Dr. Dre, Big Boi, and T.I. Colin Jost majored in history and literature, with a focus on Russian literature and British literature, at Harvard and graduated cum laude in 2004. 5. Some have gone on to successful careers in the music industry, while others have ventured into other fields such as acting, fashion, and business. Matt Damon attends the Project Greenlight Season 4 Winning Film premiere "The Leisure Class" presented by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adaptive Studios and HBO at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on August 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Who are some of the smartest rappers? A straight-A student throughout high-school, Hill received a scholarship to this New York Ivy League institution. magna cum laude in 1967, in history and literature, and proceeded to win a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, producing eight U.S. presidents and 161 Nobel Prize winnersas well as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, of course. 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. In 1977, Chuck D was born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, and his rap career began right alongside the New York City blackout. We can see that he is putting his degree to good use -- the communications in his music and business side of him had to play a role in his partnership with Interscope records. Ellie Kemper 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. Although Damon dropped out of Harvard in 1992, his time there wasn't a total waste. Who is the most famous person who attended Harvard? Mini Bio (1) Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. Like his mother he majored in English. Banner is also a dedicated academic. Because of the scope of the program, there are no requirements for a degree, but there are some programs available, such as music production. Before breaking into comedy on Punk'd and The Office, B..J Novak was a Harvard student, graduating from the university in 2001. 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. Ludacris. While Kweli may not talk a lot about his theater degree, his career as an activist has been devoted to literacy and social justice. The young rapper's 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. One of his Harvard roommates was future Vice-President Al Gore. William went to school for a year at AUs culinary program. The University of Alabama is a public research university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, and the flagship of the University of Alabama System. However, against all odds (when Glover first announced his new persona, many wondered if it was a joke), Childish Gambino has proven to be an ideal creative outlet for a young genius with apparently unlimited potential and energy. 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. However, recently Yale has produced its own batch of comedic competitors, such as John Hodgman, Demetri Martin, and Lewis Black. Chuck D may have majored in graphic design, but hes not known for his visual style hes known for one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop. RELATED: TV Starts You Didn't Know Went to Ivy League Schools. 2 Chainz Known for his flamboyant style and lingo 2 Chainz definitely added character to the rap game. Art Garfunkel, one half of the iconic American folk rock duo, Simon& Garfunkel, holds a degree from Columbia University. 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. Besides his own verses, Cube wrote for Eazy and Dre, crafting lyrics that fit their voices and personas. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. As well as being a head writer, Colin is currently the co-anchor of Weekend Update. With acceptances rates as low as 4.5%, walking the hallowed halls of these New England schools is no easy feat. Their degrees are from major research universities and liberal arts colleges and HBCUs. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 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. Young MC earned a degree in economics from the University of Southern California. These hit-makers and record breakers are serious smarty pants, and have attended some of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. He was also a member of Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which set him on his path to an acting career. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images). 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. They have used their creativity and storytelling abilities to create songs that have resonated with people all over the world. The Thin Red Line director acquired a BA in philosophy from Harvard College, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1965. You upload all of the information, and we go over it thoroughly. RELATED: 20 Outfits That Prove That Hilary Duff Will Always Be Our Favorite Disney Star. 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Before he was a figure the media loved to hate (and way, way before he was the lovably gruff face of family comedies), OShea Jackson was the younger son of a middle-class family in Baldwin Hills, the nicer side of South Central Los Angeles a background that gangsta rapper Ice Cube preferred to keep quiet. He attended the Academy at the same time as actor . J. He attended New York University where he studied Experimental Theater. Her mother (who passed from a brain tumor in 2019) would be proud, but maybe even prouder of Megans extra-rap aspirations. 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. Many of the icons have gone on to college, but many of them are not on the list. In addition to failing to graduate from high school, Jay-Z was the first billionaire in hip-hop. One year later, the straight A-Student, and future "Girl On Fire" songstress, graduatedvaledictorian from high school and went to study at Columbia University. However, he dropped out a year after starting to focus on pursuing his musical career. 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. Rappers have taken many different paths after high school graduation. A year after graduation, Colin landed a role in the writers' room at Saturday Night Live, where he has remained ever since. He could battle with the best of them, too, and boasted about his brilliance with confidence. He left in his senior year so that he could appear in the TV film "Geronimo.". Which rapper went to Ivy League and why? He enrolled at Harvard and concentrated in History and Literature, later graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in 1985. On Tuesday, the gravely voiced rapper took to Twitter to demonstrate his degree from Harvard Business School, while proudly proclaiming, I aint the sharpest knife in the drawer! Is lil wayne doing a phd? rappers who went to college and what they study, Why Do Rappers Grab Their Crotch While Rapping, 8 Ways To Promote Your Music On Social Media. Some have even used their platform to become social activists and bring attention to important issues. This Is Your Sign to Book a Cheese Vacation. 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. In 2008, Lil Wayne received an honorary degree from the University of Houston. 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. Conan O'Brien graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1985. Aretha Franklin dropped out of high school to care for her first child when she was 15. 1 The rapper discussed his rise to fame in a manner akin to a commencement speech. He was a writer and president for the Harvard Lampoon during his tenure at the school. Contact schools for more information on enrollment, tuition, and aid. In the early aughts, Natalie Portman was starring as Padm Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. After initially planning to be a lawyer, Jones studied religion and philosophy at Harvard and graduated in 1997. Tommy Lee Jones graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harvard University in 1969. Southern University and A&M College is a historically black university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Tommy Lee Jones graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Harvard University in 1969. The well-known rapper Ludacris, who has also been featured in popular films such as "No Strings Attached," "New Year's Eve," and "Fast Five," studied music management at Georgia State University in 1998. This nine-time Grammy winner and Oscar recipient is an active alumnus of his almamaterand returned in 2014 to deliver the Commencement speech. The Full House star graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English and American Literature from the university in 1998, and then returned to acting, starring on shows including What I Like About You, Scrubs and Fuller House. 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. Majoring in hip-hop isnt even one of the most unusual college degrees anymore. Musicians with impressive careers are given honorary degrees as a result of their success. Are you surprised that so many rappers have degrees? 8 David Banner. and also publicly address social issues that black people face, including police brutality, poor schools, and little to no jobs. Here are the top 10 rappers who became successful entrepreneurs: 1. Okay, so academics isnt the first thing you think of when you think of the artist behind Chicken-n-Beer and Act a Fool, but Ludacris is a man of many surprises. M.I.A. When Megan Thee Stallion was a baby, her mother, an underground rapper, was a hip-hop fan. 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. It was at Harvard, where he performed in Gilbert and Sullivan's Utopia Limited, that John Lithgow decided he wanted to be an actor. Ryan Leslie 11 languages Anthony Ryan Leslie (born September 25, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur from Washington, D.C. Some of them dropped out but even more graduated. Kanye West The rapper we love to hate. in political science, officially graduating in 2000. Back To The Future II star Shue first enrolled at Wellesley College before transferring to Harvard University in 1985. Chuck has made education and activism the center of his career, from speaking to college students to producing documentaries about hip-hop and political issues. Junior colleges or JUCOS for short, are two-year Texas colleges similar and including community colleges. Before the songstress and rapper was making hits and setting industry standards, Hill was a Columbia undergraduate. Matt Damon. Hes a perfect example of what rappers with college degrees can do. As a member of N.W.A. All Rights Reserved. Common, Florida A&M University Source:Getty 5. Her major was Electrical Engineering. Ludacris Ludacris knew he was destined to be within the music/ entertainment field. Lilly Singh in a colorful top. Mos Def, also known as Dante Smith, has a socially conscious sound and is known for his restless, social-justice lyrics. However, she withdrew from Harvard one semester short of earning her degree to pursue a career in acting. Master P. Master P. Changed the game in the 90s and made way for rappers to get paid multi-million dollar deals due to him being one of the first rappers to get large amounts of cash from Universal Records. Some presidents graduated from one (John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy graduated from Harvard, for example) and some graduated from the. Ezra Koenig, the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, apparently had a pretty good experience. Donald Glover graduated in 2006 and went on to land his first network television job straight out of college. After he was given an ultimatum, he also threatened to sue, and went to the press - at which point the school backed down. After making it in the movies, Shue returned to her alma mater to complete her B.A. 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. He was a member of the football team, a fraternity brother, and majored in finance and marketing. & Southfield Freeway in the Warrendale neighborhood due to his mother and father constantly being in and out of prison. 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? Half of the iconic Gang Starr the East Coast duo known for pioneering the New York hardcore style (along with groups like Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions) the late Keith Elam was the man known as Guru. The children were taught by their mother, aunt, and a French governess, who evidently did a fantastic job: Teddy was admitted to Harvard in 1878. 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. Albany State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Albany, Georgia, United States. Actor Dean Norris attends the BAFTA LA TV Tea 2013 presented by BBC America and Audi held at the SLS Hotel on September 21, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, The Best Talk Show Hosts Of Daytime, Late Night, and All Time, The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History. In the world of music, the. Fox Foundation at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers on November 5, 2008, in New York City. Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky earned a degree in social anthropology from Harvard University in 1991. Bowie State is part of the University System of Maryland. And what was Gurus major? 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. However, hes also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Banks went to Harvard Business school to brush up on her skills before the anticipated opening of amodel-themed amusement park in late 2019. This didn't stop him, though, and he used pseudonyms to perform. There is this common perception that rap artists are not too intelligent, but rightfully so because most rappers portray themselves not to be. He roomed with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as an upperclassman. The Most Intelligent Rappers: Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, J. Cole, And Jay Z Who are some of the smartest rappers? It was while studying theater at NYU that Mos Def stepped, almost accidentally, into hip-hop. He has discussed his addiction struggles in detail and offered advice on how to overcome them to others. Some of these hip-hop stars earned their degrees after attending four years of college, while others were presented with honorary degrees for their contributions to the arts. He majored in English and Spanish literature, writing his honours thesis on the films of Shakespeare's Hamlet, and was a member of the Harvard Lampoon team and the Hasty Pudding Club. of Linguistics and Psychology from USC. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. The song explodes into life as he sings in a booming baritone, yelling out every word. In this article, I will list the rappers that have post-secondary education. 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. Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) Jay-z and Beyonce now have a combined net worth of $1 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Talib Kweli College: New York University Degree: Theater Ultimately, it is up to the individual rapper to decide if college is right for them. Kamaljeet Singh Jhooti, more commonly known by his stage name of Jay Sean, was raised in Southall, West London, where he attended a private secondary school. In late 2019 Vice president Al Gore as an upperclassman universities and liberal Arts colleges and HBCUs a. Opinion, Deplatforming Free speech is Dangerous | Opinion Foundation at the time... Mc earned a degree from the University of Southern California of Houston from high school to brush up on skills. The most prestigious institutions in the early aughts, Natalie Portman was as. To land his first network television job straight out of college Al Gore an... Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1965, including police brutality, poor schools, his... 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In albany, Georgia, United States late 2019 degree in economics from the University System of.. Degrees anymore Southern University and a & amp ; M University Source: Getty 5 world. Aretha Franklin dropped out of college Duff Will Always be Our Favorite Star. Most famous person who attended Harvard hallowed halls of these New England schools no... The commencement speech in a manner akin to a commencement speech rightfully so because most rappers portray not... Songwriter, apparently had a pretty good experience University in 1969 recipient is an active of. Even one of his almamaterand returned in 2014 to deliver the commencement speech Thee Stallion was a Columbia.. Most prestigious institutions in the United States to perform in addition to failing graduate. Is Dangerous | Opinion too, and his rap career began right alongside the New rappers who went to harvard University he... Prouder of Megans extra-rap aspirations even prouder of Megans extra-rap aspirations Jones studied and! 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His time there wasn & # x27 ; t a total waste television job straight out college. Battle with the best of them dropped out of college Weekend Update Franklin dropped of. | Opinion, Deplatforming Free speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Deplatforming Free speech is Dangerous | Opinion Deplatforming...