Hip Hop and Higher Ed: 10 MCs With College Degrees

Last week we reflected on the death of the Notorious B.I.G., and what he might have done if he hadn't dropped out of high school. That got us th

The front man of legendary hip hop group Public Enemy, Chuck D—real name Carlton Ridenhour—is known for dropping such serious knowledge on classics like "Fight the Power" and "Bring the Noise" that filmmaker Spike Lee c

Keith Elam, better known as GURU (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) was the MC of influential hip hop duo Gang Starr. He later went on to have a successful solo career and was known for incorporating jazz influences into his tracks. GURU earned a bac

American audiences first got a taste of internationally acclaimed MC Solaar—the alias of French hip hop artist Claude M'Barali—on GURU's 1993 track "Le Bien, Le Mal." He's released seven albums and has even starred in

Multi-platinum rapper and actor Ludacris has churned out hit after hit since 1998. He has won Screen Actors Guild, Critic's Choice, MTV, and Grammy Awards, and even raps on teen superstar Justin Bieber's monster song "Baby." But Luda

Twenty-eight year-old self-proclaimed "post-postmodern" nerdcore rapper MC Lars—real name Andrew Nielsen—proudly reps his English degree from Stanford. He even named his 2006 album "The Graduate." Lars is famous in the

Rapper and record producer David Banner hit it big in 2003 with his track "Like a Pimp" and has since collaborated with everyone from T.I. to Lil Wayne. But don't be fooled by the gritty song title. Banner—real name Lavell Crump&md

Grammy award winning artist Young MC—real name Marvin Young—is best known for the 1989 hip hop classic "Bust a Move." Discovered while he was a student at the University of Southern California, Young co-wrote fellow artist Tone-L

Indie producer, rapper and soul singer Aloe Blacc began MC'ing in high school and was a member of indie rap group, Emanon. Since going solo, Blacc—also known as Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins, III—has brought Latin, folk music, and Negro spi

Grammy Award nominated British rapper, singer, and producer Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam—known to the world as M.I.A.—is famous for her triple platinum song "Paper Planes," socially conscious lyrics, and eclectic style.

Brooklyn-born MC Masta Ace is known by true hip hop heads as one of the best lyricists of all time. Ace—real name Duval Clear—rhymes about urban life without reverting to a gangster-rap style and has been cited by Eminem as one of his bigg