Rapper Snoop Dogg recently surprised fans by sharing a video on social media in which he sings the famed Gospel song, "I'd Rather Have Jesus."
"I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold," Snoop, real name Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr, repeatedly sings in the video which he posted on his Instagram account (@snoopdogg) on Sunday. "Silver [and] gold. @dashradio Cadillac music Sunday gospel mix," he captioned the video.
Premiere notes that the song was made famous during Billy Graham's evangelistic rallies by worship leader George Beverly Shae, and includes the lyrics "I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause/I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause/I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame/I'd rather be true to His holy name."
While some fans expressed astonishment at the move, others were thrilled to see the rapper praising the Lord.
"Praise Him, Snoop!" wrote one fan.
"Fire refines silver & gold; but the good Lord refines the hearts of man," wrote another.
"Right on Snoop!! I start every day off with Jesus. Now I got you on my prayer list. God bless brother!" added another fan.
Others suggested the "Gin and Juice" singer may be experiencing a change of heart.
"I think he's realizing what is TRULY valuable. When it's all said and done, only one thing can give true peace, love and rest. That one thing is Jesus Christ of Nazareth," wrote one commenter.
"With the platform you have, imagine how many people you will reach with the gospel message of Salvation! Come on now! Give our heavenly Father glory through your Rap skills Snoop!" wrote another.
Premiere notes that Snoop Dogg, 44, was brought up as a Christian, but has given varying responses on the issue of religion when asked about his own faith.
"As a kid, I was pushed into the Baptist church, taught that way," he told the Associated Press in 2003. "As an adult, I was able to seek out information on my own to find out that the Muslim religion, Rastafari, Baptist, Christian - that they all the same.
He added, "They all God-fearing people and love is love. ... It's more based on life and a way of life and liberty as opposed to religion. Because religion is so false, because it's so past tense and written by someone who is not here. I feel like religion should be based on the way you live and the way you treat yourself and treat others."
Speaking to The Guardian in 2013, Snoop said that his life and view of women were changed for the better because of religion.
"I used to answer hate with hate. Like if you hate me, I hate you more. But now I answer hate with love," he said.
"Because I was making music for me, speaking from my perspective," he explained. "I was taught that a [expletive] is a [expletive] and a [expletive] was a [expletive], so my music represented that, until I got to the point where I wanted to show love and appreciation for the woman."
In an interview with HHDX, the rapper said that while he believes a certain way, he tries not to push those beliefs on others.
"It's not even about being bashful or shy," he said. "I've never been offensive with [my beliefs]. I've always been the one to let people know slowly but surely who I am. I don't force it on you or try to make you become what I am."
Snoop Dogg's video can be watch on the rapper's Instagram account here.
