Juelz Santana Questions Whether Kids Should Learn to Read

During a recent No Funny Sht* podcast, Juelz Santana ignited a conversation with his unconventional perspective on education, drawing reactions across social media and the hip-hop community. Santana’s comments challenged conventional ideas about schooling, sparking debate about the balance between practical skills and traditional academic instruction.

He advocated for a focus on financial literacy, arguing that real-world skills should take precedence over standard reading lessons. “By the time they reach ninth grade, they should be learning how to start their own businesses,” he said. His remarks sparked controversy when he added, “They don’t really need to learn how to read,” drawing both criticism and intrigue from listeners.

When asked to weigh reading against mathematics, Santana chose practicality. “Math,” he stated, emphasizing skills that directly translate to real-world application. “You can listen to a book on YouTube and still gain knowledge without necessarily knowing how to read,” he explained, further noting that “common sense surpasses all academic knowledge.”

Santana Champions Street Smarts and Unity

Describing himself as a “common sense individual,” Santana highlighted the value of street smarts and alternative learning through technology. Addressing co-host Kenny “KP” Supreme’s point on reading contracts and legal documents, he countered that many who question literacy skills ultimately rely on lawyers to navigate legal matters.

The discussion reflects a recurring theme in Santana’s commentary. Beyond education, he recently spoke on tensions within Dipset, addressing the feud between Cam’ron and Jim Jones: “Nobody wins when the family feuds,” underscoring his belief in unity despite internal conflicts.