Today in Hip-Hop: Snoop Dogg Gets Banned From the U.K.

On this day, April 26, in hip-hop history…

2006: Following an arrest at London's Heathrow Airport, Snoop Dogg was banned from the United Kingdom until his visa ban was lifted in 2010.

The rap legend and five members of his crew were arrested at Heathrow's Terminal 1 on suspicion of violent disorder and affray. The posse, who were awaiting a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, attempted to get into British Airways first class lounge even though they were flying economy. When they were denied entry, members of the clique charged their way in. After being told they would not be able to board their flight to South Africa and police were called to the scene, a fight broke out and members of the entourage vandalized a duty free shop in the terminal.

"There were all these huge 20-stone men smashing up display cabinets and throwing people around," a Heathrow worker told The Guardian. "I saw Snoop Dogg on the ground with four riot police trying to put him in handcuffs. His [posse] were throwing bottles of duty free at people. They were throwing people around like pillows. Then the police used pepper spray on them."

Snoop attempted to tour with Diddy in the U.K. in 2007 but his application for a tour visa was denied. In that same year, Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship banned him from the former U.K. colony for failing a "general character test." As a result, the rapper was unable to cohost the 2007 MTV Australia Video Music Awards. The ban was overturned in 2008.

In 2010, Snoop was scheduled to perform at The Netherlands' Parkpop Festival but local law-enforcement officials asked organizers to find an artist with more "open and friendly character." They chose Beenie Man, who was also rejected entrance due to his homophobic lyrics.

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