On November 19, 2018, legendary rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg (Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) received the 2,651st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Recording. The ceremony, held just ahead of the 25th anniversary of his seminal debut album, Doggystyle , was a gathering of hip-hop royalty, including Dr. Dre , Pharrell Williams , and Quincy Jones , alongside host Jimmy Kimmel . While Snoop Dogg paid touching tribute to his family, collaborators, and mentors, he saved the most memorable and audacious moment for last.
The Speech That Stunned Hollywood
Stepping up to the podium, Snoop Dogg took a sharp left turn from the expected humility of an award speech. After giving credit to others, he shifts the focus to the man who made it all possible—himself. The declaration was an instant classic, stunning the gathered celebrities before making the crowd erupt in applause.
The full quote is a perfect encapsulation of his enduring, self-made philosophy: “Last but not least, I want to thank me for believing in me. I want to thank me for doing all this hard work. I want to thank me for having no days off. I want to thank me for never quitting. I want to thank me for always being a giver and trying to give more than I receive. I want to thank me for trying to do more rights than wrong. I want to thank me for just being me at all times. Snoop Dogg, you a bad motherf*er.”
This unconventional act of radical self-affirmation resonated globally, transforming a standard award speech into a viral moment of motivational integrity.
The Data Behind the Self-Belief
Snoop Dogg’s success, which he rightfully thanks himself for, is built on an expansive career that stretches far beyond music and highlights his entrepreneurial drive. His success is backed by impressive data:
He has sold over 35 million albums worldwide since the release of Doggystyle in 1993. His estimated net worth stands at approximately $160 million , fueled by his diverse business empire. Key milestones in his career include co-founding the cannabis-focused investment firm Casa Verde Capital and, in a full-circle moment, acquiring the iconic label Death Row Records in February 2022. This versatility extends to television (eg, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party ) and lucrative brand partnerships.
Related Notable Events: Moments of Unconventional Gratitude
Snoop Dogg’s speech is part of a tradition of celebrity award show moments that subvert expectations to deliver a message. This includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s 2019 Emmy speech for Fleabag , where she cited the character of the Hot Priest for “bringing the filth,” reinforcing the key element of transgression that defined the show’s success. Similarly, the 2009 Posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger reminded of the ultimate commitment made for cinematic greatness.
Snoop Dogg’s “I want to thank me” moment stands as a powerful testament to personal accountability and self-reliance, proving that sometimes, the hardest person to believe in, and the most important one to thank, is yourself.