“No matter what, she held me down, she hold me down, she’s always been there for me,” the rapper said of wife Shante

Snoop Dogg is adding another award to his already impressive resume.

At the 2025 BET Awards, the hip-hop legend was honored as an Ultimate Icon, which celebrates “decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact,” per a press release.

Snoop, 53, received the honor alongside Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Kirk Franklin.

Dr. Dre introduced his “longtime collaborator and friend” and called him “one of the most prolific artists in hip-hop.”

The rapper and producer, 60, praised Snoop’s work in TV and film and said he’s “one of the greatest pitchmen ever of all time.”

“Every time I turn on the TV, I see Snoop trying to sell something,” Dr. Dre quipped.

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025.Kevin Winter/Getty

“He’s a special individual, and I recognize that over 30 years ago, when we first met and worked together, his laidback flow, his charm, his innate charisma, along with his ability to reinvent himself while staying true to his roots, is one of the reasons why I love him. He’s one of the only artists I know who could go from being the poster child for making violent hip-hop music to the face of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

He then called Snoop “one-of-a-kind” before the honoree arrived on stage with his wife Shante Broadus, to whom he’s been married since 1997.

Before launching into his speech, he paid tribute to the other three recipients of the Ultimate Icon Award. He told the crowd how much he appreciated Kirk Franklin’s music and how “healing” it was for him and his mother.

“I appreciate when you performed at my mother’s funeral — you’ve been a part of my family and I’m so honored to see you get that tonight. So Kirk, love you and your family,” said Snoop.

He then showed love and support for Foxx, who he knew “before he had a deal.”

“[God] was good to you, that’s why you’re still here,” said Snoop, referring to Foxx’s near-fatal stroke in April 2023. “And I’m loving what you’re doing right now with your girls. You’ve got queens in your life. You’re gonna be alright.”

Snoop Dogg at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025.Kevin Winter/Getty

Snoop then addressed Carey and recalled how he always tells her the same story.

“I always say this to you — when I was in the county jail in 1990, ‘Visions of Love’ would come on on Saturday mornings, and we would race to the TV just to see you. When I finally got a chance to meet you and do a record with you, you always treated me like family and it’s always been like that. I love you MC.”

Snoop then shared his gratitude to BET, family, “the teachers who taught me how to read and write,” “all of the MCs I’ve battled along the way” and his “Death Row family.”

He then thanked Dr. Dre. “I want to thank you, Dr. Dre, for allowing me the opportunity to ghostwrite for you on ‘Deep Cover,’ ‘Nuthin’ but a G’thang’ and just giving me a clear heart at allowing others to write with me and write for me,” said Snoop. “That’s one of my skillsets and I treasure to this day. So, thank you, Dr. Dre for opening me up to that.”

Snoop then shared his gratitude for his “beautiful wife.”

“See, this is why I’m so rock solid,” he said of Shante, 53. “This i swhy I’m able to deal with all of the things I’m able to deal with. I’ve got God in my life, and I’ve got a queen in my life.”

Snoop continued: “No matter what, she held me down, she hold me down, she’s always been there for me. She’s always been my everything. That’s why she’s on stage tonight. That’s why she’s in my life.”

He then praised his daughter Cori Broadus and shared that his granddaughter, who has been in the NICU since she was born at six months gestation in February, was almost ready to be released.

“She’s coming home,” he revealed, before thanking everyone for their prayers.

Snoop then gave a shoutout to his “greatest inspiration,” his 10 grandchildren, and his “angels,” his late mother and brother.

He then shared his gratitude to his “life coach,” singer and producer Charlie Wilson, who he credits with saving his marriage.

“One more shoutout to my life coach who kept me at home and showed me how to get my wife back, and, ultimately, get my life back,” said Snoop.

Shante Broadus, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on in June 9, 2025.Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

Snoop then shared how grateful he was to his fans who are still “rocking” with him today.

“Hip-hop gave me a voice, gave me a purpose, gave me a way out and a way in — into homes, hearts, cultures and countries I never thought I would even touch. Being an icon, it ain’t about fame, it’s about legacy. It’s about what you build, what you leave behind and who you lift up along the way. And this award, it ain’t just for me, it’s for the homeboys that I lost. For the next generation of artists. For everybody who’s still grinding and still believing, so that every young king and queen out there keep pushing. Be original. Be fearless. And above all, be you.”

Snoop concluded his speech by putting a spin on lyrics from 1992’s “Nuthin’ but a G’thang” and 1994’s “Gin & Juice.”

“Isn’t it ironic how I became iconic off a bag of chronic and some gin and tonic? And the part that makes it all crazy is Death Row is still the label that pays me. Peace and love,” he told the crowd.

Snoop then took the stage to perform his 2004 hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” as well as “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.” Wilson, 72, then joined Snoop on stage to perform the 2003 track “Beautiful.”

Warren G and Kurupt then closed out the set with “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None).”

The rapper, who made a splash as a commentator at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, talked to PEOPLE about his success in September.

Snoop Dogg in New York City in February 2025.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

“You think about all the things that I went through and where I’m at,” he said. “It’s a lesson: to let the world see growth, how somebody can go from being hated, banned from countries, thrown in jail [for] weed, to now America’s most lovable person. But it’s the same person.”

Not only is there a biopic about Snoop in the works, he was also named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. Fans will get to see more of him when he returns as a judge for season 28 of The Voice in the fall.

The BET Awards are airing live on Monday, June 9 from Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on BET.