Tang Hall SMART and the Hip Hop Shake Up Rappers

Thanks to the Youth Music funding, our Hip Hop Shake Up Rappers have had an absolute storming year with a gig at York's premier night-spot, (Fibbers), appearance at our Regeneration festival, busking sessions in town,a Christmas gig -  plus four videos (one of which has  had nearly 8,000 views).  Our rappers who have learning disabilities are passionate at what they do - and in their modelling of what is possible, are champions for others who have disabilities!!! 

Following a workshop held back in June 2016, eight rappers who have learning disabilities performed at Tang Hall SMART's Regeneration Festival - this little film gives a flavour of the event  https://youtu.be/Balkx5laiDw   - and if you want to see Kurtis and Jonny raising the atmosphere with a special performance, check outhttps://youtu.be/SXF1oRFJ7fY.

Then there was our summer school - we ran two courses for different age groups, the 11-16s created a fabulous Super Heroes rap, and then the second, for the older ones culminated in our Like This Like That music video (where we worked with Producer Daniel Stapylton)https://youtu.be/insfA6vRGAo    - and then the performance at Fibbers, which lucklily we also captured on film!!!  Here it is!   https://youtu.be/Cyv-9jQlOZ4

Our Rappers entered the Aviva competion which we did not win despite our 13,000 votes ... but we did get a consolation prize of £500, and along the way, made some more cool videos.  Here is one of Jonny with our rap coach Gareth ... https://youtu.be/fd0xN6jDlAA - which was used to promote a Facebook Live-feed event!

During the year, our core group of rappers has grown, and there are now nearly 30 young people who have participated on different videos and at gigs - it is lovely to be able to welcome our first females (Rebecca, Eleanor, Teresa, Amelia, Hannah) and we are growing from strength to strength.  Watch out for our new strand, Rap-Metal, coming soon!