P.Diddy will receive an honorary doctorate degree from Howard University in Washington DC and is on the bill to deliver the keynote speech at its graduation ceremony on May 10 – the same college he dropped out of in 1990 to pursue a career in music.
The rapper had been studying a degree in business in the college when he decided to quit and pursue his interest in music.
Taking to his Instragram account, P.Diddy – real name Sean Combs, said he was ‘truly speechless’ by the move:
“For one of the first times in my life I am truly speechless. There are no words to describe the feeling I had when I heard the news that @HowardU was presenting me with an Honorary Doctorate degree and inviting me to give the keynote commencement address on May 10th. @howardU I’m coming home! Thank you to @WFrederickMD, the Howard University Board of Trustees and all of the students of Howard University #TurnUp #Bison4Life.”
Despite some backlash from current students, who voiced concern on Twitter that the message of a keynote speaker was to ‘drop out of college and become rich’.
Speaking to TMZ, a spokesperson for the university said:
“Howard University continues the tradition of identifying leaders whose work has clearly contributed to the advancement of their fields and the world … We are honoured to have Mr. Combs serve as our speaker.”
P.Diddy was recently named the wealthiest man in hip hop, with a rumoured fortune of $700 million.
