J. Cole Finally Receives His College Diploma from St. John's University

Cole says he'll send it to his mom immediately.

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Complex Original

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J. Cole has received his college diploma after nearly eight years since graduation.

This week, the “Apparently” rapper returned to his alma mater St. John’s University in Queens for a special performance for current students and alumni. His history with the school is well-known as he finished with degrees in communication and business. He even graduated magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.82.

Village Voice was at the show and hung out with Cole backstage, where the publication witnessed a big moment for him. Various faculty members visited Cole in the green room to present him with his official diploma. He admitted that he owed money for a library book, so that’s why he wasn’t able to get it after all these years. "If you have any outstanding fee, that translates to money. There's a price associated with it. I never paid. That's why I don't have my degree," he said.

Cole joins other rappers such as Ludacris, David Banner and Talib Kweli who have pursued higher education and earned their degrees. With the paper finally in his hands, he plans on giving it to his mom.

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