When hearing big names like Ludacris, Plies, Talib Kweli, and even Lil Wayne, one would probably assume that these Hip-Hop artists have nothing in common and generally would not be heavily associated with one another. However, all of these rappers have one very unique and maybe even unknown, thing in common.  All of these Hip-Hop artists have either attended or graduated from college.

Being as though this editorial is dedicated to college-aged minds and given from a college student’s perspective, I thought it would be interesting to discuss rappers who actually received some form of higher education and the effects that it has had on their career, as well as the message it sends to the generation who is actually on the receiving end of this Hip-Hop culture. This is a topic that isn’t generally discussed amongst the Hip-Hop community and I was anxious to figure out why.  

Now, there are artists such as Kanye West who have actually publicized the fact that they attended college. Some argue though, that Kanye has done a disservice to some of his younger fans by highly publicizing the fact that he was a college drop-out and a proud one nonetheless.  Whether I agree or disagree with that statement is irrelevant but I have formulated a few questions to lead me to my answer. I’m wondering if the reason why most Hip-Hop artists don’t discuss their college education is because it has been deemed “not cool” or will in some way tarnish their reputation. I also find it interesting that we assume that artists like Common and Talib Kweli have attended college but when we hear names such as Plies or Lil Wayne, we can’t believe. Why is that? Not only that but why is it that unless we dig deep into our internet search engines; we wouldn’t easily determine this fact? Has college merely become cliche? Or an even better question; what does the lack of interest in expressing the positive attributes of gaining that higher education say to young fans who look to these artists as role models?


Some artists who attended college include:  

Lil Wayne: Enrolled at the University of Houston, majoring in Sports Management
Talib Kweli: Studied experimental theater at NYU
Paul Wall: Degree in Industrial Engineering from University of Houston
Ice Cube: Studied Architectural Drafting in Phoenix
Sean Paul: Attended University of Technology in Jamaica
Ludacris: Graduated Summa Cum Lauda from Georgia State University
David Banner: Graduated Southern University, only one semester away from receiving a Master’s Degree
Flava Flav: Graduated from Adelphi University with a Radio Communications/Business Degree
Common: Attended Florida A& M University
Plies: Degree in Nursing

I’m guessing for most of you, you probably wouldn’t have guessed that some of these rappers ever stepped foot inside a school. Is that because they simply don’t reveal this information or because some of these artists are more concerned with an image that college could possible taint?

As we all know, college isn’t for everyone nor would I attempt to force or push my own opinions on anyone, but there has to be a reason why no one is speaking about this situation. I came up with five main questions that could easily lead me to my discovery and went around to my fellow college students seeking a solid answer.

This is what the students had to say:

“When I first heard David Banner speak I had to do a double take. When he raps he doesn’t hardly formulate words “geah!” When he speaks he’s way more impressive than Jessie & Rev. Al- that Univ of MD education (grad) did him well. Don’t forget what we know as modern day hip hop started in a dorm room. Simply put. Its not cool to be educated, its cool to be a hood nigga with no other ambition than sellin drugs or whatever it is these kids do nowadays. Yu hear it all time. to qoute how high “you gonna get your ghetto pass revoked using big words like that” WTF” Tif S. (Penn State University/African American Studies & Speech Communications)



“Jus cuz the image of rappers nowadays is portrayed with street life, hustling, makin fast money, and how it is to on the block… although contrary to reality, the perception that goes with being in higher education is that yur disconnected from the hood and since yu got book smarts, yu lack the street smarts” Ike M. (Old Dominion University/ Biological Sciences)

“I dont care if the rapper went to college. Kanye comes to mind first but I know that he didn’t finish – more recent Asher Roth (lovin that kid right now). Don’t think that intentionally don’t it’s just where would you fit it in if you intentionally do? it doesn’t fit unless you make a whole song about it…and how many of those can you do? it’s not like it hasn’t been talked about. Trina has a degree too. To some extent college is associated with kids..just big kids/ I think the industry as a whole wants to market to adults and make the money from coming to colleges doing shows” Catalina B. (University of Maryland)

“In my mind a college education does not elevate nor diminish a rapper. The fact is, 80% of the rapper’s images are dictated by record executives. Kinda like the WWF and how characters Like Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior was created. More often than not, to promote coonage is profitable. The bigger the “Nigga” the bigger the money. And in this…crack epidemic society, it is not hard or gangsta to be a good student or to be an educated professional. It is this ideology that keeps urban youth in a poverty state of mind. And thus, we are losing the battle against literacy when it comes to the youth.” C. Merck Vincent (Cornell University/ History &Gov’t Major)

“Going to college is not that important to rap about lol. I dont hear rappers bragging about not going. Plus, some rappers were too ignorant to go anyway. But Nawlegde went to an Ivy League University (University Of Pennsylvania) and he is proud of it. And we all know about Kanye West” Eason W. (Morgan State University & Business Administration)

“In my opinion, I suppose the rappers feel that it will tarnish their image as being thgus and gangsters, but I think if alot of them came clean about going to college, it would be good for people in this generation. Maybe even inspirational. I know that it inspires me, even if they didnt finish as long as they made ann effort.” Diamond H. (Triton Community College, major undecided)

“Rappers who went to college made a positive choice because gettin a higher education is not all about money but about the knowledge that u do receive which no one can take away from u. knowledge is power. No, it makes rappers more attractive in my opinion.. i had more respect for lil wayne when i found out he actually was going to college. Rappers dont mention it because the way society labels them. everybody wants to portray that their goons, they wanna praise sex money and drugs because thats what sells. U may not be seen as a goon if u went to school for nursing.to a certain degree i feel its a bit flaw, he’s praising one thing and doing another. I dont wanna call him out and say he’s fake but at the same time i dont feel like he’s really being himself completely. if ur from the hood, its ok represent ur hood but at the same time if u have an education and made it out the hood, be proud and let people know. kids need to know these things. I feel like theyre just really not being their full self… claiming one side of their life’s but not the other side…” Sheena W (Florida A&M University/ Psychology)

“I don’t think it really matters. People care more about what you’re bringing to the table, lyrical capability, connections. How many entertainers, basketball players, etc talk about what college they attended? I don’t think they’re ashamed or it will tarnish their image…this isn’t corporate america…college degrees are meaningless, connections and name dropping is everything so that’s why on everyone’s bio you see those two things” Anthony L. (Mercer/ Depaul Grad student & International Affairs, Political Science and Economics with a language of study in Arabic)

“intelligence cant dilute creativity, it can only enhance it I believe. Word play is a significant part seeing that whomever will be speaking. Rappers dont compete artistically anymore I believe. you follow people in a fad. but you compete respectfully in an environment built for success. I watch battle rappers to see where the creativity of …  punchlines are to know how high i have to come up in my writing, what i cant goo-goo gaga over Its not following them, its upping the artistry. Plies is a sad case, acting like a goon telling tales of someone else’s life. That isnt a goon thats a puppet, an actor with an insubstantial existence but then again you imitate what you like. you see someone getting a cool million youre gonna do what they did if you look up to them and do what they did to get it. i guess thats a reason for the monotonous repetition apparent in the rap industry. too many Israelites and not enough Moses. to deny good achievements is a clear sign of lunacy.” Akiim J (CLS/Theology)



“I think rappers who went ot college should be able to produce better music over all. The knowledge and intellect known for typical collegiate students is quite high so i expect higher quality lyrics..rhymes..punchlines etc. I think it can intensify the image. Of course the streets say that a college boy/girl is soft..but i see it as a way to say “Hey i got a degree or partial degree and i can speak on things and say things you only dream about” I think they are scared their reputation will be ruined by college status. It can be very marketable..just gotta allow yourself to be marketable to the right demographic. Plies…well i think he sucks..my opinion. But i would like to see him drop somethin that shows his college level knowledge. He seems to wanna shy awaty from bein a nerd and stuck to being a “thug”…i rather be a nerd..make money and be me lol I believe if you are a rapper..and went to college..you DONT have to mention it every time..but SHOULD mention it. Now i believe Plies is trying to sell out..cause people know he went to college…and he just dont talk about it…especially nursing. But there are rappers and artists who didnt go to college and never mention anything bout it and …  they dont sell out..some even mention going back to college..or shouldve went to college (i.e. Spaceship feat an artist *forgot his name* who even said he shouldve went to college like his niece then he wouldnt have to use his piece). So i believe there are artists who mention it and some dont. But if you are rapping about the street life, thug life, goon, hood life type…you wont talk bout going to college..if you did go..thats just how it really goes. And i think that shows that those artists are scared to say “im educated and can speak properly” cause it will make you look (dont be mad..but its truth) “White” Gerald C. (Florida A& M University/ Economics)

“Well people may get mad at my having an opinion but being a teacher and having some disadvantaged students and some not so disadvantaged students who look up to rappers, I think I can speak. I think it is a terrible message to send to young black men (and women for that matter) that being educated makes you a sellout. That is ignorant bullshit! I know Ludacris went to college and it certainly has not hurt his rap career. Kanye West dropped out of college and isn’t from the ghetto to begin with. Does dropping out give him street cred?” Alex S. (Clark University B.A. Government International Relations)

“I already believe that most famous rappers are doing a disservice to our community. Withholding such a constructive background only furthers my belief that they are selling out for the sake of street cred. or more importantly, money.Not Mentioning- that you went to college makes you a sellout in my opinion. It gives me the impression that if a rapper is educated and doesn’t mention it on a regular basis then he is playing down his intelligence in an effort to sell more records and to look more “hood”.Its a well known fact that record company’s can sell a thug-rapper more easily than they can “sell” an educated-rapper. So, in order to look more “hood” a rapper might downplay his intelligence to sell more records. This is what I mean by selling out. … I would love to know that as my students are humming the latest Kanye song that they thought of him as a college grad instead of a “College Dropout”.When mainstream America thinks about famous rappers do they think of someone who is educated? Is that because rappers aren’t educated?” Tarvor L. (George Mason/ VCCS alum)

“Because people think its cool to be dumb…… they need to start tellin kids to stay in school because wether they wanna come out and be real about it….. they influence kids and make it so that kids are more focus on money and clothes then readin a damn book. because they realize that college is important…. that’s why THEY went. what they need to do is sell a car and a chain or two and start send people to college.” Raven N. (University of Cincinnati /C.I.S)

“I think if you going to rap about the ghetto and not rap about being in college. you have to be real about you might still get some points from it. rappers now days are unreal you will find a few real rappers.” Emerson F. (Miami Dade College/ X-Ray Technician)