He might be best known as the frontman of the band Black Eyed Peas, but will.i.am is not only that. He’s an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, dabbling in everything from artificial intelligence to eyewear and education. He’s advised on both the first mobile record company and first mobile bank. So, it was appropriate that he was asked to speak Friday at the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy’s inaugural commencement ceremony, which celebrated 30 students not unlike will.i.am — students who can’t be pigeon-holed as engineers, designers or artists but instead are big picture problem solvers.

USC Iovine and Young Academy celebrates its first graduating class, with help from will.i.am