‘Master P’ delivers Fall Commencement address at GSU

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

New Orleans-born rapper, music executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist Percy Miller, a.k.a. Master P, delivered the keynote address at Grambling State University’s fall commencement on Friday, December 13, at Grambling University’s Fredrick C. Hobby Assembly Center.

Miller grew up in New Orleans’ Calliope Projects as the oldest of five children. He was a talented basketball player who attended the University of Houston on an athletic scholarship before transferring to Oakland’s Merritt College to study business. After receiving money in a malpractice settlement after the death of his grandfather, he opened a record store in Richmond, California, that he called No Limit Records and Tapes. His record label would also use the No Limit name.

Master P released his first studio album, “Get Away Clean,” in 1991. He released a succession of albums over the next few years in California and opened for Tupac Shakur at concerts. In 1995, he relocated himself and No Limit Records back to New Orleans. Back in the Crescent City, his 1997 album “Ghetto D” featured the smash hit “Make ‘Em Say Uhhh,” which received an MTV Music Award nomination for Best Rap Video. In 2013, Miller became the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

While Miller’s music career is noteworthy on its own, he worked hard to give back to the community with enterprises like Miller Family Foods, which promotes active, healthy lifestyles. He serves as chairman of the Team Hope Foundation, which works to improve the lives of inner-city children and citizens with a range of programs designed to improve their quality of life. Financial literacy, mental health and physical fitness are areas of focus. Charity work also includes Christmas toy giveaways and backpacks and school supplies giveaways at the start of the academic year.

The planned NOLA Walk of Fame project at the foot of Canal Street is the brainchild of Miller. The first 50 plaques honoring notable New Orleanians throughout history are expected to be in place by the time the Super Bowl comes to town on February 6.

Mental health is a clear passion of Miller’s. Aside from Team Hope’s work on the subject, Miller has also served as an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Miller’s philanthropic work has earned him multiple accolades, including two NAACP Awards for Community Service, the Social Justice Entertainer of the Year Award, and certificates of appreciation from the California State Assembly.

Miller also serves as an entertainment ambassador for New Orleans. He has also received the keys to the cities of New Orleans, Memphis, Los Angeles, Louisville, Charlotte, Baton Rouge, Jackson, and Gulfport. He also received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University.

This article originally published in the December 16, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.

Tags:  Commencement, GSU, Master P