He’ll be teaching under the new hip-hop degree program — and the moment marks another major crossover between hip-hop and higher education.

Lupe Fiasco, the Grammy Award–winning rapper celebrated for influential hits like “Daydreamin’” and “Superstar,” is widely regarded as one of the most intellectually rigorous lyricists of his generation. Known for blending political commentary, literary depth, and imaginative storytelling, Fiasco has long positioned hip-hop as both an art form and a cultural classroom. Now, he’s bringing that philosophy directly into academia. According to CBS News (CBS News), he has been appointed a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

The Chicago-born artist will be teaching rap and lyricism as part of Peabody’s newly launched Bachelor of Music in Hip Hop, a groundbreaking degree program designed to elevate hip-hop performance, production, and scholarship within a formal conservatory setting. The initiative is led by professor, composer, and veteran musician Wendel Patrick, whose work in hip-hop production and classical training has been profiled by outlets such as NPR (NPR). The program aims to build upon Peabody’s century-long legacy of producing world-class musicians while embracing the contemporary cultural force of hip-hop.

According to the Institute’s description, “The new Bachelor of Music in Hip Hop will combine the resources and strengths of Peabody’s industry-leading Music Engineering and Technology programs with the Conservatory’s long history of excellence in performance training.” Publications like Rolling Stone and Billboard have highlighted how this program represents a broader movement in academia to legitimize hip-hop not only as entertainment but also as a sophisticated discipline worthy of scholarly study.

This isn’t Lupe Fiasco’s first time bridging hip-hop with higher learning. He previously served as a visiting professor and scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he co-led a programming competition that explored the intersection of rhythm, language, and computation — a collaboration spotlighted by The New York Times (The New York Times). During the 2022–2023 academic year, he deepened his involvement with MIT’s Comparative Media Studies department, working with students on creative writing, computational thinking, and artistic analysis.

Fiasco shared the news of his Peabody appointment on social media, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue expanding hip-hop’s academic footprint while still maintaining his roles at MIT and Yale.

“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 honored to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most — Rap,” he wrote. He added that he plans to continue his teaching at MIT and pursue his fellowship at Yale while “advancing Rap studies and practice into the upper echelons of higher education at large.”

His appointment reflects a larger trend recognized by The Washington Post and Variety (The Washington Post, Variety), which have reported on elite universities increasingly embracing hip-hop as an academic discipline, acknowledging its artistic complexity and cultural significance.

Students interested in learning directly from the “Food & Liquor” innovator — whose albums have been praised by critics for their introspection and social critique — will have the chance beginning Fall 2025, when his Peabody classes officially open for enrollment.

With Lupe Fiasco joining Johns Hopkins, hip-hop continues its ascent in the academic world, proving once again that the genre’s influence extends far beyond the charts.