Kanye West to pick up honorary doctorate from art school

Kanye West is to be awarded an honorary doctorate from a leading art school in his native Chicago, Illinois.

The rapper, whose debut album was titled College Dropout, will pick up a degree from the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois in May.

Announcing the news to fans on Friday, West wrote, "I was a gifted artist since age five and won national competitions and went to art school. I'm actually getting an honorary doctorate on May 4 from the Art Institute of Chicago."

After graduating from high school, West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art in 1997 and began taking painting classes, but then transferred to Chicago State University to study English.

He eventually dropped out of college to pursue his musical dreams.