Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco is set to join Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute as a distinguished visiting professor in Fall 2025. He will teach rap in the institute’s newly launched Bachelor of Music in Hip-Hop program, a groundbreaking initiative merging performance training with music engineering and cultural studies.
“The @peabodyinstitute is one of the oldest music conservatories in America, world-renowned for its rigorous training,” Fiasco shared on Instagram. “I’m honored to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most: Rap.”
The Bachelor of Music in Hip-Hop program, the first of its kind, is spearheaded by composer and professor Wendel Patrick. It aims to combine Peabody’s acclaimed Music Engineering and Technology expertise with its storied history of training elite musicians. Students will receive private lessons, study cultural history, and explore Hip-Hop’s sociopolitical origins and evolving techniques.
Lupe Fiasco in Higher Education
Fiasco’s appointment at Peabody extends his growing contributions to academia. He previously served as a visiting professor at MIT, where he explored language and rhythm through innovative programming competitions. He also collaborated with faculty on projects during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Reflecting on his teaching career, Fiasco noted, “I’ll continue my teaching at @MIT and pursuing my fellowship at @Yale while advancing Rap studies into the upper echelons of higher education.”
The Peabody program’s admission process emphasizes creative talent. Applicants are required to submit prescreening materials—ranging from original rap songs to 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.
Lupe Fiasco’s career began with his acclaimed 2006 debut album, Food & Liquor. Known for his storytelling and socially conscious lyrics, he earned a Grammy for hits like “Daydreamin’” and has continued to influence music and culture globally.