that yes, he is Snoop Dogg, but when he is out there mentoring the team, he is the coach.

Whilst it is easy being cynical at his statements, Snoop drives the message hard throughout each episode that this project is not about him. You could argue that he is right. With each episode you slowly but surely see him become less of the centre of attention. Each kid becomes a case study, with each one laying down crucial life issues that need to be overcome.

I’m guessing there are ups and downs, smiles and frowns in Coach Snoop?

This Netflix docuseries is not a celebration of how great a young person can play football. That is only a small fraction of what Coach Snoop is trying to project. In each episode, it hones in primarily to one kid and the documentary invasively brings out their issues. One of the Snoop Steeler’s defenders, Max, for example, clearly has self-esteem issues, is suffocated by his mother and feels a void is missing in his life by his vacant father. Snippets of his personal development surface in parts of each episode.

Another example is a kid that has anger problems, with a problematic relationship with his father. Snoop and the coaching team want him to overcome this as part of his development. The parents and the coaches are also a crucial part of this documentary, as they have their own underlying issues too. Some were ex-gang members, ex-drug dealers and received the wrong brush in life. As documented, this has all the bearings of Snoop’s young life.

What’s the point of this docuseries?

Family mentality. At first, I believed it was about an individual playing sport to overcome their issues and take them away from the dangerous communities they come from. That is a small part of Coach Snoop. The docuseries comes to realise that as a collective force between children, parents and coaches, you can overcome personal and outside forces together. The series is not a candle held out for the disowned black communities. It is a torch symbolising that everyone is responsible for the future generation regardless if you are black, white or asian. Just because you had suffered from gang warfare, does not mean your offspring should.

It is rather fitting on the eve of the Super Bowl to witness the lower levels of this sport and see where athletes come from. It is admirable how much all these young people believe they can make it to the NFL.

Whereas half time shows are about making money, these kids are taught to stay dedicated. It’s not about having money on their mind.

Recommendation?

Credit to Snoop Dogg, Coach Snoop offers a fresh insight into the relationship between sport, education and the youth communities. It’s easy to doubt the intentions, but at the crux of it all you can really see a positive experience for young people.

Rather than teaching the kids to drink gin and juice, he is providing them an opportunity to remove themselves from a rough upbringing and to not drop the ball like it’s hot.

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