British grime star Stormzy will receive an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge in recognition of his contributions to education, philanthropy, and the arts, the university announced on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Michael Omari Owuo Junior, will be awarded a Doctorate in Law for his efforts in promoting education, music, sport, and literature.
Stormzy has long been a champion of Black students in higher education. In 2018, he launched the Stormzy Scholarship, which covers full tuition and living expenses for Black British students at Cambridge. Initially supporting two students per year, the programme has since expanded to fund 12 annual scholarships, benefiting a total of 55 students so far.
“The ‘Stormzy effect’ has been credited with being a contributor to an increase in applications to Cambridge from Black students across the UK,” the university said in its statement.
Cambridge’s governing body, the Regent House, has approved the honorary degree, which will be awarded in an upcoming ceremony.
Stormzy, who boasts 9.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, will join other notable honourees, including American activist and scholar Angela Davis, a prominent figure in the fight against racism.
Despite his philanthropic success, the rapper made headlines earlier this year for a less academic reason when he was banned from driving for nine months after being caught using a phone behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce.
