Rapper Kanye West received an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on Monday.
West studied painting at the American Academy of Art, then studied English at Chicago State University. He dropped out at age 20 to pursue a career in music.
Since then, West has created a legacy that spans music, production, fashion and technology. Speaking to the graduating class, West admitted that he was nervous.
"I felt my nerves a bit, and I don't feel that feeling a lot. The nerves of humility and modesty when being honored. A humanization a reality of being recognized. And all I thought as I sit here kind of shaking a little bit is 'I need to get rid of that feeling,'" said West.
West got a few laughs out of the crowd when he said, "George Bush, has some very cool self-portraits." The joke was a reference to when the rapper said during a Hurricane Katrina telethon in 2005 that Bush "didn't care about black people."
West won praise from his wife, Kim Kardashian. She tweeted, "Dr. Kanye West!!!!!!! I'm so proud of you baby & I know your mom would be so proud too!!!!"