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André 3000 will soon receive one of music’s highest academic honors.
On May 10, Berklee College of Music will award him an honorary Doctor of Music degree during its 2025 commencement ceremony at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. The recognition reflects not only his revolutionary contributions to hip-hop, but also his lasting impact on the evolution of music and culture.
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André Benjamin, known to the world as André 3000, has long existed in a space beyond genre. As one-half of the Atlanta duo Outkast, alongside Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, he helped reimagine Southern rap, steering it away from regional stereotypes and into global acclaim. Their sonic innovation earned them six Grammy Awards, a Diamond-certified album, and a permanent place in the hip-hop canon.
This honorary doctorate arrives during a season of overdue recognition for André. He and Big Boi are also set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, cementing Outkast’s influence on generations of artists. Yet André’s individual journey continues to evolve in unexpected directions.
In 2023, he released New Blue Sun, his first solo project in two decades. The entirely instrumental, flute-centered album defied expectations, challenging listeners to meet him on new terrain. It became the first instrumental album ever to chart on the Billboard 200.
The album’s lead track—titled “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time”—set a record as the longest song to debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Without lyrics, André still commanded attention, proving that vulnerability and risk could resonate more powerfully than formula.
Berklee’s tribute is part of a weekend celebration beginning May 9, where over 200 student musicians will perform a concert honoring the class of 2025’s special guests. These events highlight artists whose legacies stretch beyond commercial success into community and creative reinvention. Berklee’s past honorees include luminaries like Aretha Franklin, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, John Legend, and Quincy Jones.
André 3000’s recognition reflects more than past triumphs. It honors a restless imagination, one that continues to challenge genre, tradition, and expectation. His presence at Berklee will not only mark a milestone—it will inspire the next generation of artists to follow the wind, wherever it takes them.
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Dr. André 3000 To Be Exact: Rap Star To Receive Honorary Doctorate From Berklee College of Music – HOT 97
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