Lupe Fiasco Joins Johns Hopkins University as Hip-Hop Professor
Grammy-winning rapper and educator Lupe Fiasco is set to take on a new academic role as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University. Beginning in Fall 2025, the Chicago-born artist will teach rap at the university’s prestigious Peabody Institute, one of the nation’s oldest and most renowned music conservatories.
The announcement, shared by Lupe on Instagram on January 1, marks another milestone in his growing presence in academia. He posted a photo of himself wearing a Johns Hopkins baseball cap, expressing his excitement about contributing to the institute’s newly launched four-year Hip-Hop Degree Program, led by Professor Wendel Patrick.
“Let’s hit the ground running in 2025,” Lupe wrote. “Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining the faculty at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute… I’m honored to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most: Rap.”
Lupe also confirmed that he would continue his teaching roles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his fellowship at Yale University while expanding the scope of rap studies in higher education.
A Busy Year in Music and Education
Lupe Fiasco’s academic announcement follows a productive 2024, during which he released Samurai, his ninth studio album, and briefly revived his collaborative project, Child Rebel Soldier (CRS), with Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. The revival included “Shrink,” a freestyle over Radiohead’s Kid A track “Optimistic,” though the track was later removed due to a cease-and-desist order from the band.
In an October interview with Sway in the Morning, Lupe joked about the challenges of sustaining CRS, blaming the group’s hiatus on his collaborators’ immense success. “The two richest n-ggas in the group,” he said with a laugh, referring to Kanye and Pharrell, “are eating golden sandwiches and stitching Rick Owens coats while I’m trying to get them to focus.”
Building a Legacy in Academia
Lupe’s appointment at Johns Hopkins highlights his dedication to blending his artistic expertise with education. His involvement with the Peabody Institute’s Hip-Hop Degree Program is part of a broader trend of integrating hip-hop into formal academic settings.
The program, one of the first of its kind, aims to explore rap as an art form while providing rigorous training to the next generation of artists and scholars. Lupe’s influence as an artist and educator is expected to shape the program’s trajectory, bringing authenticity and innovation to the curriculum.
As Lupe continues to balance music, academia, and cultural leadership, his contributions reflect the growing recognition of hip-hop as a vital and dynamic part of global culture. Fans and students alike are eager to see how his involvement at Johns Hopkins will further elevate the art form.
