Sandra Bland
2009
Activist
Sandra Bland, a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 2009 with a degree in Agriculture. While studying at PV, she was recruited as a summer counselor for three years, played in the marching band, and volunteered for a senior citizens advocacy group. Bland was a civil rights activist and a part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kirko Bangz (Kirk Randle)
Attended
Hip-Hop Artist
Kirk Randle, known by his stage name Kirko Bangz, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer signed to Atlantic Records. He attended Prairie View A&M University majoring in Communications. His single “Drank in My Cup” was released in 2011 and peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Dorrough (Dorwin Demarcus Dorrough)
Attended
Rapper
Dorrough Demarcus Dorrough, simply known as Dorrough is a rapper and songwriter. His singles include; “Walk That Walk, “Get Big”, “Ice Cream Paint Job, and “Beat Up the Block. He has produced a series of 6 mixtapes and 2 studio albums. He was nominated at the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards for Best New Artist, Video of the year, & Viewers’ Choice.
Loni Love
1991
Comedienne, actress, and original cast member of The Real
Loni Love received her bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University where she also minored in music. She was a member of the Eta Beta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She discovered stand-up comedy while at PV after winning a $50 competition and continued perform during her college life. She was the runner-up on Star Search 2003 and was named among the “Top 10 Comics to Watch” in both Variety and Comedy Central in 2009. Love is currently one of the hosts of the daytime talk show, The Real.
Quinton Spears
2011
NFL Linebacker
Quinton Spears is a former American Football Linebacker of the NFL. He was a 3-year-letter wide receiver at Montgomery High School near Conroe, Texas and received a scholarship to Prairie View A&M University where he was a unanimous preseason All-SWAC first team selection as a defensive end in 2009. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys on January 8, 2014.
Marcel Spears
Attended
Actor
Marcel Spears, a young actor, attended Prairie View A&M University and later went to Columbia University to pursue theater. He landed his first major Television role in ABC’s “The Mayor”. Spears currently stars alongside Tichna Arnold and Cedric the Entertainer in the CBS comedy “The Neighborhood”. He is also known for the movies; “The Dress” and “Always a Bridesmaid”.
DJ Mr. Rogers
Attended
DJ
DJ Mr. Rogers is a hip-hop DJ, record producer, engineer and Mixtape composer hailing from Dallas and currently based in Houston, TX. Rogers has helmed national tours for Letoya Luckett as well as Slim Thug and has produced billboard charting records for the likes of Trae The Truth, Hurricane Chris, Dorrough, and The Party Boyz. Under his production company, DSF Productions, Rogers collaborated with Drake on the Chopped & Screwed version of his highly notable “So Far Gone” mixtape, produced “Daddy Stroke” by The Party Boyz and fan favorite “1997” by Dom Kennedy. An award winning DJ, Mr. Rogers is regarded as the best club DJ in Houston, and currently enjoys packed out residency’s 6 nights a week. #TheNeighborhoodMix is now on 93.7 The Beat at 8pm.
DJ Chose (Norman Payne)
Attended
Rapper/Producer
With tracks like “Pop That,” “I Can Be a Freak,” and “Drunken Karaoke” in his catalog, rapper and producer DJ Chose certainly falls under the category of “Houston party rappers,” but there are enough odd and interesting influences in his music that he sometimes steps outside the genre. He was born Norman Payne in Brookshire, Texas but partially raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Chose got his big break in his hometown back in 2009 when Swishahouse DJ O.G. Ron C. added him to his stable of Chopstar DJs. He also joined the Swishahouse group the Brook Gang, who in 2011 had a party rap hit with “Pop That.” Chose then went solo, first as a producer, where he worked with Uncle Luke, Kirko Bangz, Dorrough, and others. In 2014 he joined BeatKing as an MC on his hit single “Stand Behind Her,” then in 2015 he released his mixtape; Incase You Forgot.