Dogge Doggelito
Encyclopedia
Douglas León, known by his stage name Dogge Doggelito (born 24 July 1975) is a Swedish rapper, lecturer
, social commentator and author
. He is one of the founders Sweden's most successful rap group The Latin Kings
(TLK). Doggelito is one of the most acclaimed artists in Sweden
. His texts are usually about every day life in the suburbs and being part of the immigrant communities, and racism
.
, Norra Botkyrka
in Stockholm
1975 to a Venezuela
n father and a Swedish
mother. He has jokingly referred to himself as "Half Indian
, half Viking
". He grew up in the 80's and came familiar to hip hop
in an early age and sooner or later it became a big part in his life. Although he initially wanted to be an actor, he was not accepted into any of the schools. He started to rap in 1986. He participated in many rap contests, including a 3rd place in Rap SM with his group The Latin Kings, and also in his teens he was a member in a break dance
group. His brother also had big influence on him towards a career in rap music.
, released their first album Välkommen till förorten. The album received huge success and was awarded with 2 grammys
and other awards. The band split up in 2005. Today he is working in the music business and also in the book and TV business. For example he starred in commercials for the Swedish electronics company Elgiganten
. He has also released a book with the language professor Ulla-Britt Kotsinas, named "Förortsslang". He has also appeared in movies and TV shows.
in 2004, they had their first child together, daughter Bianca. The death of his wife took hard on him, for one year, he did nothing. Another daughter died during childbirth. He lost his best friend Killer' in 1998. He is the elder brother of the model Daphne Leon, and also the cousin of rapper El Primo.
He is a Christian
, born in the Swedish Church, although he calls himself an Orthodox Christian. In 2006, he reportedly voted for the Communist Party (Sweden)
. He is a staunch advocate for anti-Racism
, and has dismissed the Swedish immigrant policies, he has also said that "Even if you are Swedish-born, from the suburbs, you're not viewed of as Swedish
". Of his songs, he has the strongest memories from Borta i Tankar, written when his girlfriend broke up with him. According to him, the height of his career came with a concert at Ullevi, with 59 000 visitors, when TLK opened for Swedish pop group Gyllene Tider
. Apart from rap, he listens to Venezuelan salsa from the 70s. His favourite food is Pabellón, the Venezuelan national dish. He has been to prison, in the 90s, for slapping two police officers.
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
, social commentator and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He is one of the founders Sweden's most successful rap group The Latin Kings
The Latin Kings
The Latin Kings, abbreviated TLK, was a Swedish hip hop group from the municipality of Botkyrka in the southern suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden....
(TLK). Doggelito is one of the most acclaimed artists in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. His texts are usually about every day life in the suburbs and being part of the immigrant communities, and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
Early life
Douglas Leon was born in AlbyAlby
Alby may refer to* Alby, Botkyrka, Sweden, a Stockholm suburb* Alby, Öland on the island of Öland, Sweden* Alby with Thwaite in Norfolk, England* Alby People, a Stone Age people in Öland, Sweden* Alby, Ånge, a village in Ånge Municipality, Sweden...
, Norra Botkyrka
Norra Botkyrka
Norra Botkyrka usually refers to the northern residential areas of Botkyrka Municipality near Stockholm in Sweden.Norra Botkyrka was until the 1970s an agricultural community with only a few inhabitants consisting of a few large estates and a large protected area around the Lake Bornsjö which...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
1975 to a Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n father and a Swedish
Swedes
Swedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
mother. He has jokingly referred to himself as "Half Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, half Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
". He grew up in the 80's and came familiar to hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
in an early age and sooner or later it became a big part in his life. Although he initially wanted to be an actor, he was not accepted into any of the schools. He started to rap in 1986. He participated in many rap contests, including a 3rd place in Rap SM with his group The Latin Kings, and also in his teens he was a member in a break dance
Break Dance
Break Dance is a Commodore 64 computer game that relies on players making dancing moves that resemble the classic game Simon says.-Gameplay:...
group. His brother also had big influence on him towards a career in rap music.
The Latin Kings
Dogge Doggelito formed his rap group The Latin Kings (TLK) with his friends; the brothers DJ Chepe and Salla (The Salazar Brothers). They formed the group in 1991 and came 3rd in a rap contest in 1992. Their breakthrough came in 1994 when they, with the help of the producer Gordon CyrusGordon Cyrus
Gordon Cyrus is an Afro-American Cherokee Scandinavian born in Swedish performer, record producer, sound engineer and designer. Cyrus is best known as a member of the rock/pop group Whale along with Cia Berg and Henrik Schyffert, and for having discovered The Latin Kings. He was heavily involved...
, released their first album Välkommen till förorten. The album received huge success and was awarded with 2 grammys
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and other awards. The band split up in 2005. Today he is working in the music business and also in the book and TV business. For example he starred in commercials for the Swedish electronics company Elgiganten
Elgiganten
Elgiganten is an electrical retailer located in Finland, Denmark and Sweden.The stores are a brandname of Elkjøp owned by the British Dixons Retail plc.Managing Director of Elgiganten is Jesper Boysen ....
. He has also released a book with the language professor Ulla-Britt Kotsinas, named "Förortsslang". He has also appeared in movies and TV shows.
Personal life
He has four children; three daughters. His wife Leonida passed away of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 2004, they had their first child together, daughter Bianca. The death of his wife took hard on him, for one year, he did nothing. Another daughter died during childbirth. He lost his best friend Killer' in 1998. He is the elder brother of the model Daphne Leon, and also the cousin of rapper El Primo.
He is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, born in the Swedish Church, although he calls himself an Orthodox Christian. In 2006, he reportedly voted for the Communist Party (Sweden)
Communist Party (Sweden)
The Communist Party is a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sweden.1970-1977 it was known as the Communist League Marxist-Leninists and during 1977-2004 it had the name Communist Party Marxist-Leninists ...
. He is a staunch advocate for anti-Racism
Anti-racism
Anti-racism includes beliefs, actions, movements, and policies adopted or developed to oppose racism. In general, anti-racism is intended to promote an egalitarian society in which people do not face discrimination on the basis of their race, however defined...
, and has dismissed the Swedish immigrant policies, he has also said that "Even if you are Swedish-born, from the suburbs, you're not viewed of as Swedish
Swedes
Swedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
". Of his songs, he has the strongest memories from Borta i Tankar, written when his girlfriend broke up with him. According to him, the height of his career came with a concert at Ullevi, with 59 000 visitors, when TLK opened for Swedish pop group Gyllene Tider
Gyllene Tider
Gyllene Tider is a Swedish pop group. The name Gyllene Tider translates as "Golden ages" or "Golden times". Few Scandinavians would not recognize the band's most famous song "Sommartider", often played on the radio during late spring and early summer...
. Apart from rap, he listens to Venezuelan salsa from the 70s. His favourite food is Pabellón, the Venezuelan national dish. He has been to prison, in the 90s, for slapping two police officers.