Hip-hop legend Tariq Trotter, known as Black Thought, has been honored with an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Rutgers University-Newark. He delivered a powerful commencement speech to the 2024 graduating class, encouraging them to be the mythmakers of a new world. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 3,017 graduates, with Trotter emphasizing the significance of their journey and their ability to overcome challenges.
Pulitzer Prize-winner Salamishah Tillet praised Black Thought as one of the greatest of all time, highlighting his rise from a difficult childhood to a successful career in multiple creative fields. Trotter’s message to the graduates focused on their accomplishments and the self-myth they have created through their academic journey. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also commended the graduates for their diversity and urged them to advocate for freedom, equity, and justice in society.
Black Thought’s impressive career includes his role with The Roots as the house band on The Tonight Show, teaching at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, co-producing the Grammy-winning Hamilton Broadway cast recording, and acting on HBO’s The Deuce. He has engaged in academic discussions about themes in his memoir and performed thought-provoking freestyles addressing topics like Black identity, political corruption, and struggle. Trotter’s accolades now include an honorary doctorate, joining a prestigious list of hip-hop artists to receive such recognition.
The conversation between Black Thought and Columbia University’s Jelani Cobb explored the themes of his memoir, The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are. In a powerful freestyle performance at Harvard Innovation Labs, he tackled important issues such as Black identity, political corruption, and the Harlem Renaissance. Trotter’s contributions to the worlds of music, academia, and activism have solidified his status as a respected figure in hip-hop culture.
Honorary doctorates have been awarded to several hip-hop artists in recent years, including Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Kanye West, Missy Elliott, Common, and now Black Thought. These accolades recognize the significant impact these artists have had on music, culture, and society, highlighting the intersections between academia and hip-hop. Black Thought continues to inspire and educate through his music, teaching, and advocacy, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of artists and scholars.
