Youth on Record- Revolutionary Figures in Music

Jenn Cohen | June 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

by Nathan Schmit

This issue represents the closing of another school year at Flobots.org and Youth On Record. At Flobots.org we proudly dedicate our efforts throughout Denver classrooms, helping at-risk students in Denver Public Schools and residential treatment centers, discover music as a vehicle for personal change and growth. The successes we experienced this year were truly profound, and we thank all of those folks who have believed in our vision and supported our work throughout. Please join us this fall for the opening of the Youth Media Studio, a project in partnership with Denver Housing Authority, to celebrate our community’s commitment to education and the power of music. Special thanks to Colorado Music Buzz Magazine for their continued support of Flobots.org and our programs, and for giving a voice to the students with whom we work.

Change is often the constant in the lives our students. At Flobots.org we embrace change and help youth develop tools to responsibly navigate it according to their own ideals and ideas. This month we asked the students to identify artists that they associate with the various seasons and explain why they do so. The following are answers from students at Third Way Lowry:

“I think that Nas represents the spring because he speaks truth about the world and that is beautiful like spring.” Mataa Dee

“Nikki Minaj reminds me of summer, loud and crowded.” Pink Panther

“Spring makes me think of independence, being you in spite of what others think, never giving up the fight even when you’re dead like Nirvana. Fall, to me, doesn’t say ending, but changing for the sake of beauty from green to red, from raspy to soft, like Jewell.” Victaurus

“Diverse as seasons are, musicians are comparatively expansive. A prime example of this is Eyedea and Abilities, two open-minded individuals that create a lyrical rendition of spring. Ever expanding and growing is their curiosity to obtaining their originality and ability to metamorphisize what life is.” Phylum Design

“I think that Death Grips represents winter because they play cold, hard music; summer because they come out fresh; spring because their music starts to grow; and fall, because they break down music like leaves that fall down.” Lil Eagle

“Drake reminds me of summer because he’s always partying.” Dark Priorities

Youth On Record, a program of Flobots.org, teaches music production and lyric writing in residential treatment centers across Denver and beyond, as a means of supporting their specific treatment goals. It is truly amazing what many young people will do and say when given the opportunity.

Founded in 2007 by the internationally known Denver based hip-hop collective Flobots, Flobots.org connects underserved youth across Colorado with music and empowerment education. Led by a network of professional musicians, artists and educators, Flobots.org programs are designed to harness the power of music and those who love it.