From the East Coast to the West Coast, and from the Dirty South to the city of Paris, famous rappers all over the world have received college degrees. 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.
Who is the most famous rapper with a degree? Lil Wayne tops our list. In 2008, Lil Wayne received an honorary degree from the University of Houston. LL Cool J received an honorary degree from Northeastern University in 2014. At the time, he said, “For them to recognize my body of work and my contributions to the world of art is an amazing feeling.” Common attended Florida A&M University for two years in the 1990s. He was later awarded an honorary degree from the institution.
M.I.A. has a degree in fine art, film, and video from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. 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.
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli studied experimental theater at New York University.
Donald Glover
Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino, graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2006.
M.I.A.
M.I.A. has a degree in fine art, film, and video from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.
Young MC
Young MC earned a degree in economics from the University of Southern California.
J. Cole
J. Cole graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. John’s University in 2007.
Aloe Blacc
Aloe Blacc earned a B.A. of Linguistics and Psychology from USC.
2 Chainz
2 Chainz majored in Psychology at Alabama State University. He received a basketball scholarship to the institution.
Guru
Guru earned a degree in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He also took a few classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Ice Cube
Ice Cube earned a two-year degree from the Phoenix Institute of Technology in 1988.
LL Cool J
LL Cool J received an honorary degree from Northeastern University in 2014. At the time, he said, “For them to recognize my body of work and my contributions to the world of art is an amazing feeling.”
Mos Def
Mos Def (AKA Yasiin Bey) reportedly graduated from NYU.
Kanye West
Kanye West received an honorary doctorate degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Common
Common attended Florida A&M University for two years in the 1990s. He was later awarded an honorary degree from the institution.
Pitbull
“Timber” rapper, Pitbull, received an honorary degree from Doral College in 2014.
Lil Jon
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.
Chuck D
Chuck D received an honorary doctorate degree from Adelphi University in 2013.
Sean Combs
In 2014, Sean Combs received an honorary doctorate from Howard University.
Sage Francis
Sage Francis earned a degree from the University of Rhode Island in the late-1990s.
Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav earned a degree in Radio Communications and Business from Adelphi University.
David Banner
David Banner was the president of the Student Government Association at Southern University. He went on to take a few graduate classes at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean was presented with an honorary Doctrine of Humanity Degree from West Connecticut State University.
Cam’ron
Cam’ron reportedly graduated from a junior college in Texas.
Lil Wayne
In 2008, Lil Wayne received an honorary degree from the University of Houston.
Phonte
Phonte graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors from North Carolina Central University where he majored in English.
Dizzee Rascal
In 2013, Dizzee Rascal received an honorary degree from the University of East London.