Before becoming a reality-show disgrace, Flava Flav was a musical genius who, by the time he was a teenager, could play more than a dozen instruments by ear without any official musical instruction. He found consistent employment in TV movies, theatre, and comedies.

Even though they don't brag about their BAs along with their gold chains and Lamborghinis, hip-hop superstars and stars who have completed their time in higher education and acquired degrees are the topics of the College Consensus rating of the Top 10 Educated Rappers with College Degrees. Instead of ability level, artists are rated based on their alma mater's Consensus score.

1. Young MC, University of Southern California

Don't consider Marvin Young to be a one-hit-wonder. Young MC is a British-born rapper and producer whose most famous song, "Bust a Move," has come to define him forever. Young MC began rapping at the age of 10 since it was the culture prevalent where he was up in Hollis, Queens, which is also where Run-DMC was born. He was the son of ambitious, hard-working Jamaican immigrants, so slacking off, roaming the streets, or getting into mischief was not an option. Instead, the talented, committed student flourished at Hunter College High School.

2. Saweetie, University of Southern California

Saweetie, also known as Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, has never been silent about the value of education in her life. Born in Sacramento, California, to a Filipina-Chinese mother and an African-American father, Saweetie was surrounded by the sounds of West Coast hip-hop as a child. Although she admired traditional musicians like Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, she only began composing poems when she was a teenager.

3. Childish Gambino, University of New York

Donald Glover is one of the most outstanding multi-talented musicians to appear in a generation of rappers who attended college. Glover must be one of the busiest people in Hollywood. His resume includes a network television writing position right out of college, a starring role in Community, stand-up comedy, and writing, directing, and leading roles in Atlanta. Oh, and don't forget about his hip-hop alter persona, Childish Gambino.

4. Talib Kweli, New York University

Talib Kweli must be towards the top of any list of the best hip-hop lyricists; otherwise, the list is inherently flawed. Kweli, one of the top rappers with College Degrees, grew up in a highly educated household with an English professor as his mother, a college administrator and sociologist as his father, and a law professor as his mother (his brother).

5. Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def, New York University

Dante Smith, alias Mos Def, aka Yasiin Bey, one of the most respected MCs of his time, is well-known for his socially aware songs, constant reinvention, and unmistakable drawl. While Dante Smith had already had a great career in Hollywood as a child actor, Mos first entered the hip-hop scene as a guest on tracks by Native Tongues ensembles Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. The young man who would become Mos Def dropped out of high school to pursue his acting career and later acknowledged his love for acting as the thing that kept him safe from the violence and criminality of the Brooklyn projects. He found consistent employment in TV movies, theatre, and comedies.

6. Guru (Gang Starr), Morehouse College

The late Keith Elam was credited with helping to establish the New York hardcore sound with acts like Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions. Guru was undoubtedly one of the most intelligent and wise MCs, known for his razor-sharp observations on politics, philosophy, human nature, and art. By the time he was a teenager, could play more than a dozen instruments by ear without any official musical instruction.

7. J. Cole, St. John's University

J. Cole is a Renaissance man of the hip-hop trade, a student of the genre, and a creative as skilled behind the boards as he is behind the mic. He is Jay-Z's first apprentice at his Roc Nation record company. Cole was born in 1985, and he started rapping at the age of 15 using a sampler his mother had given him. Cole was the kind of child who appeared to thrive in everything he did. He was an honors student and the first chair violinist in his high school orchestra.

8. Chuck D, Adelphi University

As the founder of Public Enemy, Chuck D has spent more than three decades chasing controversy and clamoring for justice. He is one of the most political hip-hop MCs of all time. Chuck D, real name Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, started his rap career during the infamous 1977 New York City blackout, which served as the Big Bang of hip-hop. At 17, Chuck D was motivated to create rhymes by the post-blackout creative explosion in the city. However, stardom took some time, and while honing his talent, Chuck graduated from Adelphi University with a BFA in Graphic Design, where he met William Drayton.

9. Ludacris, Georgia State University

Okay, so when you think about the musician behind the songs "Act a Fool" and "Chicken-n-Beer," academics may not come to mind immediately, but Ludacris is a guy of many surprises. Chris Bridges, a Grammy and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning musician, may have gained popularity via some less-than-serious party songs, but the guy is a tycoon and a business whiz.

10. Megan Thee Stallion, Texas Southern University.'

Hip-hop was in Megan Pete's blood from birth; her mother, Holly Thomas, was a Houston underground rapper connected to DJ Screw's Screwed Up Click. When Megan didn't have childcare, Thomas would carry her little daughter to recording sessions, but he had one rule: wait till you're 21. To delay her transformation into Megan Thee Stallion.