Fat Joe was recently honored with an honorary Doctorate by Lehman College in his hometown of The Bronx. The prestigious award was presented to him at the college’s 56th Annual Commencement Ceremony on May 30. During the ceremony, Fat Joe received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree and delivered a heartfelt speech emphasizing his belief in the American dream and the importance of giving back to the community.
During his speech, Fat Joe shared a powerful anecdote about a friend who started out selling fish on the side of the highway and went on to open the biggest fish market in the Bronx. He encouraged the graduating students to break the cycle of poverty in their families and to pursue success at any age. Reflecting on his own career, Fat Joe spoke about being advised in the early days to save his money because rappers don’t last long in the industry. At 53 years old, he now considers himself the most successful he’s ever been.
In a video leading up to the ceremony, Fat Joe expressed his pride in overcoming the adversity and violence he faced growing up to achieve success. The honorary doctorate serves as a testament to his resilience and dedication to his craft.