Hip Hop Is Saving Teen Lives in Minnesota

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Hip Hop Is Saving Teen Lives in Minnesota

By connecting with at-risk youth through music that is embedded in Twin Cities culture, one high school is getting students to learn 鈥� off the streets

By Jim Fields & Emmeline Zhao

August 22, 2023

When Cameron Keys was a teen living in Chicago, he was the victim of a random drive-by shooting. Despite being hit by 16 bullets, he survived. But he needed a change, and found his way to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Homeless for two months, in and out of shelters, he was introduced by a shelter coordinator to Charlnitta Ellis.

Charlnitta Ellis 鈥� also known as 鈥淢ama Chi鈥� and the sister of David T.C. Ellis, who founded High School for Recording Arts 鈥� encouraged Keys to come to the school.

鈥淭his place is a safe haven,鈥� said Tracy Seller, the parent of former HSRA students. 鈥淎 lot of times, these kids get given up on.鈥�

HSRA, nicknamed 鈥淗ip Hop High,鈥� is a public school in St. Paul, Minnesota. T.C. Ellis, who had a long, storied music career growing up and recording with Prince, sought to connect with at-risk students through music 鈥� something that is deeply rooted in the culture of the Twin Cities. HSRA teaches core subjects through a musical lens, helping students develop skills and agency to tackle real-world issues.

Keys credits HSRA with saving his life, and for putting him on a pathway to be where he is in life now 鈥� living in Tennessee with his wife, and working a stable job as a Walmart manager.

鈥淲hat high school that you know can make you take out all your anger on a beat?鈥� Keys said. 鈥淭here ain鈥檛 nobody getting hurt, that鈥檚 amazing to me.鈥�

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Jim Fields is a video director at 成人抖阴.

james@the74million.org

Emmeline Zhao is projects & multimedia director at 成人抖阴.

emmeline@the74million.org

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                <h2>Hip Hop Is Saving Teen Lives in Minnesota</h2>

                <h2>By connecting with at-risk youth through music that is embedded in Twin Cities culture, one high school is getting students to learn 鈥� off the streets</h2>

                <p class="sans">By <a rel="author" href="/contributor/jim-fields-2/">Jim Fields</a> & <a rel="author" href="/contributor/emmeline-zhao/">Emmeline Zhao</a></p>

                <img src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/hip-hop-high-minnesota-school.jpg">

                <p>This story first appeared at <a href="/">成人抖阴</a>, a nonprofit news site covering education. <a href="/about/newsletters/?utm_source=republish-button&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=republish">Sign up for free newsletters from 成人抖阴</a> to get more like this in your inbox.</p>
                
<p>When Cameron Keys was a teen living in Chicago, he was the victim of a random drive-by shooting. Despite being hit by 16 bullets, he survived. But he needed a change, and found his way to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Homeless for two months, in and out of shelters, he was introduced by a shelter coordinator to Charlnitta Ellis.</p>



<p>Charlnitta Ellis 鈥� also known as 鈥淢ama Chi鈥� and the sister of David T.C. Ellis, who founded High School for Recording Arts 鈥� encouraged Keys to come to the school.</p>


</div></div></div><aside class="banner_ad  contain"><div><figure style="background-image:url(/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/innovative-high-schools-banner-sized-t74.png)"></figure><span><!-- wp:heading {"style":{"color":{"text":"#0c72d8"}}} -->
<h2 class="has-text-color" style="color:#0c72d8; font-family:video-cond">INNOVATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS</h2>
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<p>鈥淭his place is a safe haven,鈥� said Tracy Seller, the parent of former HSRA students. 鈥淎 lot of times, these kids get given up on.鈥�</p>



<p>HSRA, nicknamed 鈥淗ip Hop High,鈥� is a public school in St. Paul, Minnesota. T.C. Ellis, who had a long, storied music career growing up and recording with Prince, sought to connect with at-risk students through music 鈥� something that is deeply rooted in the culture of the Twin Cities. HSRA teaches core subjects through a musical lens, helping students develop skills and agency to tackle real-world issues.</p>


<aside class="inline_story shortcode simple"><a href="/article/how-a-california-wine-region-is-growing-futures-by-turning-vineyards-into-state-of-the-art-classrooms/"><figure style="background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/growing-futures-lodi-california.jpg);"></figure><div><span class="sans related_tag">Related</span><h4 class="sans">California Wine Region 鈥楪rowing Futures鈥� By Turning Vineyards Into Classrooms</h4></div></a></aside>



<p>Keys credits HSRA with saving his life, and for putting him on a pathway to be where he is in life now 鈥� living in Tennessee with his wife, and working a stable job as a Walmart manager.</p>



<p>鈥淲hat high school that you know can make you take out all your anger on a beat?鈥� Keys said. 鈥淭here ain鈥檛 nobody getting hurt, that鈥檚 amazing to me.鈥�</p>



<aside class="inline_story shortcode simple"><a href="/article/the-prince-and-i-how-prince-helped-this-school-founder-get-his-start-in-hip-hop/"><figure style="background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/prince-high-school-founder-thumb-1.jpg);"></figure><div><span class="sans related_tag">Related</span><h4 class="sans">How Prince Helped This School Founder Get His Start in Hip Hop</h4></div></a></aside>

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Hip Hop Is Saving Teen Lives in Minnesota

By connecting with at-risk youth through music that is embedded in Twin Cities culture, one high school is getting students to learn 鈥� off the streets

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