Hip Hop Commencement Speech

Drop it like it’s taught! My commencement speech is paid in full with hip-hop lyrics. So, back that tassel up and get straight A’s out of Compton.  Sorry, Diddy…I didn’t mean to overshadow your Howard speech.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT1Re_gRB64

Transcript:
Esteemed faculty, parents, friends, dignified guests, graduates, dead homies…

Now, this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down.
(DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince – The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme)

We started from the bottom, now we are here
Started from the bottom, now the whole crew…is here
(Drake – Started From the Bottom)

I grew up a screw up
Got introduced to the game, got a ounce and blew up
(2 Pac ft. Notorious B.I.G. – Runnin’)

The concept of school seems so secure
Sophomore, three years, ain’t picked a career
(Kanye West – All Falls Down)

This morning I woke up
Feeling brand new, I jumped up
(Talib Kweli – Get By)

Make a business for yourself, boy, set some goals
Make a fat diamond out of dusty coals
(Outkast – Bombs Over Baghdad)

Turn that 62 to 125, 125 to a 250
250 to a half a million
(Kanye West ft. Jay-Z and Big Sean – Clique)

Turn down for what?
(DJ Spider and Lil Jon – Turn Down For What)

Feeling my highs and my lows
(Talib Kweli – Get By)

Is it worth it? Let me work it
Put my thing down, flip it, and reverse it
(Missy Elliot – Work It)

Used to be number 10
Now, permanent one
(Fugees – Fu-Gee-La)

Baby, I do this, I thought that you knew this
Can’t stand no haters, and honest, the truth is
(Iggy Azalea – Fancy)

I’m different, yeah, I’m different
(2 Chainz – I’m Different)

But don’t let them say you ain’t beautiful
They can all get f—ed, just stay true to you
(Eminem – Beautiful)

Understand that I’m not your average man
(LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out)

If you are what you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear
(Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos – Superstar)

Nevermind what haters say
Ignore ‘em til they fade away
(T.I. feat. Rihanna – Live Your Life)

Haterz get mad cuz I got me some bathing ape
(Souljah Boy – Crank That)

If you only had one shot
One opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
(Eminem – Lose Yourself)

Big things poppin and little things stopping’
do it, do it, do it, what you waiting’ for?
(T.I.- Big Things Poppin’ (Do It))

If I can’t do it, homie, it can’t be done
(50 Cent – If I Can’t)

This is the moment
Tonight is the night
(Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold Us)

You only live once, that’s the motto…YOLO
(Drake – The Motto)

Cuz I never been defeated and I won’t stop now
(DJ Khaled feat. Ludacris, Rick Ross and T-Pain – All I Do Is Win)

The quicker you here, the faster you go
That’s why where I come from, the only thing we know is
Work hard, play hard, work hard, play hard
Work, work, work, work
(Wiz Khalifa – Work Hard, Play Hard)

Clap along if you feel what happiness is to you
clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
(Pharrell – Happy)

You know I had to do if for you!
You know I had to do if for you!
(Drake – Draft Day)