Mickey Factz Brings “The Art of the MC” to NYU’s Clive Davis Institute

Acclaimed lyricist and Grammy-winning songwriter Mickey Factz is stepping into the classroom this fall, this time as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Kicking off on October 23rd, Factz will lead a new wave of students through “The Art of the MC,” a course that dives deep into the craft, culture, and creative process behind emceeing.

Previously taught by Black Thought of The Roots, the class gives students front-row access to one of hip-hop’s most respected wordsmiths. Factz, known for his razor-sharp pen and storytelling finesse, has spent over two decades building a legacy that stretches from the golden blog era to collaborations with heavyweights like Drake, Lupe Fiasco, and Kendrick Lamar.

In true hip-hop fashion, the course will keep things hands-on, breaking down lyricism, freestyle fundamentals, performance techniques, and the historical roots that shaped the MC. Students will get a chance to not just study rap, but live it, analyzing bars, workshopping verses, and exploring how authenticity and artistry go hand in hand. Outside the classroom, Mickey Factz keeps things moving with Pendulum Ink, the rap academy he co-founded to help artists sharpen their storytelling, rhythm, and delivery. His new role at NYU is just another step in his mission to show that Hip-Hop deserves its spot in both the culture and the classroom.

By the end of the seven-week run, attendees will leave with more than just notebooks full of rhymes, they’ll have a deeper appreciation for the evolution of the MC, and a sharper command of the culture that continues to move the world. Congrats to Mickey Factz on a huge milestone and continuing to elevate the culture.