Aug 08, 2016 09:10 AM EDT By Jane Reed, UniversityHerald Reporter

It is just one of those things people do not expect. American Rapper J. Cole, also known as Jermaine Lamarr Cole, is one celebrity that has a college degree that might surprise you.

Known as an American rapper, song writer and record producer, he started out as an accomplished violinist that eventually graduated Magna Cum Laude. Sioux City Journal has it that he started out from humble beginnings and once were on a path to pursue a "normal" career.

At first, he attended Terry Sanford High School. He graduated high school in 2003 and moved to New York City. He thought he would make it big in the Big Apple. He attended St. John's University under an academic scholarship. He started out his major in computer science but switched to communications and business. He thought that he did not want to end up like that lonely computer science university professor. On the side, he also tried out for the basketball team.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.8 GPA in 2007. However, he was not able to get his diploma until 2015, years later. It was because he owed money for a library book he never paid for. "I guess they let me slide. 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 received his official diploma on April 9, 2015 during a homecoming concert that he performed in.

Like most artists he worked odd jobs to make it through while building his portfolio. He started out with mix tapes. He moved on to Roc Nation and dropped multiple singles and records.

During his tenure as an artist, he was nominated for New Artist of the Year and Best Rap and Hip Hop Album, Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration.

Missing some J. Cole hits? Check out his music video "Apparently" below:

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