Eminem raps with a vocabulary rivalling Shakespeares, while Wu-Tang members GZA and Ghostface Killah have vocabularies even larger. The College Consensus ranking of the Top 10 Rappers with College Degrees is focused on the hip-hop legends and stars who have done their time in higher education and earned degrees even if they dont boast about their BAs along with their gold chains and Lambos (although rap stardom might be a good way to pay off student loans). He has produced singles for a number of prominent artists in a variety of genres, ranging from R&B, hip hop, pop and gospel. You'd need a degree to understand some of director Terrence Malick's more confusing films, so it's no wonder he went to Harvard. Her degree in Health Administration was obtained by Texas Southern University in 2021. Who is the most famous rapper with a degree? A lady from Denver who went to Harvard, fake urban accent, she sounds like Obama's sister. But the most amusing part is that woman's position on vaccines, which is how to put it changed a little . The results were rounded out by Jay Z and J. Cole, who received a combined vote of 6.177%. The same year he graduated from college (2007), Cole released his first mixtape, earning underground buzz that caught Hovs attention. Georgia State University is a public research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Cheap Therapy If You're Broke. Colin Jost majored in history and literature, with a focus on Russian literature and British literature, at Harvard and graduated cum laude in 2004. This Is Your Sign to Book a Cheese Vacation. Some rappers may have gone to college, while others may not have. It was not by chance: Chuck famously called hip-hop CNN for black people, and nothing was more important than the message. And what was Gurus major? HipHopWired Featured Video Before they were selling out shows and dishing out bars, a number of rappers spent their time hitting the books. Contact schools for more information on enrollment, tuition, and aid. After attending school in Kenya, training as a field biologist and backpacking across Europe, Darren Aronofsky enrolled at Harvard in 1987. It was while studying theater at NYU that Mos Def stepped, almost accidentally, into hip-hop. Helen Keller, 1880-1968. Much like Colin Jost, a year later, he landed a job on Saturday Night Live, and went on to create and co-create the acclaimed sitcoms The Good Place and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Plazacore. The class must achieve nearly straight As. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. They see his public personality and assume that is how he is, but the truth of the . Rashida Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1997. Banks went to Harvard Business school to brush up on her skills before the anticipated opening of amodel-themed amusement park in late 2019. He never went to Harvard. were among the celebrities who attended their childrens graduations. Their degrees are from major research universities and liberal arts colleges and HBCUs. Here is your secret weapon: lists of fascinating facts and obscure trivia about your favorite rappers and hip hop artists. Albany State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Albany, Georgia, United States. Perhaps he has developed his own theories on how to best deal with lifes challenges as well. of Linguistics and Psychology from USC. How Important is the LSAT to Law School Admissions? Channing went on to pursue a career in acting, and landed legendary roles in Grease, The West Wing and Six Degrees of Separation. Six years later, he was graduating from Harvard. 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. J. Cole graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John's University in 2007. Theyre talented, theyre successful, theyve made fortunes and reputations for musical brilliance,and they have an Ivy League education to boot. While Kweli may not talk a lot about his theater degree, his career as an activist has been devoted to literacy and social justice. Flavor Flav, Adelphi University Source:Getty 7. This is a ranking of the top 10 rappers with college degrees compiled by College Consensus. She started writing poetry as a teenager after watching classic movies such as Lil Kim and Foxy Brown. Although Amy Brenneman studied comparative religion at Harvard, it seems theatre was her true love, as she co-founded Cornerstone Theater Company while she was there. As his music was blowing up he quit his job to pursue rap full-time. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to a rappers success, and whether or not they went to college is just one of them. In 1994, Campbell lost a lawsuit to the musician, with a judge ordering him to pay out $1.6 million, including nearly $700,000 in withheld royalties. Natalie Portman tops this list. He was a writer and president for the Harvard Lampoon during his tenure at the school. After he was given an ultimatum, he also threatened to sue, and went to the press - at which point the school backed down. However, perhaps it was his time as editor of the Harvard Lampoon that set him up for his career in comedy. Obviously, hip-hop worked out for Ice Cube. There is a scene that spoofs the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial where Method's character Silas sits in his car with a bag of contraband and no . Simon & Garfunkel went on to become one of the biggest bands of the 60s. In recent months, there has been speculation that Lil Wayne is a psychologist as a result of his various public statements and interactions. He could battle with the best of them, too, and boasted about his brilliance with confidence. In the process, she alsodrew some ire andcondescensionfrom members of Harvard College. Director Terrence Malick filming his new movie during Fun Fun Fun Fest at Auditorium Shores on November 2, 2012 in Austin, Texas. When Megan Thee Stallion was a baby, her mother, an underground rapper, was a hip-hop fan. 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. While all community colleges are public, some junior colleges are private. M.I.A. Gang Starr, an East Coast hardcore duo known for their innovative style of music, was founded by Guru and he was one half of the legendary Gang Starr. 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. Chicago State University (CSU) is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago. Applications for IDK's No Label Academy went live in June. J. NEXT: Movie Stars You Didn't Know Went to Ivy League Schools. It looks like Harvard and Yale may have another rivalry on their hands. Born in 1985, Cole began rapping at 12 and making his own beats at 15, with a sampler given to him by his mother. Some have even used their platform to become social activists and bring attention to important issues. degree from Harvard Law in 1990, and passed the bar, working as a lawyer for eight months. M.I.A. She graduated from Harvard magna cum laude with a degree in East Asian studies in 1989, and while there, she also helped found the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones, one of Harvard's co-ed a cappella groups. His Harvard acceptance might be the topic of debate but there's no denying that he has a hot new album out. However, famously, the college was also the basis of his Hollywood breakthrough. Huey Lewis and the News released a series of hits in the 1980s and 90s, including 19 number 1 singles. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Instead, the bright, dedicated student excelled at Hunter College High School (a secondary school operated by Hunter College) and was accepted into Hunter. If you want to be accepted into Harvard, youll need a 4.0 unweighted GPA. 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. In 1992, Weinger voiced many of our childhood's by voicing the titular character in Disney's Aladdin. Theyre talented, theyre successful, theyve made fortunes and reputations for musical brilliance. Some of these celebrities attended Harvard as undergrads while others went to Harvard Law School. He received a vote of 6.59%, making him the clear winner. Producer Michael Schur attends the FYC screening of Universal Television's "The Good Place" at UCB Sunset Theater on June 19, 2018 in Los Angeles. There is this common perception that rap artists are not too intelligent, but rightfully so because most rappers portray themselves not to be. Matt Damon studied English and Theater at Harvard University from 1988 to 1992, but he did not graduate. Gurus work is steeped in the history and pre-history of hip-hop, as his Jazzmatazz albums demonstrate; experimental collisions of jazz artists, hip-hop beats, and rapping, the four Jazzmatazz records are like an alternate universe hip-hop. 3. A resident of Adams House, Lithgow graduated with an A.B. Southern University and A&M College is a historically black university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped out of high school to pursue a career in body building. 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. And it all started at NYUs Tisch School of the Arts, where Glover studied Dramatic Writing, graduating in 2006. Starting at San Diego State University, Saweetie went out on a limb and gave herself a choice: jump into music full-time, or transfer to the University of Southern California. A year after graduating, she achieved her first Oscar nomination for Closer. The actress graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. & Southfield Freeway in the Warrendale neighborhood due to his mother and father constantly being in and out of prison. Twenty years after he graduated, Norris landed the biggest gig of his career so far: Hank Schrader in Breaking Bad. Alongside fellow New York duo Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy pioneered a provocative, unabashedly political hip-hop that assumed its listeners were smart, conscious, and ready for an education. Modeled on the sports announcers he admired as a boy, Chucks lyrics blast out over the beats in a booming baritone, enunciating every word as clearly as a newscaster no matter how fast the flow. Theodore Roosevelt in military uniform. With acceptances rates as low as 4.5%, walking the hallowed halls of these New England schools is no easy feat. Rah Digga - Rah Digga is a legendary female rapper who attended New Jersey Institute of Technology. That earned him the attention of the Native Tongues collective, the hyper-lyrical, Afrocentric scene that included the Jungle Brother, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Queen Latifah. 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. Dr. Dre, Big Boi, and T.I. Damon, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, wrote an early treatment of his script for Good Will Hunting for an English assignment while at Harvard. Lilly Singh. ; 6 JAY-Z / 3 billion USD in net worth (2021). They have used their creativity and storytelling abilities to create songs that have resonated with people all over the world. While that foundation may have given Guru the business sense to keep Gang Starr in the black, it was his rhymes, combined with the influential beats of DJ Premier (who attended Prairie View A&M University), that made the duo legends in the underground. Ultimately, it is up to the individual rapper to decide if college is right for them. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI. He earned excellent grades in both GCSEs and A-Levels, before attending Queen Mary, University of London to study medicine. Garfunkel has also had success as a solo artist and actor. #1 Jay-Z. B. J. Novak attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. But first, she knew she wanted to go to college. Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) Jay-z and Beyonce now have a combined net worth of $1 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. #8 Snoop Dogg. 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. 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. 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? Contents. Fox Foundation at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers on November 5, 2008, in New York City. These chart-topping musicians dominated the music scene and the classroom. Take a look at this list and share your thoughts in the comments section. He attended New York University where he studied Experimental Theater. From the East Coast to the West Coast, and from the Dirty South to the city of Paris, famous rappers all over the world have received college degrees. It is the largest university in the United States by undergraduate enrollment, as well as the largest by total enrollment. 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. 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. Some have gone on to successful careers in the music industry, while others have ventured into other fields such as acting, fashion, and business. That kind of dedication shows in every aspect of an impressive, and still developing, career that is already going on a decade. J. Cole Before he became on of Roc Nations leading rappers he attended and graduated graduating Queens St. Johns University with honors. Wu-Tang Clan rapper GZA has been known as the Genius since the early days of his career - but in recent months, the name has been particularly apt, as he has spent much of his free time chatting with scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and giving lectures at Harvard and New York University. St. Johns University is a private, Roman Catholic, research university located in New York City, United States. At the time, LL Cool J said:"For them to recognize my body of work and my contributions to the world of art is an amazing feeling.". In this article, I will list the rappers that have post-secondary education. After graduation, he went on to study and play football at Harvard, also on a scholarship. Ice Cube, a rap pioneer and actor, has been in the entertainment industry for 30 years, beginning with rap and working his way up to acting and producing. Degree:Dramatic Writing,New York UniversityImage Source: Hip Hop Wiki. Southwest Tennessee Community College is a community college operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Who says that people can only excel at one thing? Duff took onlineclassesfromdepartmentssuch as environmental science, government, and sociology. Alicia Keys was signedby Columbia Records at only 15 years old. However, hes also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. 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 Best Bands & Artists That Start With Y, The Best Rappers To Listen To If You Like J. Cole, Current Singers You Most Wish You Could Sound Like, These Poetic Geniuses Wrote Your Favorite Songs of All Time. Ryan Leslie, also known asCastor Troy, was born on September 25, 1978 in Washington D.C., and is a Harvard University (BS) graduate. Flavor Flav was born to an impoverished family in the Bronx and rose to prominence as the leader of Public Enemy, a hip-hop group. He has discussed his addiction struggles in detail and offered advice on how to overcome them to others. The list includes people like George H. W. Bush, Jennifer Connelly, James Franco, Liev Schreiber & Hillary Clinton. According to Tyra Banks, she just didn't have the vocal chops to pull it off. Young MC earned a degree in economics from the University of Southern California. He received an honorary degree from the University of Houston in 2008. Ivy League schools are notoriously challenging to gain admission to. During the early 90s, Mos had gained some attention reading his poetry in venues like the fabled Nuyorican Cafe, and formed a hip-hop group with his brother and sister in 1993. Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino, graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2006. Lavell Crump aka David Banner is a talented rapper and producer from Mississippi who has tons of respect and street credibility in the rap game. In the world of music, the. The list includes people like Taraji P. Henson, Sean Combs, Chadwick Boseman, Thurgood Marshall & Phylicia Rashad. What is a GPA requirement for admission into Harvard University? Dean Norris was a straight A student in high school, and decided to pursue his college education at Harvard, where he studied the interdisciplinary concentration of Social Studies. References to Columbia crop up often in Vampire Weekend's songs. Still,the teen sensation holds a diploma (of sorts) from Harvard, and was able to continue her education online while balancing a packed schedule! #3 Kanye West. He has gone on to have a distinguished and acclaimed career on the stage, on television and in film. The one hitch that stopped her from singer stardom? Artists are ranked not according to their skills, but according to the Consensus score of their alma mater. Here are 20 celebrities who were educated at Harvard. 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. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and the Berklee College of Music are just a few of the colleges and universities to which Franklin has received an honorary degree. Howard University is a federally chartered, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university in Washington, D.C. However, when Megan began posting freestyles to YouTube and Instagram, and destroying local rappers in the cypher, fame wasnt far behind. and also publicly address social issues that black people face, including police brutality, poor schools, and little to no jobs. 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