Check D is a legendary political rapper that spread positivity and knowledge into the rap game. Its clear Whitney is a prodigy in many fields who enjoys accomplishing hard tasks in half of the time its supposed to take. Before showing us his arrogance and spewing his hour long rants on stage Kanye Was a humble kid from Chicago who attended Chicago State university. With Drayton who called himself Flava Flav, and worked moving furniture for Chucks fathers business Chuck recorded a single called Public Enemy Number One. The rest is history. What is highest educational attainment example? The young rappers new self-titled album, Lil Pump, is ready for streaming on iTunes and features rappers Smokepurpp, Rick Ross, Chief Keef, 2 Chainz, and Gucci Mane. Here are some of Harvard University's most famous graduates. Conan O'Brien graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1985. That kind of dedication shows in every aspect of an impressive, and still developing, career that is already going on a decade. in History and Literature. As he saw more of his friends get killed or go to jail, Cube became determined to create a better life for himself. Before they were selling out shows and dishing out bars, a number of rappers spent their time hitting the books. 91 Law School afterachieving a near-perfect score on his Law School Admission Test. As a kid, Kweli wrote poetry and stories, getting into rapping only because it was a way for him to be popular in school, but, as with Mos Def, music was largely an afterthought. On stage he played a character who has been pushed to the limits of his sanity by the absurdities of life. Degree:Communications and Business,St. Johns UniversityImage Source: Survivor Org Wiki. 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She decided to drop out in 1996 to focus on music after all, why get a degree when youve sold $17 million worth of records? She went on to do a graduate program at Harvard University Artists are ranked not according to their skills, but according to the Consensus score of their alma mater. The highest degrees offered are usually associates and program lengths are usually two years. Conan worked his way up to becoming the president of the Lampoon. J. Cole graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University in 2007. She is a lover of short stories, Billie Eilish, and rainy days (in that order). These chart-topping musicians dominated the music scene and the classroom. He graduated and got a job as a Correctional Officer. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. These musicians beat the odds twice once to get into a super tough university, and again to make their mark on the music industry. 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. College: School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As he weaves into his music on occasion, J. Cole moved to NYC after finishing high school and attended St. Johns University on an academic scholarship. Stardom took a while, though, and while he was perfecting his craft, Chuck earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Adelphi University, where he met fellow student William Drayton. He never went to Harvard. As exemplified in his first three albums, he famously dropped out of Chicago State University and went on to explore an education of his own making. 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?. Here is your secret weapon: lists of fascinating facts and obscure trivia about your favorite rappers and hip hop artists. Founded in 1927, UH is the third-largest university in Texas with nearly 43,000 students. Born: 25 th September 1978 (age 42. Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. He also gave the official class of 2018s commencement speech, where he touched on civic duty and entrepreneurialism. 93 in 2002 with a bachelors degree in English. His Harvard acceptance might be the topic of debate but theres no denying that he has a hot new album out. The University of Houston is a state research university and the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. He could battle with the best of them, too, and boasted about his brilliance with confidence. 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. Dropping out of grad school has a high financial and emotional cost for students and their families. Whitneys mark on show business definitely earns her a rightful place at the famous alumni table. Our favorite conscious rapper attended Florida A&M University where he majored in Business Administration. 89. He fielded scholarships from Georgetown University, Morehouse University, and Harvard University before deciding to attend UPenn. Lil Jon spent two years studying at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia before going on to finish college at Ohio State University in 1993. Its something that they have to perpetuate because its become part of raps image. (These reflect my own music tastes (punkrock/indie/kpop/etc . Diamont Quiava Valentin Harper better known as Saweetie has never been shy about the importance of education in her life. Despite the best efforts of A Tribe Called Quests Q-Tip to get her signed to Columbia or Def Jam, Megan made her way independently, building her reputation on her preternaturally confident flow, fearlessly explicit lyrics, and some of the most quotable punchlines since Biggie. As Childish (from an online Wu-Tang name generator), Glover has been one of the most prolific hip-hop artists in the business, and thats on something that is essentially a side project. Required fields are marked *, Rappers Who Went To College or University. Sadly, Guru passed from myeloma in 2010, at only 43 years old, leaving a legacy that still looms over hip-hop. Megan Pete was born with hip-hop in her blood; her mother, Holly Thomas, was an underground Houston rapper associated with DJ Screws Screwed Up Click. degree in psychology in 2003. A post shared by Gang Starr 4ever (@gangstarr4ever) on Apr 19, 2019 at 5:37am PDT. Hip-hop producers have been responsible for more technical innovations in recording than they will likely ever be fully credited for. Whitney Cummings drive to work hard has its roots in her troubled childhood. John Hodgman graduated from Yale University Lisas jokes have stirred up a lot of controversy during her career. 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. 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. 91 as well. Instead, the bright, dedicated student excelled at Hunter College High School (a secondary school operated by Hunter College) and was accepted into Hunter. has a degree in fine art, film, and video from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Common Known as one of the best conscious rappers in the game Common continues to enlighten the masses through rap songs and poetry. In 1940, he earned a B.S. And what was Gurus major? What is the name of Harvard's Hip Hop fellowship? 1. Who is Lil Peep? However, hes also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. 8. Lil Wayne tops our list. He was a member of the football team, a fraternity brother, and majored in finance and marketing. He would be an essential writer on the show, and eventually worked his way up to Supervising Producer. While Glover had DJd and made a mixtape in college, it was writing (and, later, making cameos) on 30 Rock that brought Glover into the public eye. Hes a perfect example of what rappers with college degrees can do. Harvard University Although Damon dropped out of Harvard in 1992, his time there wasn't a total waste. In 2008, Lil Wayne received an honorary degree from the University of Houston. There is this common perception that rap artists are not too intelligent, but rightfully so because most rappers portray themselves not to be. Ezra Koenig, the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, apparently had a pretty good experience. . Pretty hot. Black described his comedy as being on the Titanic every single day and being the only person who knows what is going to happen. Audiences loved him, and he blew up in the 2000s releasing another Comedy Central special, recording 2 HBO specials, and winning a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 2007. That was Year Zero for Glovers career, when a spec script for The Simpsons got him a job in the writers room of 30 Rock. Jerry Seinfeld. Rapper Wiz Khalifa was enrolled in Harvard Business School's HBX program in 2016 and studied "Disruptive Strategy with Clay Christensen. The Best '80s Rappers #8 of 27 on The Best Rappers with MC in Their Name #9 of 80 on The Best Bands & Artists That Start With Y J. Cole Photo: Dreamville J. Cole graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University in 2007. Conan honed his comedic talents writing for television and performing improv, eventually catching the eye of Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels. I cant even tell you why I thought to go to law school., Greg began something creative by starting to do stand up comedy in 1992, inspired not by the great comedians but by the bad ones. In 2021 she completed her degree in Health Administration at Texas Southern University, and is dedicated to using her money and influence to establish more healthcare and assisted living facilities in Houston. What Rapper Went To Harvard? Jay-Z went on to become hip-hop's first billionaire in June 2019; per Forbes, he's currently worth about $1 billion. He attended the Academy at the same time as actor . Ok-- Tyra Banks' music career was a bit of a flop, butthis top model and host of America's Next Top Model did try her luck as a recording artist. Before they were selling out shows and dishing out bars, a number of rappers spent their time hitting the books. Chuck D, Adelphi University Source:Getty 4. A handful of rappers have gone the more traditional route and pursed common undergraduate coursework, such as J. Cole earning a Communications degree or 2 Chainz focusing on Psychology, while others, such as Donald Glover and M.I.A. 91 made an impact. Angela Bassett- Yale University Source:Arnold Turner/Invision/AP 6. His comedy was definitelyinfluenced by his education. Theyre talented, theyre successful, theyve made fortunes and reputations for musical brilliance,and they have an Ivy League education to boot. Ice Cube/Education. Conans career spans the entire entertainmentindustry, and some of the funniest shows of the 20th century, but it all started writing wacky magazine articles in college. Colin Jost majored in history and literature, with a focus on Russian literature and British literature, at Harvard and graduated cum laude in 2004. Ludacris Ludacris knew he was destined to be within the music/ entertainment field. He reportedly graduated magna cum laude with a major in communications and a minor in business. Kanye West The rapper we love to hate. The University of Alabama is a public research university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, and the flagship of the University of Alabama System. Degree:Business,Morehouse CollegeImage Source: Rap Genius. She wanted to become a lawyer but changed her mind after the OJ Simpson trial. Likewise, LL Cool J received an honorary degree from Northeastern University in 2014. It was only after he graduated from college that Bill confessed his lifelong dream of being a comedian to his parents. One of the most influential Southern rappers of all time, Ludacris made his career on a combination of earworm hooks, inventive videos, and an image that was tough enough to maintain street cred, but comical enough to be relatable to a wide range of fans. After the school closed . 55 with a bachelors degree in communicationsand drama. Black became known for his unique style of angry, mostly political comedy. New York University is a private nonprofit research university based in New York City. Her major was Electrical Engineering. Of course, to many younger people, Luda will always be better known for The Fast and the Furious than for his rapping, but thats okay the business major always gets paid. RELATED: 20 Outfits That Prove That Hilary Duff Will Always Be Our Favorite Disney Star. Still,the teen sensation holds a diploma (of sorts) from Harvard, and was able to continue her education online while balancing a packed schedule! Get The Best of Hip Hop and Black News Straight to Your Inbox. In2005, Hilary Duff enrolled in Harvard Extension School, a segment of Harvard University that offersstudents of all ages courses that can be accessedwithouta selective admissions process. 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. He majored in Communications. Rapper Ja Rule completes Harvard Business School education - New York Daily News. And it all started at NYUs Tisch School of the Arts, where Glover studied Dramatic Writing, graduating in 2006. With smart business sense, Luda also broke numerous younger Southern rappers, such as 2 Chainz, using his Disturbing tha Peace record label as a major front for the genre. Rashida Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1997. Talib Kweli: The rapper has highly educated parents -- an English professor at a University (his mom), and an administrator at a University (his father), so no wonder he went to college. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. The list includes people like Taraji P. Henson, Sean Combs, Chadwick Boseman, Thurgood Marshall & Phylicia Rashad. Talib Kweli grew up in a family that includes an English professor (his mom), a college administrator and sociologist (his dad) and a law professor (his brother), which helped inspire him to explore his own talents early on. 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. As a member of N.W.A. David Banner, Southern University Source:Getty 6. 93 and received a masters degree in Drama in 1977. St. Johns University is a private, Roman Catholic, research university located in New York City, United States. Whitney Cummings graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania has a degree in fine art, film, and video from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Although Conan was talented and hilarious, he didnt appear to have the confident gregarious qualities that traditionally exist in a late night host, but the network took a chance on him. Its no surprise that Guru could hold his own at the most competitive and elite historically black college in the nation: Morehouse College. Like Lil Wayne he majored in Psychology. Chicago State University (CSU) is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago. Sanaa Lathan- Yale University 3. He spent his time at Yale studying the works of Shakespeare late into the night. In celebration of graduation season, lets take a look at rappers whove earned college degrees honorary ones included! He described his experience at Harvard as "life-altering . 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. Degree:Theater,New York University M.I.A., degree in fine art, video and film from London's Central . Degree:Architectural Drafting, Phoenix Institute of TechnologyImage Source: Rap Wiki, Most Affordable Technical and Trade Schools. While she loved classic artists like Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, and started writing poetry as a teenager, Saweetie cites hearing Nicki Minaj in high school as the motivation to begin rapping herself. Lisa Lampanelli studied journalism at both Boston College Kweli and Mos Def are the owners of a cultural awareness center, the Nkiru Center for Education and Culture, which they established from an Afrocentric bookstore that was in danger of closing; Kwelis mother, Dr. Brenda Greene, chairs the board. 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