Pioneering MC Rakim, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential MC's in Hip-Hop has made history by receiving the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America from John Hopkins University.

The God MC as he is affectionately called, also served as commencement speaker for the 2025 Peabody Conservatory graduation ceremonies and received an honorary degree. The graduation program reads: "Rakim, you are a foundational figure in the history of Hip-Hop, one of the most influential and skilled MC's of all time. Few artists have had as great an impact on the development and progression of the art form's lyrical style as you have."

Congrats Rakim!

John Hopkins offers a Bachelor of Music degree in Hip-Hop, via Wendel Patrickl who is a professor at the university. Patrick is an award winning beat maker, composer, producer, and classically trained pianist.

The Hip-Hop degree program allows students to major in four specific studies: turntablism, beat boxing, rapping, and music production. "It's really a performance degree," Patrick told WMAR News. "You can come in and major as a turntablist, rapper, beatboxer, or as a producer."