With steady work in TV movies, theater, and sitcoms, the kid who would be Mos Def dropped out of high school to pursue his acting career, and credited his passion for acting as the force that protected him from the violence and crime of the Brooklyn projects. 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. Lil Peep was an American rapper and musician, who died on November 15, 2017, at the age 21 following an overdose. 93. Paul Wall Paul Wall is known for his diamond grills and making some dope Houston music along with Slim Thug, UGK, and other affiliates. Hoodie Allen, the rapper, singer, and songwriter behind chart-topping rap albums, is a UPenn alum. College: Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. 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. 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. 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. There is this common perception that rap artists are not too intelligent, but rightfully so because most rappers portray themselves not to be. After Simon& Garfunkel's initial lukewarm reception in the music industry, Garfunkel went to Columbia. The one hitch that stopped her from singer stardom? Conan OBrien, the esteemed talk show host, writer and comedian, graduated from Harvard University 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. 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. rappers who went to college and what they study. 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. 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. Cole was the kind of kid who seemed to excel at everything he did an honors student, first chair violinist in his high school orchestra and if he wasnt immediately good at something, he worked at it; after being cut from the high school basketball team in his freshman and sophomore years, Cole practiced until he was a starter in his senior year. Martin would go on to get his own television show on Comedy Central called The Important Things With Demetri Martin. We care about your data. A straight-A student throughout high-school, Hill received a scholarship to this New York Ivy League institution. Students sought to gain some insight on the intersection between Lil Pump, who dropped out of high school, and Harvard. Who says that people can only excel at one thing? He majored in psychology. Diddy, Howard Univ. Education: Bachelor's in Government (concentration in Political Science and Macroeconomics) from Harvard College. 1. Natalie Portman graduated from Harvard University in 2003 with an. He was a writer and president for the Harvard Lampoon during his tenure at the school. It used to be filled with a love for drama and plays. Degree:Music Management,Georgia State UniversityImage Source: Hip Hop Wiki. Still,the teen sensation holds a diploma (of sorts) from Harvard, and was able to continue her education online while balancing a packed schedule! 89. He began his career working as a playwright and anassociate artistic director of Steve Olsens West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theatre Bar in Hells Kitchen in New York City. It was in college that Jerry started using his communications skills to put together iconic routines at open mic nights at a New York comedy club called To Catch A Rising Star. Rappers who went to college are as unique as can be Native Tongues and backpacker MCs, hard-core gangsta and Dirty South rappers, pop stars and underground. Garfunkel has also had success as a solo artist and actor. 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 After graduation, Conan left for Los Angeles, where he got a writing job on an HBO show called Not Necessarily the News. Allen kept busy during his years as an Ivy League undergraduate. Here is your secret weapon: lists of fascinating facts and obscure trivia about your favorite rappers and hip hop artists. Ja Rule can now be called a Harvard grad. 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. Degree:Theater,New York University Daveywavey holds a ball. Check out this list of musicians who went to Ivy League schools. In interviews, Ice Cube has attributed his systematic planning to his architectural training, and it has served him well as he has built a three-decade career that has spanned from rap to acting to movie producing. 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? From both his solo work, and his work as Simon & Garfunkel, Garfunkel has racked up eight Grammys, including a lifetime achievement. 83 and Syracuse University Ive just been dragged along by fate. Not a smooth-talking comic we all look up to, but a tortured clown trying to get through the day. Whitneys mother was an alcoholic who wasnt very involved in her life and she often found herself walking long distances from school because her mother was too drunk to pick her up. Whitney Cummings graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Ice Cube/Education. Missy Elliott was awarded with an honorary doctorate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music this year. These chart-topping musicians dominated the music scene and the classroom. Chicago State University (CSU) is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago. After starting her college career at Radcliffe College, Stockard Channing graduated from Harvard University in 1965. celebrities who went to Harvard University. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Pursuing a college education, whether by seeing it through its entirety or taking a handful of classes, has helped play a role in the genesis of some of todays most dynamic, successful and overall celebrated artists. But there are no details about potential subjects, courses or . 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. Bowie State is part of the University System of Maryland. Discover the notable alumni of Howard University. Who are the rappers that went to Harvard? Jerry Seinfeld graduated from Queens College, CUNY with a bachelors degree in communications and drama. Here's a quick look at 21 rappers who attended college. February 27, 2019 | 12:36am ET. After high school, he enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Technology, where he earned a two-year degree in drafting in 1988. Ive always had real trouble knowing what my actual desires and goals are. How's that for school spirit? 55 with a bachelors degree in communicationsand drama. R.J. Hunter is an American basketball player who currently plays shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls. Founded in 1820, UA is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama. As a member of N.W.A. 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?. 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President Barack Obama, George W. Bush, John Adams, Rutherford Hayes, John Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams all. 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 . The list includes people like Taraji P. Henson, Sean Combs, Chadwick Boseman, Thurgood Marshall & Phylicia Rashad. While others passed with flying colors, others just passed by; attending for a brief period before focusing on their music career. Ezra Koenig, the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, apparently had a pretty good experience. All Rights Reserved. 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. Whitneys mark on show business definitely earns her a rightful place at the famous alumni table. 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In November 2017, famous American rapper and actor LL Cool J took to Instagram to announce that he has completed Harvard's Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports program. 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.". And what was Gurus major? 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. Famous people who attended top-notch schools, have multiple degrees, or even abandoned formal education and found success anyway. He was a writer and president for the Harvard Lampoon during his tenure at the school. ; Phylicia Rashad in Chicago cypher, fame wasnt far behind, at the age following. 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