Snoop Dogg kicked off his first MTV VMAs hosting gig with a joke that didn’t exactly win over the room. The rapper’s attempt at humor drew boos before he quickly moved on.
Snoop’s hosting debut marks the latest chapter in the VMAs’ decades-long history, including 13 nominations, three wins, and several memorable performances.
Snoop Dogg’s Opening Punchline Gets A Frosty VMAs Reception
Snoop Dogg’s first stint as host of the MTV Video Music Awards got off to a rocky start after his opening joke drew boos from the crowd and a brutal reaction online.
The 54-year-old rapper took the stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Sunday, September 27, shortly after Madonna opened the ceremony. Snoop tried to get the audience involved in his monologue with a familiar setup.
“Knock, knock!” he shouted, prompting the crowd to respond, “Who’s there?”
“These nuts!” Snoop replied. The punchline was immediately met with boos, but the rapper appeared unfazed. “I knew you’d like that!” he joked before declaring, “Let’s get this party cracking!”
The Laid-back entertainer’s Hosting Divides Viewers
Some viewers watching at home weren’t much more forgiving. One called Snoop “so cringe,” while another bluntly declared, “Snoop sucks!!!”
Another viewer appeared more puzzled by his limited presence than critical of his performance, joking, “I think Snoop only appears twice in the show.”
Still, the rapper had plenty of fans in his corner. “They chose the right host,” one viewer declared, while another wrote, “Uncle Snoop is the best, and he was definitely the perfect choice to host the show in the West Coast!”
The Charismatic Emcee’s Hosting Debut Brings His VMAs Journey Full Circle
Despite being a rookie host, Snoop Dogg has plenty of VMA history. The rapper made his debut on the show’s main stage in 1994 and has since racked up 13 nominations and three Moon Person wins.
In 1999, Snoop helped close out the ceremony alongside Dr. Dre and Eminem. Six years later, he returned to pay tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. Snoop teamed up with Eminem again in 2022 for a performance inspired by the Otherside metaverse.
Ahead of his hosting gig, the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper described returning to the show in a new role as a “full-circle moment.” He credited MTV and the VMAs with giving hip-hop a platform early in his career.
Snoop Dogg Wants An ‘Uncle Snoop’ Party At The VMAs
Snoop Dogg wasn’t interested in following another host’s playbook when he took charge of the VMAs. The rapper told Forbes that he didn’t seek advice from any of his predecessors. Instead, Snoop trusted the personality fans have come to know over his decades in the spotlight.
“I respect everybody who’s done it before me, but I knew the best thing I could do was be myself,” he explained. “I wanted it to feel like you were coming to a party with Uncle Snoop.”
That philosophy extended to the ceremony’s unpredictable nature. Snoop argued that the VMAs were never meant to be an overly serious affair where everyone simply “shows up wearing a suit.” He added, “It’s music, it’s entertainment, it’s supposed to be a little unpredictable.”
The Veteran Hitmaker Credits The Olympics And ‘The Voice’ For His VMAs Prep
Snoop also pointed to his work at the Olympics and on “The Voice” as valuable preparation for the VMAs.
“The Olympics taught me that you can walk into a completely different world and still connect with people just by being yourself,” he told Forbes.
His time as a coach on “The Voice” taught him something different. Snoop said the experience showed him when to step aside and allow other performers to command the spotlight. “Know when to talk, know when to get out of the way, and let the talent have their moment,” he explained.
