Snoop Dogg at a Country Fair?

Editor’s Disclaimer: I grew up on Snoop Dogg’s music and I’m a fan of his.

I was sitting in my living room when the press release came into my inbox last night telling of the coming of Snoop Dogg to the May Fair this year.

I told my wife, who was sitting next to me, that the rapper best known for his gangster lyrics, his love of mary jane (mari-ga-wana for those who don’t know) and his tough persona will be performing at a fair best know for being the pride of Dixon.

My wife’s response?

“Does that mean that his career is going down the tubes?” she asked.

I told her no, quite the contrary. If you are being asked to play the you are doing something right. It’s only one of the biggest events in Dixon, and the region for that matter, that draws thousands to Dixon for some fun.

Almost as soon as we reported it on the Patch (thank you Brianna from the Dixon Tribune!) people began commenting, stating their disapproval of the May Fair’s decision to bring in the DoggFather.

One major concern on the pages of the Patch as well as on our Facebook page, is that Snoop will bring a criminal element to the fair and there could be fights, stabbings or even worse, shootings, perpetuated by fans of the gangster rapper.

I put the question to Chief Jon Cox and Solano Sheriff’s Sgt. Walt Gilliam, who along with the May Fair’s private security staff, will be in charge of keeping the May Fair safe as they have done throughout the years.

“I don’t have concerns,” Cox said. “It will obviously result in a need for us to deploy additional personnel, mainly because of the volume. It will be on a Wednesday night. Our biggest impact on the Dixon Police is generally on traffic control.”

The Dixon Police Department patrols the streets surrounding the May Fair and will have some of their officers walking around the fair, but the security at the fair falls largely on the May Fair’s hired private security force and the Solano County Sheriff’s Department.

“I don’t think there are any major concerns,” Gilliam said. “We’ve had a headliner at the fair numerous times. And we run it the same pretty much any time we run it. Dixon May Fair has their own security staff. I don’t foresee any major concern over Snoop Dogg.”

Gilliam said that there have been several rap superstars perform through the years in Solano County, in places such as the county fair held at the Solano County Fairgrounds.

“We’ve had them for years in Solano County fairs and we always take precautionary measures to make sure it all runs safely,” he said. “We’ve never had any major incidents at either Dixon or the Solano County Fair.”

Although Snoop Dogg’s lyrical content may not be for everyone, especially at a family show, the fact that the May Fair hired him to perform is pretty cool.

Not everyone has to buy a ticket, but I think I will. I’ve never seen him in concert.

What about you?

Did the May Fair miss the mark on this performer? Tell us in the comments.