Kendrick Lamar presented Snoop Dogg with the I am Hip Hop gong at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Saturday (17.09.16).
The 29-year-old rapper was overcome with emotion at the ceremony at the Cobb Energy Performing Centre in Atlanta over the weekend when he handed his friend the prestigious gong and praised him for helping to shape his career in music.
He said as Snoop made his way to the stage: "He mastered the game through tests and challenges that earned him the respect of a college professor, except his game came from the streets. He put (me) on game, so I would avoid the same pitfalls…Snoop Dogg was the god, and continues to be so."
The 44-year-old rapper used his time on stage to encourage the younger generation to follow their dreams, regardless of the knock backs they receive along the way.
He said: "To all the young rappers in the game, a lot of people don’t understand you.
"Y’all are misunderstood. I was misunderstood at the beginning. So you got to keep pushing, be original and diverse. Hip Hop was created many years ago and it’s taken people so many places. You have to be who you are."
Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams also paid tribute to the ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ hitmaker at the 11th annual awards ceremony.
Snoop wasn’t the only artist up for an award at the event as Lamar also swiped the gong for Lyricist of the Year, DJ Khaled took home Hustler of the Year, while Fat Joe and Remy Ma won Track of the Year award for ‘All the Way Up’ and Best New Hip-Hop Artist went to Chance the Rapper.
The awards also featured performances from Gucci Mane, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne and Kevin Hart.
The ceremony will hit screens on October 4.
Kendrick Lamar presents Snoop Dogg with gong at BET Hip Hop Awards
