Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco will bring his lyrical expertise to the prestigious Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Starting in Fall 2025, Fiasco will serve as a distinguished visiting professor, teaching rap within the institute’s newly launched Bachelor of Music in Hip-Hop program—the first degree of its kind at a major conservatory.
Peabody’s program, spearheaded by composer and professor Wendel Patrick, is a historic initiative that integrates Hip-Hop’s creative expression with rigorous academic and performance training. Students will study the genre’s sociopolitical origins, cultural evolution, and technical artistry while honing their craft through private lessons and cutting-edge music engineering courses.
Fiasco expressed his excitement for the role on Instagram.
“The @peabodyinstitute is one of the oldest music conservatories in America, world-renowned for its rigorous training,” he wrote. “I’m honored to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most: Rap.”
The appointment adds to Fiasco’s growing academic resume. He previously served as a visiting professor at MIT, where he explored the interplay of language and rhythm through innovative programming and collaborations with faculty. He’s also pursuing a fellowship at Yale University.
“I’ll continue my teaching at @MIT and pursuing my fellowship at @Yale while advancing Rap studies into the upper echelons of higher education,” Fiasco added in this post.
The Bachelor of Music in Hip-Hop program blends Peabody’s esteemed history with a modern focus on Hip-Hop as a legitimate and transformative art form. Applicants are required to submit creative prescreening materials, such as original rap compositions or turntable performances, before live auditions.
“This degree represents a new chapter in Hip-Hop’s recognition as an art form deserving of formal study and preservation,” said Professor Patrick in a statement.
Photo credit: LupeFiasco.com
4
