Black Alumni on the M-I-C

Today we celebrate these Black hip hop and R&B stars and their alma maters —

• Chuck D (Public Enemy) graduated from Adelphi University in 1984. At Adelphi he studied graphic design and was a college radio DJ.  Asked about the importance of earning his Bachelor’s degree, Chuck D responded that “graduating from college in 1984, now that’s my greatest accomplishment.’’

• Cindy Blackman (drummer, Lenny Kravitz) earned her Bachelor’s in Drums from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1980.

• Amerie earned her B.A. from Georgetown University in 2000, with a double major English and Fine Arts.

• Tatyana Ali earned a B.A. from Harvard University in 2002.

• Roberta Flack graduated from Howard University in 1958, at the age of 19. She entered Howard University at the age of 15 on a full music scholarship.

• DJ Amp Live and MC Zion (of Oakland-based rap group Zion-I) earned their Bachelor’s degrees at Morehouse College where they first met and began working together.

• Sister Soujah earned her B.A. at Rutgers University, where she doubled majored in American History and African American Studies and participated in a study abroad program in Spain.

•  Tajai (Souls of Mischief) graduated from Stanford University in 1997.

• Young MC (Marvin Young) graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s in Economics.