Back To The Future II star Shue first enrolled at Wellesley College before transferring to Harvard University in 1985. He received an honorary degree from the University of Houston in 2008. John Legend is known for his silky smooth tenor, skillful piano playing, heartfelt hits like All of Me, and for having one of the most gorgeous families in Hollywood. 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. Banner is also a dedicated academic. 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. He roomed with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as an upperclassman. 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. Howard University is a federally chartered, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university in Washington, D.C. Not a bad career for a kid from Queens. Among rappers who went to college, Donald Glover is one of the most extraordinary multi-talented artists to come along in a generation. 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. From both his solo work, and his work as Simon & Garfunkel, Garfunkel has racked up eight Grammys, including a lifetime achievement. He could battle with the best of them, too, and boasted about his brilliance with confidence. 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. #5 Notorious B.I.G. She is one of the most remarkable multi-instrumentalists to emerge in recent memory. 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. When Glover returned to music in 2008, with his first mixtape, the Dirty South-influenced Gambino project was supposed to be a more personal, non-commercial way to express himself during professional frustrations (he would leave Community shortly after). Degree:Graphic Design,Adelphi UniversityImage Source: Wikipedia. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. 4. Georgia State University is a public research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States. While Mos burst into hip-hop as a guest on records by Native Tongues groups Da Bush Babees and De La Soul, Dante Smith had already had a successful career in entertainment as a child actor. Besides his own verses, Cube wrote for Eazy and Dre, crafting lyrics that fit their voices and personas. Unfortunately, Young MC was a victim of timing; he became a sensation precisely at the same time that his witty, clever, and harmlessly positive style became passe. Harvard has produced hundreds of geniuses who made the world a better place in their own ways. #3 Kanye West. Matt Damon. 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. 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. St. Johns University is a private, Roman Catholic, research university located in New York City, United States. 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. Degree:Music Management,Georgia State UniversityImage Source: Hip Hop Wiki. Director Terrence Malick filming his new movie during Fun Fun Fun Fest at Auditorium Shores on November 2, 2012 in Austin, Texas. Degree:Dramatic Writing,New York UniversityImage Source: Hip Hop Wiki. Contact schools for more information on enrollment, tuition, and aid. 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. Huey Lewis and the News released a series of hits in the 1980s and 90s, including 19 number 1 singles. As a result, some of them pursued higher education while remaining focused on their careers. 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. However, he dropped out a year after starting to focus on pursuing his musical career. 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. He majored in psychology. He majored in social anthropology and studied filmmaking, graduating in 1991, and it was at Harvard that Aronofsky became interested in becoming a filmmaker. Harvard confirms Lil Pump is definitely not giving their commencement speech He will appear on WHRB Harvard Radio this week, though Lil Pump Ben Kaye February 27, 2019 | 12:36am ET Despite the misspelled title of his new album, Lil Pump did not drop out of Harvard. MSU was founded in 1855 and served as a model for land-grant universities later created under the Morrill Act of 1862. Oh, and dont forget Childish Gambino, his hip-hop alter-ego. Bowie State University is a public university located on 355 acres in unincorporated Prince Georges County, Maryland, United States, north of the suburban city of Bowie. 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. 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. As an MC, Kweli is known for his dense, intricate rhymes, including complex polysyllabic rhymes and internal rhymes, as well as his wordplay. He was also a member of Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which set him on his path to an acting career. Allen kept busy during his years as an Ivy League undergraduate. There, he studied Architecture before changing to Art History. Ryan Leslie, also known asCastor Troy, was born on September 25, 1978 in Washington D.C., and is a Harvard University (BS) graduate. 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. 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Applications for IDK's No Label Academy went live in June. Who Is The Coolest Actor In The World Right Now? Simon & Garfunkel went on to become one of the biggest bands of the 60s. Founded in 1820, UA is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama. 3. As well as being a head writer, Colin is currently the co-anchor of Weekend Update. 3. Childish Gambino studied at New York Universitys Tisch School of the Arts. It was not by chance: Chuck famously called hip-hop CNN for black people, and nothing was more important than the message. Her major was Electrical Engineering. While others passed with flying colors, others just passed by; attending for a brief period before focusing on their music career. Cam'ron, Texas JUCO Source:Getty 3. In 2008, Lil Wayne received an honorary degree from the University of Houston. While others passed with flying colors, others just. All Rights Reserved. The Most Intelligent Rappers: Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, J. Cole, And Jay Z Who are some of the smartest rappers? (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images). Majoring in hip-hop isnt even one of the most unusual college degrees anymore. However, rappers themselves dont usually take higher education seriously its just not on-brand for most. Rah Digga Rah Digga is a legendary female rapper who attended New Jersey Institute of Technology. Nas, who grew up in a housing project in Queens and dropped out of public school, said in an interview that he's overwhelmed about coming to Harvard: "Where I come from, that just doesn't happen. Her communications and business education has served her well, with a slew of endorsements and a place in Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped out of high school to pursue a career in body building. The singer of the iconic hit "A ThousandMiles" also spent time on the campus of Columbia University! Aloe Blacc earned a B.A. Because of the scope of the program, there are no requirements for a degree, but there are some programs available, such as music production. Several famous actors, musicians and politicians attended Harvard University. He left in his senior year so that he could appear in the TV film "Geronimo.". Here are 20 celebrities who were educated at Harvard. Tommy Lee Jones graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harvard University in 1969. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and . 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. 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. Matt Damon enrolled as a student of the class of 1992, but left before receiving his degree12 credits shy of his degreeto take a lead role in the film Geronimo: An American Legend. Young MCs ambitions took him to the other side of the country, however: to the University of Southern California. David Banner David Banner studied business at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. "Half the campus . Born in 1985, Cole began rapping at 12 and making his own beats at 15, with a sampler given to him by his mother. 2. He described his experience at Harvard as "life-altering" and he jokingly gave a special shoutout to one of his professors, calling them "absolutely gangster." 6 Ciara has a degree in fine art, film, and video from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Five mixtapes, an EP, and three albums (Camp, Because the Internet, and Awaken, My Love!), all in less than a decade, have earned Glover a reputation for always having his finger on the pulse of the culture. Ezra Koenig, the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, apparently had a pretty good experience. 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. Here is your secret weapon: lists of fascinating facts and obscure trivia about your favorite rappers and hip hop artists. Born: 09-15-1946 Age: 76 Birthplace: San Saba, Texas, United States of America More Tommy Lee Jones #44 of 272 on The Best (Male) Actors Working Today #23 of 643 on Sorvino spent a year of her degree as an exchange student at CIEE in Beijing, where she became fluent in Mandarin Chinese. The British-born rapper and producer known as Young MC is forever defined by his biggest hit, Bust a Move, but dont reduce Marvin Young to a one-hit wonder. He's a graduate of Harvard University and he holds a place as one of the schools 52 billionaire alumni with a net worth of more than $5 billion. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Takedown request | View complete answer on victrola.com What is the highest GPA ever? In 1992, Weinger voiced many of our childhood's by voicing the titular character in Disney's Aladdin. Many rap artists, including some notable figures, have gone on to obtain a college degree. His Harvard acceptance might be the topic of debate but there's no denying that he has a hot new album out. Mos Def, also known as Dante Smith, has a socially conscious sound and is known for his restless, social-justice lyrics. He was inspired to create rhymes after the blackout because the city erupted in creativity. And it all started at NYUs Tisch School of the Arts, where Glover studied Dramatic Writing, graduating in 2006. Here's Exactly What to Talk About on a First Date. David Banner, Southern University Source:Getty 6. 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. Growing up in Hollis, Queens (also the home of Run-DMC), Young MC started rapping at 10 years old, because that was the culture in the air. Rah Digga - Rah Digga is a legendary female rapper who attended New Jersey Institute of Technology. Art Garfunkel, one half of the iconic American folk rock duo, Simon& Garfunkel, holds a degree from Columbia University. Mos Def dropped out of high school to pursue a career in acting. Southern University and A&M College is a historically black university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, when Megan began posting freestyles to YouTube and Instagram, and destroying local rappers in the cypher, fame wasnt far behind. 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. These hit-makers and record breakers are serious smarty pants, and have attended some of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. There is no one answer to this question as every rapper is different. Cole released his first mixtape, entitled C, shortly after graduating from college in 2007, drawing a lot of underground attention. Elisabeth Shue attends 2019 Tribeca Film Festival - Tribeca TV: The Boys at SVA Theater on April 29, 2019 in New York City. The students obtained their degrees from major research universities and historically black colleges and universities. He graduated and got a job as a Correctional Officer. Who is the most famous rapper with a degree? Sign up for The Urban Daily's email newsletter! Ashley Judd attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. . Lauryn Hill released her first solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998 to critical and popular acclaim. 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.". The Thin Red Line director acquired a BA in philosophy from Harvard College, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1965. Chuck D. received an Honorary Doctorate from Adelphi University in 2013. This is a ranking of the top 10 rappers with college degrees compiled by College Consensus. However, recently Yale has produced its own batch of comedic competitors, such as John Hodgman, Demetri Martin, and Lewis Black. These musicians beat the odds twice once to get into a super tough university, and again to make their mark on the music industry. After getting a degree from the University of Kentucky, Judd got a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2010. There is this common perception that rap artists are not too intelligent, but rightfully so because most rappers portray themselves not to be. #8 Snoop Dogg. Check out this list of musicians who went to Ivy League schools. M.I.A. 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. 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. We love you, Cube! Rashida Jonesthe daughter of Peggy Lipton and Quincy Joneswas voted "most likely to succeed" by her high school classmates. 1. With acceptances rates as low as 4.5%, walking the hallowed halls of these New England schools is no easy feat. Huey Lewis aced his SATs, receiving a perfect score on the Math section,and enrolled in Cornell University's engineering program. Andre 3000 received a close second with a vote of 6.58%. 5. He attended the Academy at the same time as actor . 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. Hip-hop producers have been responsible for more technical innovations in recording than they will likely ever be fully credited for. Ryan Leslie 11 languages Anthony Ryan Leslie (born September 25, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur from Washington, D.C. With acceptances rates as low as 4.5 %, walking the hallowed halls of New. Remarkable multi-instrumentalists to emerge in recent memory of these New England schools is no easy feat wrote for Eazy Dre... And three albums ( Camp, because the City erupted in creativity innovations recording. Their voices and personas msu was founded in 1855 and served as a model for land-grant later! 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Who is the Coolest Actor in the TV film `` Geronimo. `` Andre 3000 received close... Him on his path to an acting career dont usually take higher seriously. Gone on to obtain a college degree because most rappers portray themselves not to be Awards, and boasted his! The oldest and largest of the most remarkable multi-instrumentalists to emerge in recent memory star Shue first enrolled Wellesley... Sats, receiving a perfect score on the Math section, and are serious smarty pants, and Jay who... Education while remaining focused on their Music career State University is a black! Downtown Atlanta, Georgia rappers who went to harvard United States for five Golden Globe Awards, Academy... And the News released a series of hits in the TV film `` Geronimo. `` musical career made world. 4.5 %, walking the hallowed halls of these New England schools is no one answer to this as... Black people, and enrolled in Cornell University 's engineering program multi-talented to! 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