Snoop Dogg Reflects on His Olympics Success: 'I Love That NBC Was Willing to Take a Chance on Somebody Like Me'

The new 'Voice' coach looks back on his golden success as a superstar commentator for the summer Games

Never in his wildest dreams did Snoop Dogg picture himself as the face of the Olympics.

"Never, never, never," Snoop, 52, tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story, opening up about his wild ride from hip-hop bad boy to one of America's favorite guys. "Not that I couldn't or wouldn't, but it was never in my things to do because it was beyond me."

At least it felt that way, he says, "based off of where I started." Caught up in gang violence decades ago as a young adult and gangster rapper coming of age in '80s and '90s South Los Angeles, he recalls, "we used to rap about living to see 21,” he says. “That was the goal."

But the star, behind early hits like 'Nothin' But a 'G' Thang' and 'Gin & Juice', has long moved on from the pitfalls of that life, blossoming into a sought-after media personality while still staying true to himself and where he came from. Thus when NBC came knocking, he was ready.

Related: Snoop Dogg on His Surprising Journey from Rap Rebel to 'America's Most Lovable Person' and Voice's New Coach (Exclusive)

"Over the years I felt like I positioned myself for this," he says of being tapped as commentator for the summer olympics in Paris. "Showing I’m reliable, professional, that I know what I’m doing, and people love to see me.”

His off-the-cuff commentary full of homegrown slang coupled with some hilarious fish-out-of-water antics endeared him to millions watching around the world. And he’s grateful: “I love the fact that NBC was willing to take a chance on somebody like me that’s kind of rough around the edges. It’s an advantage to everybody looking at this that come from where I come from.”

NBC's Olympics primetime host Mike Tirico PEOPLE, "What really cut through for me was his connection with both the athletes and their families. In our business, there is no hiding genuine enthusiasm and Snoop’s love of telling the stories of Team USA helped distinguish our coverage."

And pal Martha Stewart agrees. “Snoop is an enigma," she says. "On the one hand, he’s one of America’s most famous rappers. On the other hand, he’s one of America’s most famous sports newscasters, who single-handedly brought many more millions of viewers to the Olympics this year than ever before with his charm, generosity of spirit and with his good humor."

That humor was one full display as he jumped head first into the experience. Says Stewart, "Supposedly he is terrified of horses, that’s why I went to Versailles, to help him with the dressage competition. Once he laid his hands on the multi-million dollar dressage horses he fell in love, finally understanding that horses are to be loved, not feared."

From riding a thoroughbred in full equestrian attire, to swimming with Michael Phelps (his idea!) Snoop Dogg proved that, well, you can in fact teach an old dog new tricks.

"There was things that I went through that forced me to survive. Whether it was court cases, or record companies, losing friends through violence, and rapping about violence and feeling like I contributed," he says. "You think about all the things that I went through and where I'm at, it's a learning lesson, but it's the greatest lesson in the world."

As for what the newest Voice coach hopes people take from his incredible journey, "No matter where you start," he says, "you do right by people, you do your job, and you keep grinding, you keep your head down, ain't no telling where you may be."

For more from Snoop Dogg, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

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