by Madeline Heinsen, staff reporter
Kanye West has kept his promise to go back to college after he dropped out of Chicago State University to his late mother, Donda West. West recently received an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
West released his debut album, The College Dropout in 2004, leading him to be described as a leader in the music industry. West attended Chicago’s American Academy of Art for one semester on a partial scholarship before transferring to Chicago State University, where his mother was head of the English Department. After one semester there, he dropped out to pursue his music career.
“I’m honestly so proud of Yeezy, he went from being a college dropout to a PhD graduate. That’s what you call a role model,” fifteen-year old Alex Moreno said.
“Hey Mama” is the sixteenth song on West’s album, Late Registration. In the lyric, West talks about how his mother wanted him to continue his studies.“My mama told me go to school/ Get your doctorate/ Somethin’ to fall back on, you could profit with/ But still supported me when I did the opposite/ Now I feel like it’s things I gotta get/ Things I gotta do/ Just to prove to you.”
“It was such a surprise when I found out Kanye got his Phd. He’s always talking about how he’s such a genius, I guess it can be proven now,” sophomore Kayla Morell said.
Dr.West can finally say that he finished what he started before his rapping career took off. Rap’s most famous college dropout will now have a diploma to hang up in his office.