Before that, though, Ludacris was studying music management at Atlantas Georgia State University, getting his foot in the door as an intern at Hot 97.5, and even DJing at Freaknik. 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. After high school, when a rap career seemed unlikely, Cube went out to Phoenix to study architectural drafting, hoping his love of architecture and design would serve as a fallback if hip-hop didnt work out. 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. The rapper, now holding a Dr. to his name, has joined a list of other artists who have also received doctorates Kanye West, who received his from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; P. Phoenix Institute of Technology 88 to study play-writing. In 2015, Kanye West was awarded an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. John made his television debut appearing on The Daily Show With John Stewart to promote his book. Pretty hot. 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? Throughout college, OBrien was a writer for the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine. David Banner, Southern University Source:Getty 6. 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. The Internet being what it is, however, the Miami MC has been able to cultivate the idea that he was enrolled in . Banks went to Harvard Business school to brush up on her skills before the anticipated opening of amodel-themed amusement park in late 2019. 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. Jerry Seinfeld is most likely the . Born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, Chuck Ds rap career began right alongside the Big Bang of hip-hop the legendary 1977 New York City blackout, when the 17 year old was inspired to write rhymes by the post-blackout burst of creativity in the city. From Kanye to Kweli, here are 10 rappers who attended college. When NBC chose Jay Leno over David Letterman, a spot was open for a host of late night talk show that would compete with Leno. David Banner David Banner studied business at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. In celebration of graduation season, lets take a look at rappers whove earned college degrees honorary ones included! There are several rappers who went to college. Who are the rappers that went to Harvard? The Best Talk Show Hosts Of Daytime, Late Night, and All Time, The Funniest Female Comedians of All Time, The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History, The Greatest American Writers of All Time, American Public Figures Who Are National Treasures, The Greatest Actresses Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting), Celebrities You Didn't Know Use Stage Names. Melissa Ordway. Flavor Flav, Adelphi University Source:Getty 7. The fellowship by the Hip-Hop Archives and W.E.B Du Bois Institute will . His father had passed away around that time and according to Demetri it was a stark, dramatic reminder about how short life is. Demetri decided not to spend his life doing something he wasnt truly passionate about and ended up finding his true passion in comedy. Not just one, but all four members of Vampire Weekend attended Columbia University. 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. John has even performed at a TED conference, as well as for the president of the United States. Conan used his tall, lanky, awkward presence to his advantage, regularly making self-depreciating jokes at his own expense. In fact, the Grammy-winning indie rock band metas undergraduates atColumbia, and preformed for the first time in 2006 at the New York Ivy League's student union. Here's a quick look at 21 rappers who attended college. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. 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. For generations now, rappers have aimed for authenticity, and often that authenticity means narratives of dropping out of school, living a life of crime, and a sudden rise from poverty to wealth. Along with numerous television credits, she has quite the writing resume as well, regularly contributing to The Onion and The Huffington Post. Your email address will not be published. In this . 55 with a bachelors degree in communicationsand drama. 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 Forbess list of the worldshighest paid comedians. 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. How Important is the LSAT to Law School Admissions? A weekly newsletter and updates on new shows. 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. The actor drew inspiration from his time at the Cambridge university for his Oscar-winning. 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. For those who do embrace earning a degree, the road is not an easy one, but getting to the other side can be a feeling of accomplishment unlike any other. A post shared by Gang Starr 4ever (@gangstarr4ever) on Apr 19, 2019 at 5:37am PDT. He is best known for Genres, a hip hop neo soul pop song with 9 rows. Lil Peep was an American rapper and musician, who died on November 15, 2017, at the age 21 following an overdose. In fact, he was the youngest man ever elected to the presidential office, as well as the first Roman Catholic. On stage he played a character who has been pushed to the limits of his sanity by the absurdities of life. While Kweli may not talk a lot about his theater degree, his career as an activist has been devoted to literacy and social justice. 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. 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 . 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. 81Image Source: Hip Hop Wiki. Discover the notable alumni of Howard University. He never went to Harvard. Many comedians were on track to becoming very successful lawyers, teachers, and other professionals, but to their parents dismay they threw it all away to chase something they loved doing. Shortly after becoming a regular at To Catch A Rising Star Bill started getting spots on the Tonight Show. With a flow that meshes Jay with his New York rival Nas, Coles earnest but unsentimental reflections on life, politics, and life have gained him a massive following, while other artists seek him out for guest verses and beats even people who were once his idols, like Kanye West and Talib Kweli. After graduating from Columbia he was admitted to Harvard University Then, of course, Bust a Move swept the world, a Grammy-winning, top-10 hit that became an albatross. Their degrees are from major research universities and liberal arts colleges and HBCUs. Young MC earned a degree in economics from the University of Southern California. Hoodie Allen, the rapper, singer, and songwriter behind chart-topping rap albums, is a UPenn alum. Degree: Economics, University of Southern California LL shared the experience with his daughter, Italia Smith, who graduated the same year the college recognized his influence. J. Jerry Seinfeld graduated from Queens College, CUNY He fielded scholarships from Georgetown University, Morehouse University, and Harvard University before deciding to attend UPenn. Legends such as Sean Diddy Combs, Chuck D and Missy Elliott have been awarded honorary doctorates, which are milestones that undeniably doubles as sources of inspiration. One of the most politically outspoken hip-hop MCs of all time, Chuck D has spent more than three decades courting controversy and demanding justice as the leader of Public Enemy. From a network television writing job straight out of college, to starring in Community, to stand-up comedy, to writing, directing, and starring in Atlanta, Glover has to be one of the busiest men in entertainment. Instead, the bright, dedicated student excelled at Hunter College High School (a secondary school operated by Hunter College) and was accepted into Hunter. 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). Thats not to say that rappers do not possess extraordinary gifts: Flava Flav, before he was a reality-show embarrassment, was a musical prodigy, capable of playing more than a dozen instruments by ear, without any formal musical training, by his teenage years. Every year about 50% of grad students drop out of doctoral programs. Rappers Who Went To College and What They Studied. John actually had no intention of becoming a comedian himself, he merely wanted to write short stories, but a lot his short stories kept accidentally turning out to be pretty funny. See our privacy policy. In 1988 Conan became a writer for SNL, creating famous sketches like Mr. While others passed with flying colors, others just passed by; attending for a brief period before focusing on their music career. Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino, graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2006. Some of these celebrities attended Harvard as undergrads while others went to Harvard Law School. 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. He fielded scholarships from Georgetown University, Morehouse University, and Harvard University before deciding to attend UPenn. It was only after he graduated from college that Bill confessed his lifelong dream of being a comedian to his parents. In 1992 Johnny Carson announced he would retire from late night television, leaving some huge shoes to fill. Answer (1 of 20): Offering a few lesser known but cool artists that attended or graduated from Ivies. Missy Elliott was awarded with an honorary doctorate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music this year. But he was also the son of hard-working, striving Jamaican immigrants, and slacking off, running the streets, and getting in trouble was not an option. Whitney Cummings isnt the only prodigy to come out of the University of Pennsylvania Her ambition and a compelling letter to the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism got her a place in one of the top communications programs in the world. More J. Cole The Best Rappers To Listen To If You Like J. Cole #148 of 185 on In 2008, Lil Wayne received an honorary degree from the University of Houston. Georgia State University is a public research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States. He got his start in comedy writing for the The Harvard Lampoon. Before the songstress and rapper was making hits and setting industry standards, Hill was a Columbia undergraduate. Who was the youngest person to graduate from Harvard? 5. Like his mother he majored in English. According to Tyra Banks, she just didn't have the vocal chops to pull it off. He roomed with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as an upperclassman. Crazy Hip-Hop Rumors That Are Totally True, Rappers Who Are Secretly Very Philanthropic, A list of hip-hop artists with college, advanced, and honorary degrees. The actress graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. Ivy League schools are notoriously challenging to gain admission to. (These reflect my own music tastes (punkrock/indie/kpop/etc . Clearly, the high expectations and demanding work-load at Cornell University Born to a Filipina-Chinese mother and an African-American father, Saweetie grew up in Sacramento, CA, surrounded by the sounds of West Coast hip-hop. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as writers, intellectuals & academics, miscellaneous, media personalities and film & theater personalities etc. 4. RJ Hunter. Ryan Leslie, also known asCastor Troy, was born on September 25, 1978 in Washington D.C., and is a Harvard University (BS) graduate. 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. After that Bill began working his way up the ladder from doing stand up at Chinese food restaurants in upstate New York, to becoming the house emcee at the famous New York comedy club To Catch A Rising Star. 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. Other rappers attained degreesvia matriculation. Founded in 1831, NYU is considered one of the worlds most influential research universities. The Harvard Lampoon is a resume marker for many male comedians and writers, including B.J. February 27, 2019 | 12:36am ET. 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. Coles work ethic and intellect paid off with a scholarship to St. Johns University in New York City; the honors high school graduate (with a 4.2 GPA) chose New York with a rap career in mind, but still graduated with highest honors in communications and business. For many male comedians and writers, including B.J sketches like Mr former U.S. Vice president Al Gore as upperclassman. Night television, leaving some huge shoes to fill about and ended up his... 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