Here are 7 rappers who have scholarship funds – apply!

Rappers may spend a lot of money, but they also give a lot of it back to those in need. As the die-hard fans that we are, we sometimes we can get so caught up in the fancy cars and expensive clothes in the Hip Hop lifestyle that we don’t really see what artists in the genre are doing behind the scenes.

Many of our favorite rappers are using their stacks and influence to make a change in this world, especially for today’s youth. Check out our list of these 7 rappers who are giving back to the community with scholarship funds below.

JAY-Z and his mother, Gloria Carter, founded the Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund in 2003. Per Rock The Bells, the Shawn Carter Foundation has provided over 200 students in the United States with up to $7,500 each in funding for tuition, housing or other needs. At the inaugural Shawn Carter Foundation Gala in 2019, the organization raised over $6 million in funding for students.

In 2021, the foundation and Beyonce’s BeyGOOD organization announced the About Love Scholarship in conjunction with The Carters’ Tiffany campaign. The legacy jewelry company provided $2 million in funding for HBCU students in creative fields. The scholarship was given to schools like the University of Arkansas, Bennett College and more.

In 2020, Lil Baby returned to his Atlanta high school to announce the launch of his My Turn scholarship. Created in partnership with Amazon Music, Motown Records, Wolfpack Global and Quality Control Music, it grants $150,000 to several students at the rapper’s alma mater, Booker T. Washington High School, annually.

When the scholarship was announced, the “Drip Too Hard” rapper posted an Instagram story calling for other rappers to do the same. “Challenge all rappers [to] go to your old school [and] give out some scholarships,” he said. Lil Baby also spoke about how he wanted the scholarship to grow in funding. “Hopefully, it can keep getting bigger and better,” the Atlanta rapper said.

In 2021, Travis Scott founded the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund through his Cactus Jack Foundation. Named after his grandfather, who once served as the Dean of Admissions of the graduate school at Prairie View A&M University, the scholarship provides $10,000 to graduating students with a 3.5 GPA or higher who will be attending an HBCU.

In 2022, Scott’s foundation provided $1 million to 100 students who were attending 38 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. On the Cactus Jack Foundation website, Scott discusses how much education meant to his family member. “My grandfather wanted me to take it all the way through college, I feel there is a power in education, so to be able to give someone the opportunity to fulfill that dream as my papa thought for me is amazing."

Since 2018, the U.K. hitmaker has been providing funding for Black Cambridge University students through the Stormzy Scholarship that was created in partnership with the rapper’s #Merky Foundation and the HSBC U.K. Bank.

The scholarship originally started as a grant for full tuition coverage and maintenance for two undergraduate students. Since then, the This Is What I Mean rapper has assisted 32 students and recently announced that 30 more scholarships will be given to them over three years. HSBC U.K. has increased its support for the scholarship by committing to a £2 million pledge. Per The Independent, sources from Cambridge have noticed an uptick of applications from Black students, which has been labeled “The Stormzy Effect.”

Since 1992, the legendary Queen Latifah has been giving back to the community through the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation. Founded by her late mother Rita Owens, the organization is named after Latifah’s late brother. The scholarship provides financial support for underprivileged youth and opportunities for enhanced learning. The foundation mainly helps students near her hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Per Variety, scholarship beneficiaries are expected to pay it forward to their own communities through volunteering.

If there’s one thing Nelly’s going to do, he’s going to stand for his city, St. Louis, Missouri. On March 14, 2023 – 314 is the city’s area code -- the “Country Grammar” rapper announced the 314 Day scholarship in partnership with the 314 Day Foundation. Per Ladue News, the scholarship amount of $31,400 was given to Harris-Stowe State University, a historically Black college in St. Louis, where the funding will be awarded to enrolled students. In conjunction with the scholarship, the Midwest rapper also announced an Alumni 314 Olympics for St. Louis high school graduates.

Just like his fellow British rapper Stormzy, AJ Tracey launched a scholarship fund to support Black students at Oxford University. Per The Guardian, the scholarship was created to provide Black students with more inclusive access to education at the predominantly white university. In 2022, Tracey pledged to donate £40,000 a year over a span of three years.

When the fund was announced, the recording artist explained why he was prioritizing Black students. “I think, in general, for anyone who doesn’t understand why Black people who have managed to become successful want to help Black kids, it should be self-explanatory. The whole country is catered toward white people and we’re just trying to level the playing field by helping Black kids.”

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