'Snoop Dogg performed private gig in our canteen'

Staff at a business in Swansea have said it was "absolutely nuts" to have American rapper Snoop Dogg perform a full hour private set of "back to back classics" in their canteen.

The hip hop star and Swansea City FC co-owner did the invitation-only gig at the canteen at the Au Vodka headquarters in the city, ahead of attending his first home game at the club's stadium later.

The canteen, where staff were playing ping pong and pool just 24 hours earlier, was transformed into a nightclub with more than 400 guests.

Au Vodka co-owner, Jackson Quinn said: "We will all remember this until we are looking back on this in our 80s saying 'I can't believe Snoop played in our office'."

Quinn said it was "absolutely nuts" as the global star was only meant to do a DJ set originally but his performance turned into "an hour of back to back classics", amid cheers from the crowd.

Au Vodka co-owner, Charlie Morgan said the gig was "really last minute but almost every member of their staff was there", as well as friends, family and local influencers.

The appearance came about through the pairs' business partner and DJ, Charlie Sloth who has access to "the hip hop rap world", they said.

Among the guests at the event were Welsh boxer Joe Cordina and former Swans striker Lee Trundle.

Speaking on the impact of Snoop Dogg's investment in Swansea City and on local businesses in Swansea, Quinn said: "It's amazing for putting Swansea on the map. That's something we actively aim to do all the time.

"He's a global name and maybe one of the most famous people in the world.

Morgan and Sloth said they would both be attending the game tonight and wre "hopeful for a win".

Snoop Dogg has asked fans to serenade him by twirling towels on his first visit to the club.

The American rapper, who is a minority owner of the Sky Bet Championship club alongside American television host Martha Stewart and Croatia international Luka Modric, will make his first appearance at the Swansea.com Stadium at the Championship clash with Preston North End on Tuesday evening.

He has requested a sold-out crowd to be in their seats ahead of kick-off to twirl the complimentary towels – a staple action for supporters in American sport.

A post on Swansea's official X account read: "@SnoopDogg is asking the Jack Army to join him in a pre-match towel twirl this evening.

"Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 20 minutes before kick-off, and to twirl the towels as Snoop walks on the pitch."

The post was accompanied by a short video of the 54-year-old showing how he would like fans to do it.

His visit was announced last week and he said on the club's official website: "I know it has been a long time coming, but I cannot wait to finally make my first visit to Swansea.

"From the moment we talked about me becoming an owner, I have been looking forward to the chance to be with you all at the Swansea.com Stadium.

"I have heard so many great things about the atmosphere, especially when we play under the lights."

Snoop added: "When I watched the Wrexham game, where we showed we are the capital of Welsh football, the noise in the stadium sounded incredible even from over 5,000 miles away. I can't wait to be a part of it."

Tom Gorringe, chief executive of Swansea City, said Snoop had been at the training ground on Monday and he and his group were "really excited" about being here.

"It's not just a gimmick, he buys into what the club means and what it means to the wider city," he told BBC Wales.

He said there had been a huge amount of commercial interest.

"We're operating at a level we haven't done probably ever before, even in the Premier League days, in terms of our commercial swing and the brands we're speaking to."

The rapper hit headlines at the Winter Olympics, where he was an honorary coach for Team USA as well as a special correspondent for broadcaster NBC, when he asked British curlers Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds for a photo.

Snoop Dogg, known for hits like Gin and Juice, has had a successful three-decade music career, having topped the UK charts and received 16 Grammy nominations.