Lupe Fiasco to teach rap degree at Johns Hopkins’ Peabody institute
Chicago emcee Lupe Fiasco is set to become a professor at Johns Hopkins’ Peabody Institute and will teach a course on rap. Beginning later in 2025, it will last four years and, if completed, will result in a degree.
In a statement, the ‘Superstar’ rhymer wrote, “I’ll be joining the faculty at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Fall 2025 as a Distinguished Visiting Professor, teaching Rap as part of the groundbreaking new 4-year Hip Hop Degree Program led by the visionary Professor [Wendel Patrick].”
Fiasco continued, “I’m honoured to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most Rap.” The Food & Liquor creator didn’t just release a statement but also posted a picture on Instagram of himself wearing a cap reading “Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute.”
The picture included the caption, “The Peabody Institute is one of the oldest music conservatories in America. World-renowned for its rigorous training and for producing some of the world’s greatest musicians, and I’m honoured to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most, Rap. I’ll continue my teaching at MIT and pursuing my fellowship at Yale while advancing Rap studies and practice into the upper echelons of higher education at large.”
The latter part of the caption refers to Fiasco’s dedication to being a Saybrook Associate Fellow, a role the emcee took on in the fall of last year. Fiasco has previously taught at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), where he taught a course called ‘Rap Theory and Practice’, where he led a technical exploration into the creation of rap music.
The applications for Johns Hopkins’ new four-year hip-hop degree program close on January 3rd. Students will learn about turntabling with a private instructor, attend seminars teaching them how to perform, and, importantly, learn about the cultural history and influence of hip-hop.
Lupe Fiasco isn’t the only acclaimed musician to be taking on the role of professor this year, as it has been announced that Brian Eno is similarly teaching a course on songwriting for the School Of Song’s January 2025 program.
However, Eno will conduct four lectures via Zoom, lead hour-long Q&A sessions with students, song-share sessions, and even one in-class writing exercise with the musician himself. The subjects covered during the course will include The Role of Surrender, Avant Gardening, Oblique Strategies, and more.