Grammy-winning producer 9th Wonder added a major new accomplishment to his résumé this weekend: college graduate.
The legendary producer officially graduated from North Carolina Central University during the school’s commencement ceremony in Durham on Saturday (May 9), completing a journey that began more than three decades ago.
“I walked on this campus 33 years ago,” 9th Wonder said following the ceremony. “I left here to pursue a dream, and I never closed this one.”
The Winston-Salem native first enrolled at NCCU in 1993 before eventually leaving school to focus on raising a family and chasing a career in music. That decision ultimately led him to become one of hip-hop’s most respected producers, working with artists including Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Drake, and more. He also created the Jamla Records label.
His rise in music began at NCCU, where he met Rapper Big Pooh and Phonte. The trio formed the influential hip-hop group Little Brother.
Over the years, 9th Wonder built a career that extended beyond music production. He taught courses centered on hip-hop culture, music history, and production at universities including Duke, Harvard, Wake Forest, and even NCCU itself.
“In academic environments, it is essential to communicate effectively with the next generation,” 9th explained in a piece the school put together. “The way my generation sees things is totally different from the new generation.”
Despite his success, he admitted finishing his degree remained deeply important to him personally.
“I’m a Black college kid first,” he said. “No matter what I’ve done, I felt like I left this off the table.”
The producer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and reflected on the milestone in an emotional Instagram post shared before commencement.
“This was, since I was a kid, the first thing on my list,” he wrote. “To graduate college.”
He also called the moment a promise fulfilled to both himself and his mother, whom he credited for instilling the importance of education early in his life.
“When my name is called at commencement, probably the first person I’m going to think about is my mama,” he said.
The ceremony became even more meaningful for his family knowing his daughter is also set to graduate college just one week later.
“For her to see her old man walk across that stage is huge for me,” he said. “Being a product of an HBCU, this is what can happen.”
NCCU celebrated the producer’s return to campus as a graduate, calling his story an example of perseverance and unfinished goals finally being completed.
“His journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to finish what you started,” the university shared online.
