CHEECH: I knew this was an important event, so I wore my formal Crocs tonight.

I'm the only guy I know that has a pair of black patent leather Crocs.

So, you know, here we are.

I've played this theater a couple of times before with Chong, so I'm really familiar with this building too.

Thank you very much.

You know, I want to thank the Hispanic Heritage Foundation for giving me this award, which I dedicated, I dedicate to all the artists who made it possible for there to be this category.

And we are still going now we have our first Chicano museum, and it's attracting worldwide attention, and, and support from the community as well as everybody else.

So, it's a happy day.

So, if you're ever in Riverside or even close to LA, come and see the, the museum.

It's, it's our first year we were voted one of the top 50 museums in the world.

So... (applause).

You know, I've come to the conclusion that art is the only thing we leave behind as a culture, because it says who we were, and who we are, and what we hold dear, and what is our, our purpose.

And, and it goes on for generations.

So it's, it's an incredible fortune to be, the head of a museum that everybody from around the world can go see.

And, I'm not taking this off for a little while.

So I want to thank you very much for your support.

That continues because the Chicano community has supported me since I made my first record at five years old.

♪ “¡Amorcito corazón!

No tengo tempazón” ♪ So what I say to all of you and to all of the people that come to the museum or will come to the museum: Muchisimas gracias y thank you very much.

A happy, happy night!

(applause) Gracias.