Lupe Fiasco is stepping into academia to share his insights on rap!
The artist, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, announced on Instagram that he will join Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute this fall as a professor for its four-year Hip Hop degree program. The program is led by Hip-Hop producer Wendel Patrick, who serves as an associate professor of music engineering and technology at the Peabody Conservatory.
“Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining the faculty at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Fall 2025 as a Distinguished Visiting Professor,” Lupe Fiasco wrote on Instagram.
The rapper behind “The Show Goes On” later added, “The @peabodyinstitute 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.”
As for what students can expect, the course will include lessons with a private instructor and opportunities to exercise their creativity among classmates.
“Following the one-on-one studio model of a traditional conservatory education, you will develop your skills in lessons with a private instructor — turntable majors will study with a world-class turntablist; rap majors with a chart-topping emcee,” a description of the program reads, according to Billboard. “And you’ll get to perform, with and for your colleagues, in an environment that encourages experimentation and authenticity.”
For eligible students looking to enroll in the course, the deadline is Friday, Jan. 3.
As for Lupe Fiasco, his support of students does not stop here. He is also a teacher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and will be leading a Spring 2025 course titled “Rap Theory & Practice.”
The course is also open to students enrolled at Harvard University, Wellesley College, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
While he is pouring into students, Lupe Fiasco is also making time to do so for himself. He revealed he is currently working to complete a fellowship at Yale University.
2025 is clearly off to a great start for the artist-turned-professor.