Rappers You Didn’t Know Went to College

With Lil Baby “graduating” from Harvard University, The Root felt it was the perfect time to look at all the rappers that have attended college. Some of them may shock you.

While only a few of them graduated, it’s still cool to see that these rappers pursued endeavors in higher education.

J. Cole

Before pursuing a music career, J. Cole attended and graduated from St. John’s University in Queens, New York. He graduated with a degree in communications and a minor in business.

Ludacris

Prior to becoming an Atlanta rap legend, Ludacris was just a student at Georgia State University, studying music management. Although he eventually dropped out, he was later given an honorary degree from the university in May 2022.

Chuck D

The Public Enemy legend attended Adelphi University in Long Island, New York to study graphic design. This is where he met Flavor Flav. In 1984, he graduated from the university, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He was given an honorary doctorate years later in 2013.

Ice Cube

Before he was saying, “F**k the Police!,” Cube attended the Phoenix Institute of Technology to study architecture. Who knew the West Coast rap legend had such a strong interest in buildings and skyscrapers?

Lil Baby

The Atlanta rapper has had quite a journey. Once a drug dealer, Lil Baby recently became a Harvard man, graduating from the “Launching New Ventures” program at the university’s business school.

Megan Thee Stallion

The Houston rap star graduated from college while she was in the spotlight as one of the biggest artists in the world. In December 2021, she walked across the stage at Southern Texas University, graduating with a degree in health administration.

2 Chainz

Did you know 2 Chainz was a basketball star in high school? He was so good at it that he received an athletic scholarship from Alabama State University. He was only on the team for a couple of years before transferring and finishing his education at Virginia State University.

Saweetie

Before she was a young star in the industry, Saweetie was just a humble student at San Diego State University before transferring to the University of Southern California. This is where she received her degree in communication.

Kanye West

Ye’s first three albums are filled with references to how the Chicago rapper dropped out of college. For a short time, he attended the American Academy of Art and Chicago State University. He figured it would be more beneficial to just be an artist and producer full-time. 

Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper may have the record on this list for the shortest time in college. He attended Harold Washington College in Chicago, Illinois. for only a week before dropping out.

Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli’s family is filled with successful academics. Both of his parents worked at universities in the New York area and his brother is a professor at Columbia Law School. Kweli on the other hand went to New York University to study theater.

Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino went to New York University, majoring in dramatic writing. I guess that’s why he became such a great TV writer.

Killer Mike

Killer Mike attended Morehouse College for a short time before diving head-first into the Atlanta rap scene.

Metro Boomin

I know, Metro Boomin isn’t actually a rapper. But he’s close enough. Before being the go-to producer for Atlanta trap music, the St. Louis native attended Morehouse College.

David Banner

This underrated Mississippi rapper not only attended and graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He later went to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to get his master’s. Not many rappers can say they have two degrees.