A groundbreaking musician who has changed the trajectory and sound of American music, Hip-Hop pioneer Rakim delivered the address for the Peabody Conservatory’s 2025 Graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, May 21. Rakim attended both the morning ceremony for undergraduates and the afternoon ceremony for graduate students. Rakim received the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America, the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute, presented annually since 1980.

“Just a teenager when he launched his career, Rakim has amassed decades of success as a performing artist, entertainer, and cultural icon,” noted Peabody Dean Fred Bronstein. “As our graduating student artists begin to create their paths forward, they will no doubt find inspiration in the words and life story of this truly foundational figure in Hip-Hop.”

Rakim is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled emcees of all time, hailed for his intricately intellectual lyrics and a singular style of delivery that draws on a deep understanding of not just hip-hop, but also the jazz and R&B influences that have surrounded him since his youth. He began his career as the emcee of the golden age hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, making their first mark with the release of the iconic “Eric B. is President” in 1986. The single marked a turning point in the Rap world—raising the bar for future emcees and revolutionizing the way rhymes are delivered. Rakim’s recordings—including Paid In Full, Follow the Leader and The 18th Letter—have sold in the multi-millions worldwide. Eric B. and Rakim were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and reunited on tour in spring 2019. Rakim has served as spokesperson for brands including Coca Cola, LVMH, and Nike, and he continues to work with young artists on his record imprint, Ra Records.

Rakim joins a roster of previous George Peabody Medal winners that includes Stevie Wonder, Misty Copeland, Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Renée Fleming, Tori Amos, Leon Fleisher, Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Pete Seeger, Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Leonard Bernstein. He will be the first rapper to receive the George Peabody Medal, as the Peabody Institute prepares to launch a first-of-its-kind Bachelor of Music in Hip-Hop with the first students enrolling in the program this fall.

This year marked the Peabody Conservatory’s 143rd Graduation exercises, at which 85 Bachelor of Music degrees, five Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, 142 Master of Music degrees, 15 Master of Arts degrees, 31 Graduate Performance Diplomas, and 24 Doctor of Musical Arts degrees are scheduled to be conferred.

 

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