In what continues to be a remarkable renaissance period for one of hip-hop’s most innovative voices, André “3000” Benjamin will be honored with an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. The ceremony, part of Berklee’s 2025 commencement celebrations, is scheduled for May 10 at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
This latest accolade comes at a particularly momentous time for the Atlanta native, who was recently announced as an inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside his Outkast partner Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. The duo, who helped redefine Southern hip-hop and collected six Grammy Awards throughout their career, will join music’s most exclusive club after decades of groundbreaking contributions to the industry.
The Berklee honor recognizes André’s profound impact on music and culture across his multi-decade career, placing him in the esteemed company of past recipients including Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, and John Legend.
André’s experimental 2023 solo album “New Blue Sun” marked his triumphant return to the recording landscape after a 20-year hiatus. The flute-driven instrumental project broke new ground by becoming the first instrumental album to chart on the Billboard 200. Its opening track, memorably titled “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time,” set records as the longest song to debut on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a curious side note, the nine-time Grammy winner recently posted “Missing” posters on social media seeking help locating a blue two-toned notebook containing “black sketches and notes” that was reportedly lost in Amsterdam Noord on March 29. While a representative confirmed to Stereogum that André is genuinely searching for his missing notebook, fans have speculated this could be related to upcoming music, especially after he confirmed last November that new material would be coming in 2025.
Berklee’s commencement weekend will kick off on May 9 with a tribute concert featuring more than 200 student performers paying musical homage to this year’s honorees, celebrating their lasting contributions to music and philanthropy.