Snoop Dogg, the West Coast rap legend, shared his grief over the passing of his cousin, Darryl “Joe Cool” Daniel, best known for his iconic artwork on Snoop’s debut album “Doggystyle.”
On Monday, July 22, Snoop took to Instagram to announce the loss and reflect on their cherished moments together.
In a heartfelt post, Snoop shared a video of himself and Joe Cool backstage, where his cousin humorously lamented losing money on the Raiders. The clip featured Snoop rapping along to his 2017 track “Promise You This.” His caption, “R. I. P. my big cuzn joe cool,” expressed his sorrow with prayer hands and crying emojis.
Daz Dillinger, also a cousin to Snoop and Joe Cool, paid tribute with a series of nostalgic photos on Instagram, including one of the trio in the early ’90s. Daz’s emotional message highlighted their deep bond, stating how much he would miss his “bigg cuzn.”
Condolences poured in from many of Snoop and Daz’s friends, including Wiz Khalifa, Mike Epps, DJ Pooh, The D.O.C., Hi-Tek, KXNG Crooked, and former NBA player Matt Barnes. The hip-hop community united in mourning Joe Cool’s passing, reflecting on the impact he had on their lives.
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The cause of Joe Cool’s death remains unknown. However, his legacy extends beyond the iconic “Doggystyle” cover. He also designed artwork for Snoop Dogg’s “Tha Last Meal” and The Game’s “1992” albums. His distinctive illustrations were featured on products for adidas, Supreme, and 7-11. Joe Cool even authored a children’s book titled “Where’s the Cheese?” and dabbled in comedy, acting, and motivational speaking.
Joe Cool’s journey to creating the “Doggystyle” artwork showed his resilience. After overcoming personal struggles, he received a call from Snoop about designing the cover for his Dr. Dre-produced debut album. Joe Cool’s unique style and humor shone through in the illustration, which became a defining piece of hip-hop history.
Reflecting on his contribution, Joe Cool once said he never anticipated the cover’s iconic status. Seeing his artwork become widely recognized gave him a sense of pride and accomplishment.
