E-40 now has a new surname to add to his resume, as the Bay Area legend just received an honorary doctorate degree in music from his alma mater, Grambling State University.
40 Water was on hand to receive the degree at GSU’s graduation ceremony on Friday (May 12), where he also offered words of wisdom, encouragement and appreciation to the graduating class.
“This means so much to me, man, being from Magazine Street – 1300 block [of] Vallejo, California, ya understand me? The Bay Area,” E-40 told the crowd.
“This means so much ‘cause I came a long way. I wanna thank God first and foremost. Always. It is with great honor and gratitude that I accept this honorary doctorate in music. I would like to express my appreciation to the administration…”
Earlier this year, E-40 donated $100,000 to Grambling to bolster the HBCU’s marching band and help with the installation of a recording studio. In turn, the school named the studio after the famous alum.
E-40 attended the HBCU in the mid-’80s before going on to becoming a rap legend – and he expressed his hopes to do the same when inspiring the next generation of students to chase their own musical dreams.
“Hey man, I feel good about it too. How about that? I feel really good and God is great, right,” he said when presenting his donation in February. “Music is my passion. Music is therapeutic and healing.
“Every day on my block was a movie. Just something going on whether people arguing in the middle of the night, couples in the middle of the street saying crazy stuff.”
40 continued: “Especially in the ’80s era and that was a time for me to get the hell out of there and God work in mysterious ways. Wasn’t that I had to — I’ve always been open-minded. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be back at the school I attended many moons ago. A lot of things have changed but not a lot.”
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