Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Life is truly good for hip-hop star Nasir Jones. The veteran rapper, who has influenced many through his socially conscience rap lyrics, now has a fellowship named after him at the prestigious Harvard University.
According to the L.A. Times, The W.E.B Dubois Institute at Harvard University and the Hip Hop Archive announced this week the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship. Reportedly, the fellowship will provide chosen scholars and artists with an opportunity to show that “education is real power.”
“Having welcomed various artists and scholars, the Hip-Hop Archive and Research Institute is uncompromising in our commitment to build and support intellectually challenging and innovative scholarship that reflects the rigor and achievement of hip-hop performance,” Marcyliena Morgan, professor of African and African American studies at Harvard, said in a statement.
Founded in 2002 by Morgan, The Hip-Hop Archive supports research and scholarship devoted to the music genre. Its overall mission is to find projects from scholars and artists that will build on the rich and complex hip-hop tradition. These projects will hopefully represent the creative and intellectual contribution to hip-hop and may include manuscripts, performances pieces, album work, and curriculum planning.
For Nas, the fellowship has him over-the-top-excited considering his “rollercoaster of a life.”
“My hopes are that greed for knowledge, art, self-determination and expression go a long way. It is a true honor to have my name attached to so much hard work, alongside great names like Henry Louis Gates Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois and to such a prestigious and historical institution, and all in the name of the music I grew to be a part of.”
Nas first burst onto the music scene in 1994 with his debut album, Illmatic. Since that time, he has gone on to produce 11 studio albums and a number of top ten records. His 2012 album, Life is Good was nominated for a Grammy this year and includes the hit song, “Cherry Wine” featuring the late Amy Winehouse.
Kudos to Nas!
Photo Credit: artafactshh.com
