Dr. Kanye West Gives Honory Doctorate Speech at SAIC

“I am a pop artist, so my medium is public opinion. And the world is my canvas” said Kanye West, the latest to be awarded an honorary doctorate degree at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The creative polymath beamed with pride wearing the traditional cap and gown as he accepted the honorary PhD from one of the most acclaimed art schools in the U.S.

Kanye’s first three albums — The College Dropout, Late Registration and Graduation — were filled with discouragement for being denied a place he wanted in art school. In his honorary speech, he told students to not be afraid to speak out on their opinions. Although he never finished his degree in English at Chicago State University, a mainstay where his late mother Dr. Donda West was chair of department, today the Grammy Award-winning artist and film director received his latest accolade with esteem, following suit from creatives such as Jeff Koons, Pattis Smith and Theaste Gates. Check out Kanye’s speech above and listen to his full lecture here where he speaks to students on topics of fashion, art and music.