Lupe Fiasco to Serve as Rap Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute

Lupe Fiasco is adding to his educational résumé as he takes the next step in his teaching career. The Chicago rapper announced on Wednesday (Jan. 1) that he’ll be joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute as a visiting professor.

Lupe will be teaching a rap course as part of the esteemed university’s new four-year hip-hop program launching at the Peabody Conservatory in 2025.

“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, teaching Rap as part of the groundbreaking new 4-year Hip Hop Degree Program led by the visionary Professor @wendelpatrickofficialmusic,” he wrote to Instagram.

Lupe continued: “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.”

Even with the new gig, the 42-year-old will still be teaching at MIT and continuing to pursue his fellowship at Yale University.

The Food & Liquor rapper also gave a shout-out to the program’s lead professor and director, Wendel Patrick. The four-year hip-hop bachelor program is seeking students in the turntablist, rapper, beatboxer, or producer disciplines looking to take their skills to the next level.

“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. “And you’ll get to perform, with and for your colleagues, in an environment that encourages experimentation and authenticity.”

Students looking to enroll have limited time to apply, with the deadline coming up on Friday (Jan. 3) following a brief extension.

Find Lupe’s post about his next educational venture below.