He Couldn’t Kill It — So He Fed It: The Half-Year Reign of Snoop Dogg’s Pet Roach ‘The Gooch’

In the annals of hip-hop lore, few stories blur the line between absurdity and charm quite like Snoop Dogg’s unlikely cohabitation with a cockroach named The Gooch. What began as an attempted extermination in a Long Beach apartment ended with Snoop feeding the bug and letting it live rent-free for nearly half a year. The tale—told during his July 2023 interview with Canadian music journalist Nardwuar—has since taken on a life of its own, becoming yet another example of Snoop’s unshakable sense of humor, laid-back spirit, and enduring knack for storytelling.

The Birth of ‘The Gooch’
Snoop, born Calvin Broadus Jr., recalled moving into an apartment in his early career days and discovering a roach so persistent that no amount of swatting or spraying could take it down. “We tried to kill the muthaf—- when we first moved in and he wouldn’t die,” Snoop told Nardwuar. In time, the insect grew to “about the size of a whole dollar bill,” earning Snoop’s reluctant respect. Rather than continuing the futile battle, he and his roommates started feeding the creature—and gave it a name: The Gooch.

The name, possibly inspired by a bully from the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, was the final touch in turning the pest into a pet. “He lived his best life,” Snoop laughed, framing the unlikely arrangement as more roommate than infestation.

From Long Beach Struggles to Hip-Hop Stardom
Though it’s an undeniably lighthearted anecdote, The Gooch’s tenure in Snoop’s apartment happened during a formative chapter in his life—before his 1993 debut album Doggystyle catapulted him into global fame. At the time, Snoop was navigating a rough Long Beach upbringing, a fledgling rap career under Dr. Dre’s mentorship, and the grind of making ends meet. That he chose to feed the bug rather than squash it feels perfectly in line with his ability to find humor, and even camaraderie, in the most unexpected corners of life.

A Pattern of Affection for All Creatures
Snoop’s fondness for The Gooch wasn’t an isolated incident. A longtime animal lover, he’s parlayed his affection into ventures like Snoop Doggie Doggs, a pet lifestyle brand selling toys, apparel, and accessories for cats and dogs. While most of his publicized love for animals centers on more traditional pets, caring for an oversized roach for months underscores his “no creature too small” philosophy—intentional or not.

Family, Humor, and Domestic Life
The story even has a family twist. In the same interview, Snoop joked that his wife, Shante Broadus, might have “sold the muthaf—-” during one of her yard sales while he was away. It’s the kind of punchline that blends domestic life with Snoop’s signature wit—reminding fans that beneath the celebrity image is a man who enjoys telling a good family story.

Fan Reaction and Internet Fame
Once the clip hit social media, The Gooch became a trending topic. Fans reacted with a mix of disbelief and delight—tweets ranged from “Only Snoop would make a pet out of a roach” to “The Gooch living rent-free in Snoop’s crib is iconic.” Entertainment outlets from Complex to Hot 97 called it peak Snoop: a bizarre, hilarious, and oddly wholesome story that only adds to his cultural legend.

In the end, The Gooch may have been just a cockroach, but in Snoop Dogg’s hands, it became something more—a symbol of his easygoing nature, his willingness to embrace life’s quirks, and his gift for turning even the smallest, strangest details into unforgettable tales. As Snoop himself might put it, The Gooch really did live its best life.