Former rapper Roxanne Shante has released a statement in response to recent revelations about her academic credentials, including false reports of her earning a PhD and having her former record label foot the bill for her tuition.

After a recent feel-good story from the New York Daily News told of the artist receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from Marymount Manhattan College and a PhD in Psychology from Cornell University, Slate Magazine decided to investigate.

According to their findings, New York state records indicate that no one named Lolita Gooden or Roxanne Shanté is licensed to practice psychology or any related field.

The magazine also investigated Shante's claims that Warner Music Group funded her education because of a clause in her recording contract with them. The publication found that neither Warner, nor any of its subsidiary record labels ever had a contract with Shanté, and it was not obligated to pay for her education. And, there’s no evidence that it ever did.

Slate further reported: "Shanté doesn’t have a Ph.D. from Cornell or anywhere else. Indeed, she admitted it in an interview with Slate. And Cornell has no record of Gooden (or “Shanté”) ever attending or receiving a degree. According to Marymount Manhattan College records, Shanté enrolled there but dropped out less than four months later without ever earning a degree."

A rep for Shante explained that Cornell's Web site had posted a picture of the artist and listed her name as "Dr. Shante," when in fact, she "didn't receive the years of education to constitute a PhD. She did not falsely promote herself as a PhD, but rather she continued what the college started in how they basically said she was a doctor."

On Thursday, Shante sent us the following statement responding to the controversy:

I would like to thank my long time fans and supporters for your continued support. I am humbled and grateful to all of you for that.

Without going into all of the details as of right now, I would like to apologize that this story regarding my post recording career has caused such a ruckus. The entire story will be revealed at a later time.

Throughout my career and life, I have been faced with many challenges, both professionally and personally. Like all of you, I am human, and may have not made the correct decision all the time. And, like anyone else, I would like to think that my entire life or career is not judged by one error or mistake.

It is very easy to criticize someone and I have left myself open to criticism. That is fair.

There are plenty of people that will attest that I have done a lot for them. It seems though, that negativity gets more attention than positivity.

All I can say to that, is before you level any further criticism and cynicism, walk in my shoes. I am making this statement to apologize to the people that truly care about me for any angst that this situation has caused, and to thank them for their continued support. I am proud of what I have been able to do for so many others, and would like to let those persons know that I will continue to be there for them no matter what.

I am proud that during my twenty plus years as a pioneer in the Hip-Hop industry, to have opened doors for those who came after me, such as MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa, and Queen Latifah to name a few.

I will have no further statement in regards to this matter at this time.

Regards,

Roxanne Shante