Snoop Dogg Inspires USC Business Graduates: “Adversity Is Like the Gym for Your Soul” and Shares 3 Golden Rules for Success

Hip-hop icon, entrepreneur, and investor Snoop Dogg delivered a powerful and heartfelt speech at the USC Marshall School of Business commencement ceremony this week, leaving graduates with wisdom forged from decades of overcoming adversity.

Speaking at the LA Memorial Coliseum, not far from his Long Beach roots, Snoop didn’t just show up to celebrate—he came to motivate.

“Adversity is like the gym for your soul,” he told the crowd. “It hurts. It’s heavy. But it builds you up.”

From Underdog to Industry Leader

Born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., Snoop reflected on his journey as an underdog who refused to quit. Throughout his career, he’s been doubted, overlooked, and underestimated—but never defeated.

“I stayed true to myself. I stayed focused on the vision. I turned those no’s into yes’s,” he said. “I’ve been an underdog my whole life. And guess what? I’m running the game now.”

Graduation Is More Than a Diploma

Snoop reminded the graduates that earning a degree is just part of the story.

“Graduation isn’t just about the diploma. It’s about the grind, the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the prayers whispered when no one else was watching,” he said.

And it’s the people who rise from nothing, he said, who bring the most heart.

“When you come from the bottom, you appreciate everything. You hustle different. You love different. You lead different.”

Snoop Dogg’s 3 Rules for Success

Snoop’s message to the graduates was clear and actionable. He offered three simple but profound lessons:

Stay humble – “Never forget where you came from.”

Stay hungry – “Keep that fire in your soul.”

Stay true – “Always be real with yourself and the world. Because the world doesn’t need more copies. It needs originals. And trust me—nobody can do what you do like you do.”

“Keep believing. Keep pushing. It’s always the underdogs who end up running the game,” he said.

Building an Empire, His Way

Beyond music, Snoop has built a formidable business empire. From launching brands like Snoop Cereal, Indo coffee, and an ice cream line, to investing in platforms like Klarna, Reddit, and Robinhood, his vision reaches far beyond entertainment.

He also co-founded Casa Verde Capital, a firm focused on cannabis investments, further cementing his legacy as a cultural and business force.

“I want to be one of those examples of someone who creates his own everything, owns his own everything,” he said in a 2021 New York Times interview. “A brand strong enough to stand next to Levi’s, Miller, Kraft — the ones that last a hundred years.”