Some things need to be talked about and celebrated, and Grammy nominated West Coast rap pioneer Yolanda "YoYo" Whitaker is proud to share the story of her successful YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop summer program that spent the last seven weeks changing the lives of 83 students from South Central Los Angeles. The classes culminate Friday.

YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop did not aim to teach the students aged 8 to 17 how to simply write songs and to interpret choreography, but to use the art forms to instill in the students confidence, fearlessness, the belief that they can achieve their goals and surpass the expectations stereotypes set on their neighborhoods.

YoYo saw the kids transform from shy to bold as she taught them the components of writing a compelling story in the form of a song and essay.

"To have 80 kids tugging on me, putting in my hands things that they "ve written is just a wonderful experience," she said.

Launching YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop was a longtime dream for the Los Angeles native. The tremendous growth the students experienced fueled YoYo "s mission and affirmed that there is much more work that needs to be done.

While the summer typically represents for youth two months of free time play, the YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop participants spent their vacation stimulated. They showed up early, on program off days, and stayed late as they worked hard to sharpen their writing skills and perfect their routines.

Parent Cynthia Keller was moved when she saw her daughter turn to writing after had to be taken to the hospital after injuring her foot. "After we got home, she took a pen and began to write a new rap. Thank you YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop for helping them see through the pain. She can write," Keller wrote on the YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop Facebook page.

Tracee Green, Community Build program assistant, commended YoYo for motivating the students. "They do a little extra so when they see Yolanda the next day they can show her, "Look. I worked on this. What do you think? " She is absolutely committed to them," Green said.

Roman "Wild Cat" Thomas, a 12-year-old student who wrote the chorus for the YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop chant, said YoYo helped them see themselves as artists. "Ms. YoYo taught us how to explore our normal selves and how we can be like Chris Brown, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and all the other entertainers."

YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop challenges the media to help our work and purpose get exposed and heard because we have work to do. We invite you to echo our voice. We honor our youth. Tweet about it. Write about it.

YoYo "s School Of Hip Hop will acknowledge its graduates in an end of the summer celebration Saturday, August 27 from noon to 2 at the Expo Center, Comrie Hall, located at 3980 Bill Robertson Lane in Los Angeles. Students will perform their original songs and hip hop dance numbers. Special celebrity guests will also perform.

hiphopgods.com 8.23.11