Chance the Rapper’s recent meeting with Illinois’ governor about education funding for Chicago Public Schools coincides with a wave of hip hop education-related efforts across the country.
Last week, Kanye West voiced his support of the Trump administration school voucher push and announced plans to open Yeezus Walks Academy, a private “religious” school serving grades K–8. Common recently released a new single called “I Used to Love C.O.M.M.O.N. C.O.R.E.” Veteran supergroup Jurassic 5 has launched an afterschool paleontology program. And Pitbull, who already has one charter school, Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM!), has plans for a second, the Worldwide Institute of Latin Dance (WILD!), that will open alongside the first in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood this fall.
But perhaps the biggest news comes via Robert Matthew Van Winkle, a.k.a. Vanilla Ice, who shocked the nation when he came out of rap retirement to create a set of educational rap videos for schools. When asked to comment, he noted, “It’s been a dream of mine ever since rapping in Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze. It’s all about the kids, kids, baby!”