November 26, 2001

3:48 PM

Snoop Dogg will save CadillacWant proof: I don't care how much it costs, I don't know what it looks like, but I want one and I have begun saving up already for the Snoop Deville. Hopefully bulletproof windows and roach-clip are standard.
posted by tsarfan (44 comments total)

A grow light in the trunk would be a neat addition.
posted by ewwgene at 4:02 PM on November 26, 2001

done dizzle fo' shizzle.
posted by MarkO at 4:06 PM on November 26, 2001

We just gone come basic

People work hard to become car designers. I'm sure they're crying right now.
posted by geoff. at 4:06 PM on November 26, 2001

Anyone remember the Dennis Hopper-in-Apocalypse-Now guy (glassy-eyed, with camera and all) in the commercials for MTV's early '90s "win Dr. Dre's car" contest, or something to that effect? "And it hops, man. It hoppps!" Funniest thing they ever put in a network promo. Gotta get that guy for the ad.
posted by raysmj at 4:07 PM on November 26, 2001

A damn shame he didn't hook up with Harley-Davidson instead, and announce plans for the 2003 "Snoop Hog." It coulda been really big. :D
posted by Sapphireblue at 4:26 PM on November 26, 2001

We just gone come basic

I don't understand that english. it's the "come" that confuses me....
posted by rebeccablood at 4:48 PM on November 26, 2001

At this point I'd make a refrence to that monstrosity that Homer designed in the lost long brother episode of the Simpsons, but the Azteca already won that award.


What is it? An SUV? A station wagon? A giant hatchback? We'll never know.
posted by skallas at 4:52 PM on November 26, 2001

We just gone come basic

I think "gone" should probably have been spelled " gon' " or something. I think what he really said was "We're just gonna come basic"--as in, "come back to the basics".
posted by jpoulos at 5:07 PM on November 26, 2001

Actually, I think 'come' is used here like in 'come correct'. In that context 'come' basically means to do. I agree with you on 'gone'. So 'gone come basic' means 'we're going to do this in a basic style'.
posted by lbergstr at 5:10 PM on November 26, 2001

A friend and I were discussing that Aztec recently, and we agreed that it's the Gremlin of the 00's
posted by vito90 at 5:32 PM on November 26, 2001

and people say ebonics isn't a real language....
posted by rebeccablood at 5:38 PM on November 26, 2001

Did anyone see his latest movie, Baby Boy? No? Want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Are hydrolics standard, or optional?
posted by adampsyche at 5:44 PM on November 26, 2001

rb: If people speak it, and others understand it, it certainly is. And the Aztek is a weird, ungainly car, but it's not in principle that much different from hits like the similar Buick Rendezvous and the best-selling Lexus, the RX300.

On topic: the only thing odd here is that automakers are finally acknowledging the marketing potential in a real demographic for the vehicle. It's long been known that (say) 2/3 of a particular Caddy model will be bought by white couples aged 50 and up; and 1/3 by black couples aged 30-50 (who are buying it in hugely outsized numbers given the much smaller base demographic). But the advertising has barely acknowledged this. They're getting better at niche marketing.
posted by dhartung at 5:51 PM on November 26, 2001

and people say ebonics isn't a real language....

If they'd read their Chomsky, they'd know better. (Actually, I haven't read Chomsky at all...but Steven Pinker, who I have read, seems like a good introduction to the same ideas - that language is as innate to human beings as vision, all languages can express the same ideas, the language you speak doesn't influence how you think, etc. All of which are still very controversial, but the evidence Pinker presented was convincing to my non-scientist self.)

That looks like an associate ID in the Amazon link...I didn't mean for there to be one, sorry.
posted by lbergstr at 5:59 PM on November 26, 2001

During Survivor 2, I always wondered why the losers of the reward challenge didn't get TWO of those Azteks.
posted by machaus at 6:03 PM on November 26, 2001

Actually, I remember reading something in a book by Peter Drucker about his days at Cadillac--the company noticed early on that the numbers of black customers were larger in percentage than expected by either population or income level. So while they advertised in tony magazines like Fortune, the car was designed more with urban black customers in mind.
So, this isn't a joke at all, but totally within the tradition of the company's marketing strategy since the color they care most about is green. As it is with Mr. Snoop Dogg, he's an ambitous and intelligent capitalist through and through. And for all the controversy about his gangster persona or the porn stuff, he's so obviously devoted to his wife and kids that it can't be an act.
And I'm totally with him on the politics of ganja...except for the blunts part. That just does not appeal to me.
posted by y2karl at 6:05 PM on November 26, 2001

Good point Dhartung. I wonder when we'll see SUVs that automatically vote Republican (ha ha!).
posted by Hildago at 6:05 PM on November 26, 2001

I don't for one minute believe this story to be true. (Although the subsequent ebonics digression is a wholly entertaining one, to be sure.)
posted by verdezza at 6:24 PM on November 26, 2001

dhartung (and rebbecablood): To anybody that studies the field, ebonics not a real language. "Ebonics" is one name for a dialect.
posted by NortonDC at 6:32 PM on November 26, 2001

A spokesperson for Cadillac could not verify the Snoop line by press time. "I have received no confirmation on our plans for the 2003 Cadillac Model lineup at this time," he said.

Thats what I was thinking.
posted by tomplus2 at 6:38 PM on November 26, 2001

> I have received no confirmation on our plans...

Let's hope he gets confirmation, because this is friggin' brilliant!

Did anyone see Snoop on Pollitically Incorrect? Snoop is everywhere, man!
posted by bradlauster at 6:50 PM on November 26, 2001

A few years ago, there was talk of remaking the film "Jesus Christ Superstar" with Snoop. For real.

So, Chomsky, SUVs and JC in one thread...
posted by liam at 7:01 PM on November 26, 2001

Hopefully, the Snoop Caddie will carry a pricetag more in line with other ghetto cars roaming the streets. Otherwise, this sounds like a pricey ride.
posted by Witold at 7:31 PM on November 26, 2001

One of my favorite Politically Incorrect moments came courtesy of Snoop. Don't recall the exact quote, but it went something like this:

Doughy Republican White Guy: Blah blah blah Ashcroft good, pot bad, blah blah, medical maijuana sometimes permissible....

Snoop: Well, I get my shit from Dre, and he's a Doctor, so....
posted by Optamystic at 7:36 PM on November 26, 2001

jesus christ snooperstar?
posted by bwg at 8:10 PM on November 26, 2001

lber...I might be wrong, but my impression was that Chomsky supported the opposite thesis. His view was that language *did* influence thinking. But, then again, I think the Aztec is 'done come nice', so what do I know?
posted by Kevs at 8:53 PM on November 26, 2001

snoop probably won't be riding in any '64s or caddys while he's hospitalized though.
posted by lotsofno at 9:02 PM on November 26, 2001

The real question is: Where does Chomsky stand on Snoop? BTW, The Gourds' bluegrass version of Snoop's "Gin and Juice" is a little slice of twangy heaven.
posted by Optamystic at 9:07 PM on November 26, 2001

Kevs, like I said, I haven't read Chomsky, but Pinker, who as far as I can tell thinks Chomsky is God, spends a while ridiculing what he calls linguistic determinism. The way he presents it, the notion that different languages/dialects (oops, thanks NortonDC) influence their speakers to think in different ways is wholly incompatible with Chomsky's ideas.

I read one pop science book. I didn't even finish the last couple chapters. I should just shut up.
posted by lbergstr at 10:19 PM on November 26, 2001

Hahaha. Snoop Deville! Giggle.

Er, OK, since some are taking this seriously: Cadillac has been popular among its buyers, both the affluent and the aspiring affluent, for different reasons -- none of which involve Colt-45-style 'hood marketing. Cadillac has over the years meant elegance, status, and class, then later for sheer largesse, and more recently for engineering excellence and innovation.

Me, I'm still waiting for the Mercury Marquis DeSade.
posted by Tubes at 10:30 PM on November 26, 2001

Mercury Marquis DeSade

Sounds like a good name for a band. Who could then tour with Jesus Chrysler Supercar. And Snoop & Chomsky in the Cadillac Snoop Deville.
posted by liam at 10:54 PM on November 26, 2001

Yugo, liam.
posted by verdezza at 11:08 PM on November 26, 2001

I might be wrong, but my impression was that Chomsky supported the opposite thesis. His view was that language *did* influence thinking.

That's generally called the "Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis" after two guys named Sapir and Whorf. You may be forgiven for confusing one linguist with an unusual name with others with equally unusual names. The hypothesis Chomsky is best known for (in linguistics, anyway) is that the human brain has a "universal grammar" that underlies all languages. Pinker won't go quite that far, but he does believe that the human brain is wired for language at a genetic level.
posted by kindall at 11:38 PM on November 26, 2001

To anybody that studies the field, ebonics not a real language.

But no verb just dumb.
posted by NortonDC at 2:44 AM on November 27, 2001

But no verb just dumb.

The tale of the vanishing verb in television news. Maybe Snoop should anchor for MSNBC.
posted by euphorb at 1:26 PM on November 27, 2001

hey, if Shaq can have his own signature Ford, Snoop should get a pimp rig too.
posted by donkeysuck at 2:16 PM on November 27, 2001

In other news Gerard Depardieu announced his line of refurbished Le Cars...
posted by dincognito at 5:26 PM on November 27, 2001

dhartung (and rebbecablood): To anybody that studies the field, ebonics not a real language. "Ebonics" is one name for a dialect.

Well, I do, and I'll say that this is a distinction without a difference. Dialect and language are uselessly imprecise terms. It's definitely a variety of English, and it's definitely language. Everything else is more punditry than lingusitcs.

PS: Kindall and lbergstr are correct on Chomsky vs. Sapir-Whorf.

PPS: I have no opinion on Snoop, except he should eat better.
posted by rodii at 6:26 PM on November 27, 2001

So, rodii, kindall, lberstr - do any linguists, Snoop Diggity Doggy WhateverTheFuck included, disagree with the idea that different languages influence their speakers to think in different ways?

I'm just askin'.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:42 AM on November 28, 2001

So, rodii, kindall, lberstr - do any linguists, Snoop Diggity Doggy WhateverTheFuck included, disagree with the idea that different languages influence their speakers to think in different ways?

Disagree? Yes, most, probably, explicitly agree with Chomsky that the extent to which language influences thought is trivial. A substantial number disagree with that and buy into Sapir-Whorf. My guess is that many have no really deeply held conviction either way, and lots of others on both sides, deep down, wish that Sapir-Whorf were true because it makes the world more interesting, but don't think there's any evidence that there is.

The actual issues are very tricky--just defining the main terms in a clear way is damn near impossible. Do a search on "linguistic relativity" or start here.

(Sorry, Snoop/Cadillac lovers.)
posted by rodii at 7:13 AM on November 28, 2001

Another thread lies dead at my hands. When will I learn: Chomsky talk kills.
posted by rodii at 9:57 AM on November 29, 2001

It's not Chomsky talk that kills; it's falling off the front page of MetaFilter.
posted by kindall at 10:04 AM on November 29, 2001

I think "Chomsky talk kills" is zippier, though.
posted by rodii at 10:28 AM on November 29, 2001

Chomsky talk kills bugs dead.
posted by websavvy at 11:29 AM on November 29, 2001