Snoop Dogg Admits He Was ‘Shy’ and Uncomfortable in Front of a Camera

Snoop Dogg has been in commercials, talk shows, television, and films. He said he used to be very shy in front of a camera.

Snoop Dogg spends much of his life in front of a camera. He is in countless ads, hosted a show with Martha Stewart, and, recently, was a near-constant presence at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Earlier in his career, though, he admitted he did not feel comfortable in front of a camera. He shared how he overcame this feeling.

Snoop Dogg said he initially felt uncomfortable in front of a camera

When Snoop began his career, he was a rapper. In the years since, while he continues to make music, he has acted, hosted shows, and started businesses. He said he realized his career could be more than just music when he acted in the 1994 short film Murder Was the Case. He wasn’t comfortable in front of the camera, but he realized the project opened up a new world of opportunities for him.

“In the beginning, I wasn’t comfortable on camera,” he told The New York Times in 2021. “I was kind of shy. But once I got to that stage, as far as to be able to shoot a movie that I asked for, that I wanted to be a part of, and it came to life — it was fascinating to me.”

He said the way people reacted to him helped him grow more comfortable on camera.

“Success and practice [helped with the shyness],” he said. “The more success you have and practice you have, the more familiar you become with it. Either love it or hate. I love what it do for me and I love what it do for other people when they see me onscreen. It’s a feeling of joy when people understand it and they get it.”

He shared how he expanded his career

In the years since appearing in Murder Was the Case, Snoop has expanded his interests far beyond music and acting. He said this was not his original plan.

“We weren’t into branding or any of that at first,” he said. “We were just into making good music and trying to be the dopest [expletive] in the world.”

With the help of rapper Master P, Snoop said he realized he could do more than just music. He began focusing on growing his business ventures.

“My branding and my business came when I was able to go to No Limit Records with Master P, and be under his guidance and his tutelage and his wisdom,” he said. “He taught me how to be a better businessman, how to be more than just a rapper, but to be about my business. It’s called show business. I had mastered show. But Master P showed me how to master the business.”

What movies has Snoop Dogg been in?

While his primary focus is not acting, Snoop Dogg has appeared in a number of films over the years. He has made cameos in some projects, but has also portrayed characters.

He had a supporting role in the award-winning film Training Day, and has also acted in television shows like The L Word, The Bernie Mac Show, and Monk.