Express Yourself

To complement the current Year 8 English unit of study, Rap and Lyrics, our students attended an incursion with DJ Sizzle and MC Mantra, who inspired them to explore the music and culture of rap and hip hop. The workshop commenced with a dynamic hip hop performance, and featured original work and freestyle delivery, aiming to encourage students to participate in lyric writing, personal expression and performance. It was great to see our students fully engaged and enjoying the English subject, albeit in a in a different kind of way!

If you are interested in exploring rap and hip hop further, please see this document HERE.

The document will give you access to an online resource pack that features industry standard tools that are used by rap and hip hop musicians and producers the world over.

Some of our Year 8s with DJ Sizzle and MC Mantra.

Here is what some students had to say about Express Yourself:

Joel Abbey

They came out with really good energy. DJ Sizzle started using his turn table and then MC mantra came out and started rapping. It was really good and funny at times. They were connecting with the audience a lot. At one point they asked us if we knew where hip hop came from and I yelled out “The Bronx”. Then MC Mantra pointed at me and said “Yes, The Bronx”. It was good to get a break from the average English class. They were breaking some lyrics down, showing us what they mean and then MC Mantra did a

free style with words that the audience gave him – he did a good job. At the end it was really good because we got a photo with them and we got to speak to them about stuff.

Nandar Zaw

It wasn’t my type of music but I thought they did pretty well. They were funny. The way that he was rapping, and the beats were cool. I think MC Matra’s freestyle was good. I think it inspired a lot of people by calling them up to the stage and letting them have a go.

Kaytlyn Dowdell

Like it was catchy, you know what I mean, it was good! The freestyle rap was the most interesting part because we had to listen and wait for every word to be said, which we gave him to say. It was funny when he stuffed up and then made up for it.

Libby Hatherall

It was good, like their freestyle was good. I like the way the words just kept on going and he didn’t have to stop to think about it. They asked for three volunteers to go up on stage and everyone was pointing at their friends, but then they picked three people and I was one of them. So, we went up there and they let me press buttons to make beats and stuff. And at the end I got to do the air horn. It was pretty good because if you were like actually doing what they were saying to do, like repeating after them and joining in it was enjoyable.

Ruby Wallis

I thought it was really cool. It was a good experience for everyone. It was funny, like me and my friends were laughing lots. I liked their freestyle. I liked how they brought people up, especially DJ Libster

Archie Stirling-Jackel

I liked Mantra’s free style as it was very very creative. At one time he stuttered a little bit, but then the next line made it look like it was on purpose. It was really cool the way that Sizzle could just change the beats so easily.