Hip-hop icon Fat Joe now has a new accolade to add to his legacy.
On Thursday, May 30, the 53-year-old “All the Way Up” rap star received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Lehman College, in recognition of “his ongoing commitment to uplifting the Bronx community and his profound impact on hip-hop culture, ” according to the school.
The New York native, born Joseph Cartagena, attended the school’s 56th annual commencement ceremony as a special guest and gave an impassioned speech to the Class of 2024 about his career rise and how it led to his latest honor.
“I could have been a doctor, but I had no patients,” he began. “Now they gave me a doctorate, and I give strength to patience.”
Fat Joe in Las Vegas in February 2024.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for fanatics
Citing his iconic line, “Yesterday’s price ain’t today’s price,” the “Lean Back” rapper went on to share with the students how his humble beginnings still paved the way for monumental success in music and beyond.
“People try to block your blessings on every corner, everywhere you go,” continued Fat Joe. “Sometimes you ask God: ‘Why me, God? Why is this happening to me?’ But if you didn’t die, that’s really a blessing because you learn from the lessons, so one day in the future you can apply that to your life and your success.”
He added: “You are just at the beginning of your life… Some of you have been around, but I tell you, success never stops. There is no age limit to success.”
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The hip-hop legend then reflected on how people advised him to “save [his] money” in the early days of their career because “rappers don’t last this long.” “I’m more successful now than I’ve ever been in my life,” he declared.
Celebrating his PhD on Instagram the next day, Fat Joe posted photos of himself wearing his graduation gown, captioned: “Still!!!!! Amazing God is the greatest 🙏🏽❤️.”
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As evidenced by his new doctorate degree, Fat Joe has used his hip-hop influence throughout his decades-long career to give back not only to his community, but to others far and wide. Earlier this month, he teamed up with Food For the Poor and fellow rapper Zoey Dollaz to launch a fund to help the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
The Terror Squad artist also extended his philanthropic efforts to the ongoing fight for healthcare price transparency in the US by supporting the Power to the Patients event held in Washington DC in March.
The rapper last released a single with AZ, “How We Get It,” in November 2023, which appeared on the latter’s album Truth be told album.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education