Get ready for some lyrical lessons from #LupeFiasco as he joins the faculty at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Fall 2025.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper announced the thrilling news on Instagram. He shared a snapshot of himself sporting a Johns Hopkins cap and announcing his new title as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.
“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.”
Lupe has worked with both Yale and MIT in the past.
50 Cent and Scar Lip are two notable names in the rap or hip-hop industry. Despite their generational differences, the pair have consistently delivered original content. Naledi Ushe, a USA Today staff member, took the time to interview these icons. Ushe asked the rapers realistic questions about the connection between hip-hop culture and violence. Here is what they had to say.
50 Cent and Scar Lip Discuss Hip-hop and Violence
Naledi Ushe’s heart-to-heart conversation with 50 Cent clarified a notable myth about the rap industry. The Power star, who has also built a line of reputable businesses through his art, debunked the myth that rap culture heavily influences violence.
He further explained that the things people rap about are being depicted on screen in what are now considered iconic productions.
Adding in a confident tone, 50 Cent said, “There’s no rap record that has done more damage than the movie Scarface… than Godfather, Goodfellas.”
However, he acknowledged that some segments of rap music are more inclined towards spitting hard facts than others. Then, he cited drill music as an example.
Scar Lip Believes Rap or Hip-hop is a Reflection of the Society
Scar Lip stayed true to her name, mentioning that her rap songs are reflections of her environment and reality. The 22-year-old told Ushe that she raps about what she has seen and lived. She also added that nobody should hate rappers for being honest.
In her words, “So when we rap about guns when we rap about killings… the environment that we’ve been placed in. You can’t be mad when someone is rapping about things they’ve experienced.”
50 Cent’s proficiency remains top-notch. The 48-year-old rapper is a jack of all trades, mastering rap music and venturing into other arts like TV production, acting, and various other businesses.
On the other hand, Scar Lip is a young and talented rap star who found fame last year after her song “Glizzy Globber” became an internet sensation. She is currently signed to Epic Records and has not slowed down since her moment in the spotlight.
BET announces an original three-part documentary of its iconic music series,
“Rap City,”
As BET continues its year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.
“Welcome To Rap City”
Unlocks the
“Rap City”
Vaults, airing never-before-seen footage of iconic Hip Hop stars while providing viewers with a historic look back at the vital role of BET in amplifying Hip Hop across three decades.
Over three consecutive nights, the special features some of today’s hottest Hip Hop stars, behind-the-scenes movers & shakers, and the original
“Rap City”
Hosts who cemented this show into Hip Hop history.
The highly anticipated documentary series
“Welcome To Rap City”
Premieres Tuesday, October 10 at 8 PM ET/PT, followed by
“BET Hip Hop Awards”
2023.
“We are thrilled to commemorate Rap City, a series much like the genre that was ahead of its time, and proudly show viewers the impact this series had on music and culture over our three-night event,”
Said Sam D. Walker II, VP of Music Specials and Productions, BET.
Making its debut in 1989,
“Rap City”
Was the preeminent hip-hop series dedicated to rap music videos, important cultural commentary, and interviews with the stars of the moment, along with freestyles from artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Geto Boys, Eve, Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Killer Mike, LL Cool J, Ludacris, OutKast, Snoop Dogg, The Diplomats, Trina, and many more.
#Clique, what’s your favorite hip-hop song from your favorite rapper?
Rapper Beanie Sigel has revealed that he is working on a new project that will utilize artificial intelligence. The Philly rapper said that he has been using AI to help him recreate his old voice, which was damaged after he was shot in 2014.
“I think I found a good friend with this AI thing,”
On January 14th, an unnamed 15-year-old was dropped off at a Regal movie theater in Ocala, Florida by her mother so that she could watch a movie with a group of friends. After the movie had finished, the teen couldn’t get ahold of her mother. When the grandfather of one of her friends came to pick their grandchild up, he “refused to offer the victim a ride home.” A security guard employed at the theater, Augusta J. Williams, “informed the grandfather that he would watch over the victim until she could get a ride home,” Ocala Police Department said in a statement.
Williams then took the teenage girl to an empty theater playing the movie “Whale,” and brought her near the movie screen, behind the curtains. The victim thought that Williams was leading her to an exit so that he could take her home, but then he forced himself onto her. While being interviewed by investigators, the victim stated that she did not wish to engage in any sexual contact with Williams, but she was “fearful because he was armed with a gun.” She pleaded with him to stop, but Williams continued to assault her. He then made threats in order to keep her from reporting him.
After the assault, the victim’s mother was found inside the cinema’s lobby. Her phone hadn’t been working properly, and she wasn’t able to get in contact with her daughter, but went to look for her when she didn’t come home on time. The following day, the victim told her mother about what had happened, and they notified authorities, Law and Crime reported.
Regal’s security footage corroborated with the victims claims and showed Williams taking the teenaged girl into the empty theater, and leaving around twenty minutes later. A UV light behind the curtain also revealed possible physical evidence of the crime. Williams told investigators that he had only “assisted the victim in looking for her lost cell phone,” but the theater that the victim and her friends had watched a movie in was a different theater than the one Williams had taken the victim to.
Augusta J. Williams was attested and charged with sexual battery of a victim under the age of 18. The 31-year-old was taken to Marion County Jail and remains there on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to reappear in court February 21st.
“Heinous crimes like this can cause victims to feel paralyzed and overwhelmed, leaving them struggling to take action,” the department said in a statement. “We commend the victim for her strength and courage to come forward to law enforcement and seek justice. We applaud all our officers and staff for their hard work and efforts to make our community safe.”
