Snoop Dogg Mourns Death of Cousin and ‘Doggystyle’ Artist Joe Cool

On Monday, Snoop Dogg took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news of the passing of his older cousin, Darryl “Joe Cool” Daniel. Joe Cool was the artist responsible for the iconic cover of Snoop’s Doggystyle album.

Snoop’s post was simple yet poignant, stating “R.I.P. my big cuzn joe cool” with a video of Daniel at the studio, set to Snoop’s 2017 song “Promise You This.”

Joe Cool, as he was known by Snoop and fellow cousin Daz Dillinger, played a significant role in Snoop’s early branding. Under the name Joe Cizzool, he created the unforgettable artwork for Doggystyle. He also illustrated covers for the single “Gin and Juice,” the back of The Doggfather CD, and The Last Meal.

Daz Dillinger also honored his cousin with a heartfelt tribute. He shared pictures of them together, highlighting Joe Cool’s art, and wrote, “REST N PEACE DARYL JOE COOL DANIEL. MY BIGG CUZZN THIS REALLY HURTS WE GREW UP TOGETHER U WAS THERE FROM DAY ONE IM GONE REALLY REALLY MISS U BIGG CUZ.”

In a 2013 interview with HipHopDX, Daniel revealed that he was incarcerated and struggling with drug addiction when Snoop asked him to design the album cover. Initially skeptical about his younger cousin’s collaboration with Dr. Dre, Daniel gradually became a believer.

He recounted, “He told me he was rapping with Dr. Dre. I told him, ‘That’s a goddamn lie. Blow that smoke up somebody else’s ass. Put my sister back on the phone, lyin’ ass n—a.’ He’s like, ‘I’m serious, man. I’m rapping with Dr. Dre.’”

Daniel began to trust Snoop after hearing an early version of “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” over the phone. Snoop also sent him $25, which cemented his belief. “That’s when I believed him,” Daniel admitted.

Snoop encouraged Daniel to kick his drug habit. “‘Get yourself off that sh–,’” Joe Cool recalled Snoop saying. “‘I want you to do my album cover, man. I’m doing Dre’s album. Then my album gonna come out. Get your sh– together, Joe Cool.’”

This conversation turned their lives around. Reflecting on the success of Doggystyle, Daniel said, “I didn’t think it would be iconic, man. And then when it sold as many as it sold, and I seen my sh– up there, it just gave me…like damn. I can’t believe it. My artwork is out there, ’cause Snoop let it come. He gave me the opportunity, man. He got me a little bit of 15 minutes of fame up in the world. It’s been 20 years, man. He gave me that opportunity. Man, I love him for it.”

Rest in peace, Joe Cizzool.

Source: HipHopDX