About HHN2L.
What do you do when students are more interested in the lyrics of Tupac’s Dear Mama and Kanye West’s Hey Mama—written on chart paper behind you—than the math lesson you're trying to teach?
You teach that lesson.
That moment of clarity sparked something powerful. At Wheatley Elementary, five fifth-graders in Mrs. Clayton-Taylor’s creative writing class asked if they could rap. Used to encouraging self-expression through poetry and storytelling, she took it one step further by asking her husband, Antonio, to book the students studio time so they could record the song— and then challenged them to perform their song live at school, honoring Phillis Wheatley.
They accepted.
They performed.
And the room felt different.
That wasn’t just a class project. It was the beginning of HHN2L—a movement where hip hop meets purpose, and students learn to read, write, and rise through rhythm.
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HHN2L Timeline. Early Beginnings.
About NyRee Clayton-Taylor.
Co-Founder & Executive Director
NyRee Clayton-Taylor is an award-winning educator and fierce advocate for youth voice. After 20+ years in public education, she transitioned to lead HHN2L full-time—transforming a classroom idea into a national movement.
A survivor of sexual molestation and former struggling student, NyRee channels her lived experience into every program she designs. She pioneered an approach to Hip-Hop Based Education (HHBE) that empowers students to turn pain into purpose and lyrics into leadership.
Awards & Recognition.
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2024 Achievement Award for Rep. Morgan McGarvey
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2022 Men of Quality Presenter Award
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2021 Community Service Award
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2020 Kentucky Teacher in the Know Equity Award
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2019 Valvoline Kentucky Elementary Teacher of the Year
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2019 Kentucky Teacher Achievement Winner
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2018 Louisville Defender Professional Achievement in Education Award
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2018 Hilliard Lyons Achievement Award
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2011 Louisville Metro Council Black History Celebration Community Service Award
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2011 Jefferson County Teachers Association Service Award – Character College
Despite numerous accolades, NyRee considers her greatest achievement to be her ability to build authentic relationships—with students, families, and communities. Through HHN2L, she continues to amplify student voice and power—transforming challenges into anthems, and trauma into testimony.
About Antonio "T-Made" Taylor.
CoFounder and Creative Director
A former foster child, music was always in Antonio “T-Made” Taylor’s blood. He began performing as a way to escape the poverty and violence of Joliet, Illinois. When his mother graduated from nursing school, she moved the family to Louisville, Kentucky—where Antonio’s creative journey truly began. In high school, he started a music group that was later signed by the legendary Heavy D. That early break would lead to a career that blended artistry, mentorship, and purpose.
As a hip hop historian, music executive, and storyteller, Antonio has turned adversity into artistry. From producing at Def Jam Records to collaborating with icons like Queen Pen and Heavy D, and releasing The Truth under his own label, The Verdict Records, Antonio has always used music as a form of truth-telling and transformation.
Now, as Co-Founder and Creative Director of HHN2L, he brings industry-level experience and deep community commitment to every beat, session, and stage. Whether in the studio, on stage, or in the classroom, Antonio shows youth that their stories matter—and that hip hop is a powerful way to own, share, and celebrate those stories.
