This fall, Johns Hopkins University is poised to become the first U.S. educational institution to offer a bachelor’s degree in hip-hop performance.

The four-year program will be offered through the university’s Peabody Institute, the 167-year-old conservatory that has traditionally prepared students for classical music performing careers. In recent decades, the school has also branched out to add programs in jazz and dance.

In addition, the Grammy Award-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco announced on Instagram that he’ll be joining the hip-hop program as a teacher around Labor Day.

“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 four-year hip-hop degree program,” the rapper, who was born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, posted on Instagram.

Potential turntablists, rappers, beatboxers and producers are applying now for admission to the fall 2025 semester, a conservatory spokeswoman said.

She added that while it’s not unusual for universities and conservatories to include a class in hip-hop performance — something the Peabody has been doing since 2016 — Hopkins appears be the first university to offer a four-year program in the art form that will culminate in a bachelor’s degree in music.

“We’ve done our due diligence,” the spokeswoman said, “and we aren’t seeing a four-year program like this anywhere else.”

The Peabody’s newest academic initiative will be headed by the hip-hop producer Wendel Patrick, an associate professor at the conservatory.

Fiasco added that the Peabody is “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.”

Fiasco broke through in 2006 with his debut album, “Food & Liquor,” which included such hits as “Superstar” and “Daydreamin’.”

According to the program description on Peabody’s website, the hip-hop program will follow the same model as the other four-year programs at the conservatory by featuring a heavy dose of one-on-one instruction with leading hip-hop practitioners such as Fiasco.

Students also will learn about the cultural history and sociopolitical environment in which hip-hop was born, while also developing career and business skills.

Applications for the new program will be accepted through Jan. 24.

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