. Are you the "hip hop expert" on your trivia team? Ludacris earned his degree in music management, which was a move that helped him launch his own label, Disturbing tha Peace, in 2000, and pave the way for longevity in the music business. A Screen Actors Guild and Grammy Award-winning artist, Chris Bridges may have gotten famous on some less-than-intellectual party jams, but the man himself is a mogul and a business mastermind. Degree: Theater,New York University Degree:Music Management,Georgia State UniversityImage Source: Hip Hop Wiki. After graduating in 1970, he went on to study at Yale University in History and Literature. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Before they were selling out shows and dishing out bars, a number of rappers spent their time hitting the books. The University of Houston is a state research university and the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. The Internet being what it is, however, the Miami MC has been able to cultivate the idea that he was enrolled in . Its clear Whitney is a prodigy in many fields who enjoys accomplishing hard tasks in half of the time its supposed to take. In 2015, Kanye West was awarded an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. 10. 91 with a double major in English and History. This nine-time Grammy winner and Oscar recipient is an active alumnus of his almamaterand returned in 2014 to deliver the Commencement speech. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he attended Eli Whitney High School, according to author Dennis Abrams biography, Jay-Z (Hip-Hop Stars). Natalie Portman graduated from Harvard University in 2003 with an. She wanted to become a lawyer but changed her mind after the OJ Simpson trial. Waka Flocka has just been given an honorary doctorate degree in philanthropy and humanitarianism. 2 Chainz, University of Alabama State Source:Getty 2. He cites comedian Stephen Wright and Gary Larson, the cartoonist who wrote the Far Side Gallery, as the inspiration for his comedic approach. Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, The Most Popular TikTok Boys And Male Influencers Of 2023. Allen kept busy during his years as an Ivy League undergraduate. 47Image Source: Wikipedia. The fellowship by the Hip-Hop Archives and W.E.B Du Bois Institute will . He attended the Academy at the same time as actor . In celebration of graduation season, lets take a look at rappers whove earned college degrees honorary ones included! His appearance was a huge success and John was a fan of the book. Lisas jokes have stirred up a lot of controversy during her career. Natalie Portman tops this list. He left in his senior year so that he could appear in the TV film "Geronimo.". Not a bad career for a kid from Queens. 1. These chart-topping musicians dominated the music scene and the classroom. 93in 1995 and went on to study law at New York University Courtney B. Vance- Yale University Source:Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 4. He majored in Communications. Discover the notable alumni of Howard University. . "I hope I just hear him talk about why he named it 'Harverd Dropout,' and get some meaning behind the lyrics," said Madison R. Conklin '21. He roomed with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as an upperclassman. MSU was founded in 1855 and served as a model for land-grant universities later created under the Morrill Act of 1862. Rapper Wiz Khalifa was enrolled in Harvard Business School's HBX program in 2016 and studied "Disruptive Strategy with Clay Christensen. Theyre talented, theyre successful, theyve made fortunes and reputations for musical brilliance. Yes, some rappers have attended Harvard. Majoring in hip-hop isnt even one of the most unusual college degrees anymore. Here is your secret weapon: lists of fascinating facts and obscure trivia about your favorite rappers and hip hop artists. Talib Kweli know as a raptivist (rapper + activist) Talib has rapped and also publicly address social issues that black people face, including police brutality, poor schools, and little to no jobs. A post shared by Phonte Coleman (@phontigallo) on Dec 28, 2018 at 3:53pm PST, College: North Carolina Central University. He took his education seriously, studied hard and graduated. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper.Regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation by XXL, he has often been cited as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Georgia State University is a public research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Jerry Seinfeld graduated from Queens College, CUNY The hip hop recording artist and social activist attended Cheshire Academy, a coed boarding and day school in Cheshire, Connecticut. Before they were selling out shows and dishing out bars, a number of rappers spent their time hitting the books. Waka Flocka Not that Young MC is bitter; in the years since hip-hop left him behind, Young has continued to write, make records, and tour as a proud legacy artist. Ive always had real trouble knowing what my actual desires and goals are. Degree:Theater,New York University J. Get The Best of Hip Hop and Black News Straight to Your Inbox. College: Southern University and A&M College, later attending University of Maryland Eastern Shore to pursue a Masters in Education (left the latter to pursue music full-time). J. Cole Before he became on of Roc Nations leading rappers he attended and graduated graduating Queens St. Johns University with honors. However, recently Yale has produced its own batch of comedic competitors, such as John Hodgman, Demetri Martin, and Lewis Black. At Columbia, Hill took classicalmusiccourses, and was on her way to history major when she and her Fugees bandmates album, The Score, was released. The University of Central Florida, or UCF, is an American metropolitan public research university in Orlando, Florida. Since the spider performance Ellie has gone on to appear in roles on shows like the Colbert Report and The Office, and she is the main character of the Netflix original comedy series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Founded in 1831, NYU is considered one of the worlds most influential research universities. Allen not only graduated from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, but secured a job at Google before deciding to focushis efforts on breaking into rap. Twelve years later he ended up writing and starring in the most popular sitcom of all the time and would go on to be number one on Forbes's list of the world's highest paid comedians. After watching bad comedians perform in New York he would think to himself I could do better than that, and he did. 1. Yo Gotti - Yo Gotti attended Southwest Tennessee Community College and took Business as his major. Its something that they have to perpetuate because its become part of raps image. Are you surprised that so many rappers have degrees? The hard work didnt stop when she graduated college, though. Lampanelli worked as a copy editor at Popular Mechanics and an assistant at Rolling Stone. Albany State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Albany, Georgia, United States. John F. Kennedy was the youngest man elected President and the youngest to die. Elam liked to blow his pseudonym out to Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal (as on the song Form of Intellect), and it wasnt an exaggeration; Guru was, quite simply, one of the most intelligent and wise MCs on the scene, known for crystal-clear observations on politics, philosophy, human nature, and art. He roomed with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as an upperclassman. Not a smooth-talking comic we all look up to, but a tortured clown trying to get through the day. The show lasted for eight seasons and was the first of its kind because it managed to mix politicians andentertainers together in an effort to air all points of view, even the ones that might be deemed toocontroversial. Whitney Cummings drive to work hard has its roots in her troubled childhood. One of the best rappers with college degrees, Kweli comes by his verbal dexterity honestly, growing up in a highly literate family that includes an English professor (his mother), a college administrator and sociologist (his father), and a law professor (his brother). Here are ten rappers who graduated from college. They are known for their group chemistry and hard-edged sound, which combines gritty. She then went on to attend the University of Oxford, where she studied at Worcester college towardsa graduate degree in English. Wayne's career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining Cash Money Records as the youngest member . 93. Tommy Lee Jones graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harvard University in 1969. He was a writer and president for the Harvard Lampoon during his tenure at the school. The list includes people like Taraji P. Henson, Sean Combs, Chadwick Boseman, Thurgood Marshall & Phylicia Rashad. Despite toting little Megan to recording sessions when she didnt have childcare, Thomas had one requirement when Megan wanted to become a rapper wait until youre 21. Forming a duo with fellow theater student Talib Kweli, Mos Def released one game-changing record as Black Star before starting a solo career defined by lyrical excellence, political activism, and a fearless commitment to his art whether its rap, acting, or whatever Yasiin Bey decides to do next. While there, she participated in several organizations including the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Harvard Radcliffe Dramatic Club, Harvard Opportunes, and the Black Students Association. He never went to Harvard. Jay Zs first protege at his Roc Nation record label, J. Cole is a Renaissance man of the hip-hop craft, a student of the genre and a creator as adept behind the boards as he is behind the mic. He made a mark on the comedy world by inventing a new genre of observational comedy: the type of comedy that doesnt seek to change anyones mind or provides some higher message, just point at things we experience on day to day and ask Whats the deal?. This column called Each One, Teach One aims to do exactly that. The University is a member-school of Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Talib Kweli College: New York University Degree: Theater Her stand up was heavily influenced by the Dean Martin roasts she watched growing up as a kid, and she quickly became known as the Queen of Mean for her crass brand of insult humor. M.I.A. M.I.A. Historically when it came to humor in Ivy League schools,Harvard University As an MC, Kweli is known for his dense, intricate rhymes, including complex polysyllabic rhymes and internal rhymes, as well as his wordplay. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Experimental Theater. " He even posted a picture of himself with his classmates and his Professor, Clay Christensen. Campbell hadn't forked over the money by 1995, so Jones placed a lien on some choice Miami property Campbell owned, which would lead to a sale to pay off the legal debt. Did You Know These 10 Rappers Have College Degrees? This private Ivy League research university has produced many successful alumni including two U.S presidents, 33 state senators and eight signers of the U.S Declarationof Independence. His clean, witty, observational style of stand up comedy hit well with audiences in ways that no other comedian had done before. A weekly newsletter and updates on new shows. In the early 2000s, Carlton chased fame by singing in bars across New York City, and dropped out of Columbia to wait tables while she tried for her big break. He majored in psychology. 4. RJ Hunter. College: School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He would become a new breed of late night host. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In 2018, with the release of his extraordinary video for the single This is America, Glover went even farther, injecting the Childish Gambino spirit into American consciousness the way that only a superstar can. 93 in 1994 with a bachelors degree in literature. How Important is the LSAT to Law School Admissions? Lewis Black is the master of the angry comedic rant. Rashida Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1997. He went on to graduate magna cum laude honors. David Banner obtained a Business degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he also served as the president of his schools Student Government Association. It's not cool to be smart in today's FAWK SKOOL society but many of your favorite rappers were college students before dropping out like Kanye to chase their dreams. After high school, he enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Technology, where he earned a two-year degree in drafting in 1988. 1 J.Cole 2 Ludacris 3 David Banner 4 Chuck D 5 Ryan Leslie 6 Phonte 7 Talib Kweli 8 Childish Gambino 9 Aloe Blacc 10 M.I.A. He attended the University of Houston and majored in Business. The one hitch that stopped her from singer stardom? Helen Keller sitting, holding a magnolia flower, circa 1920. At USC one of the most prestigious private research universities in the West Young majored in economics while honing his rap skills, catching the ear of two classmates who had started Delicious Vinyl Records. Growing up in Hollis, Queens (also the home of Run-DMC), Young MC started rapping at 10 years old, because that was the culture in the air. rappers who went to harvard Banner is also a dedicated academic. 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