TRYP

At Wheatley Elementary School, a group of 5 fifth graders just wanted to rap in Mrs. Clayton-Taylor’s creative writing class. In this class, it was normal to see students using hip hop to write and express themselves until Mrs. Clayton-Taylor challenged them. The challenge, which was actually a dare, was for the 5-fifth graders to perform at a school function that was going to celebrate Phillis Wheatley. The students accepted the challenge and named themselves the Young Prodigys.

​

Seven years ago, The Real Young Prodigys (TRYP) emerged from a dare and is more than an elementary school extra-curricular activity today. TRYP, who has been described as a young Wu-Tang Clan, is a social justice hip hop group that has had up to 30 members who use their voices to write music that educates and entertains.