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Snoop receives Leadership Award, talks about importance of community service

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The 15th annual Songs of Hope honors united songwriters, music industry insiders and more than a few preeminent doctors at producer Alex Da Kid’s Sherman Oaks compound on Thursday night. Jimmy Jam returned to host the event, which served as a fundraiser for the City of Hope medical treatment center, as well as a celebration of the craft of song. Songs of Hope has raised more than $4 million and serves as a run-up to next month’s City of Hope Spirit of Life gala honoring Epic Records chairman Sylvia Rhone, reports Variety. Producer The-Dream was on hand to receive the Warner/Chappell Music Beacon of Excellence Award. Speaking to Variety on the red carpet, Dream said he’s torn between a career as an artist versus one as a songwriter. “That’s the thing I’m struggling with at this particular moment,” he said “because most of my superstar friends think of me as an artist — and then the title comes out as songwriter. Songwriter is a thing that I do, but it doesn’t define the whole.” Clive Davis was tasked with presenting Legend in Songwriting awards to Drake collaborator Boi-1da and award winning songwriter Diane Warren.

Sony/ATV chairman and CEO Jon Platt presented the inaugural Social Leadership Award. “When I think of tonight’s honoree, Snoop Dogg, I think about his music and his songwriting. It was 1992 and I was still living in Denver. I was getting a haircut and ‘Rap City’ was on … I was a DJ, so I was like, ‘What is that?’ And then the next thing I said was, ‘Who is that?’ ” Fast forward to 2005 when the rapper carved out a new identity for himself: coach. Said Platt: “Think about the impact of that. … Of this guy as a cultural icon, a legend, and he starts this football league … and created this opportunity for so many others. And to me, that’s the social part of it. But the leadership part of it, in my opinion? To me, leaders are those who put others before themselves — and then you layer that with kids? [There’s] no other person who we can give this first award to.” Said Snoop: “My treasured baby.” That’s how Snoop described his youth football league from the stage. “I really never wanted to put no attention on it because I felt like when you are doing things that are from the heart, you shouldn’t have to put a camera on it.” For the rapper, it was an opportunity to give back to the community, not to get publicity. “It was more about me just coaching and giving the kids my time and devotion,” he said. “It was a beautiful feeling to see kids go from seven, eight years old, to not having an understanding of what football is to being some of the greatest football players in the NFL. And they still remember that you were part of their life — and they still call you coach. So to be able to get a leadership award is a beautiful feeling. I love being a leader — I thank you guys for acknowledging that. Thank you for appreciating me for who I am.”

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