Rapper and songwriter Snoop Dogg won a BET Award Sunday for best gospel song, joining a list of past winners that includes well-known gospel artists Kirk Franklin, Lecrae and Yolanda Adams.
The win surprised many viewers, who apparently did not know Snoop – a leading gangsta rapper in the 1990s – had released a gospel album.
“Snoop Dogg… gospel… huh?” one person tweeted during the ceremony.
Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., won the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for his song Blessing Me Again, edging nominees Erica and Warryn Campbell, Fred Hammond, Tori Kelly and Franklin.
The song was part of a 2018 gospel album, Bible of Love, as Christian Headlines previously reported.
Snoop was not present to accept the award, although he told Franklin last year that he made the album for his grandmother, who passed away in 2016.
Franklin and Snoop talked about faith, music and life in a series of videos posted on Snoop’s YouTube account last year.
Snoop said his gospel album “fills your spirit with love, joy and happiness.”
“God ain’t done with me,” Snoop said.
When Franklin asked Snoop why he didn’t become a Christian rapper as a young man, he said, “My calling was to go minister to the streets first and then get the people and then tell them about God’s water once I got their attention.”
Franklin also asked Snoop what he thought the church could “do better.” Snoop grew up in the church.
“The first thing the church can do better is be… non-judgmental,” Snoop said. “Open your arms. Open them for the worst – the worst sinner. I don’t care what he been doing. Let him in.
“And then when you lose that,” he continued, “that’s half the battle. Because now you’re doing God’s work. You’re not judging somebody, you’re allowing them to come get their spirit right and to repent, and to testify, and to try to find their way and maybe come down to the altar to get born again.”
Related:
Snoop Dogg Takes the Stage, Tells Story of Redemption Following His Chart-Topping Gospel Album
Snoop Dogg Releases a Gospel Album, Says He’s a Born-again Christian
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Brian Ach/Stringer
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