This is an incredible landmark for hip-hop. Harvard University has established the Nasir Jones Fellowship “to seek projects from scholars and artists that build on the rich and complex hip-hop tradition.” Nas released a statement saying that “In my rollercoaster of a life I’ve endured good and bad for sure, and I’ve truly been blessed to have achieved so much thru art in my short life thus far. But I am immensely over-the-top excited about the Nasir Jones HIP-HOP Fellowship at Harvard. From Queens, NY to true cultural academia. 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.” Salute to Nas, one of the greatest to ever do it. Related: Nas Performs in 1993 (Video)