Kanye West Receives Honorary Doctorate from School of Art Institute

Hip artist Kanye West was given an honorary doctorate by Chicago's School of Art Institute for his "transformative, genre-defying work."

The rapper who has often courted controversy for his bold comments admitted to feeling some nerve in the moments leading up to the ceremony.

"I don't feel that feeling a lot, the nerves of humility and modesty when being honoured," he said.

"A humanisation a reality of being recognised. And all I thought as I sit here kind of shaking a little bit is 'I need to get rid of that feeling.'"

Kanye West dropped out of Chicago State University at age of 20 years when he wanted to pursue his career his music.

In his acceptance speech, West said, "I am a pop artist. So my medium is public opinion and the world is my canvas".

He also felt that people shouldn't have to apologize for voicing their opinions.

'I'm sorry' is something that you can use a lot, it gives you the opportunity to give your opinion, apologise for it, and give you opinion again," he added in a lighter vein.

"And now a doctorate at The Art institute of Chicago", he continued.

"When I was giving a lecture at Oxford, I brought up this school because when I went on that mission to create in other spaces, apparel, film, performance.

"It would have been easier if I could have said that I had a degree at the Art Institute of Chicago," he said.

He was recommended for the honor when one of the staff members read a piece of about West wanting to study there.

However the decision to award the doctorate did not materialise without its share of drama.

When the announcement was first made, more than 1500 students signed a petition stating that West did not embody the values of the institution and that there were other hip hop artists who were more deserving of the honor.