Lupe Fiasco is set to begin shaping young minds this fall as part of MIT’s MLK Visting Professors and Scholars Program where he’ll teach a class about rap, and Jermaine Dupri is here for it.
The acclaimed producer recently caught up with TMZ Hip Hopat the Los Angeles International Airport, where he said he hopes Lupe’s course inspires other rappers to pivot towards academia since so many young kids listen to rappers.
“If it’s in your body, if it’s your system you know cause the kids actually listen to us,” Dupri said. “They listen to us more than they listen to teachers so if it’s in you to do it then you should definitely do it.”
When asked if Dupri would ever consider teaching, the So So Def Records founder scoffed and said, “Nah.”
However, the veteran hitmaker will soon be called Dr. Dupri himself, as the producer will receive an honorary degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta this summer. He announced on Instagram he will also serve as the commencement speaker for this year’s graduating class.
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“Yo, I guess from this day forth you gotta call me Dr. Dupri,” the esteemed songwriter said on Wednesday (May 12). “Shout out to the Art Institute of Atlanta. I will be doing the commencement speech at this year’s graduation as well as receiving a Doctor of Fine Arts Degree, yeah. I seen Ludacris get his degree…I got mine now! Dr. Dupri.”
Dupri added in a separate statement that he hopes his commencement speech will show the kids that hard work and perseverance pays off.
“The students set to graduate from Ai Atlanta are unlike other graduates – they are truly super creatives – so it’s really exciting for me to speak to them and impart some advice on their special day,” Dupri added. “I hope they see me as proof that hard work and unrelenting dedication busts down doors and makes anything you want to achieve possible.”
