Students at Hazelwood-based KRUNK Movement to Release Original Hip-hop Album on Earth Day, April 22. Youth will perform at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville in June
First single now streaming on Spotify
Members of The KRUNK Movement - a year-round, youth production program that explores the elements of hip-hop through songwriting, production, art, and technology - will release a new original album on Earth Day (April 22, 2024) and will perform tracks from the album live at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville June 1-2, 2024.
The new album, titled Su(stained) Reality, explores issues of social and environmental justice, climate change, and health from a youth perspective. The album’s first single, Stained Melody, written and performed by Dahnayl Champine, 16, a junior at Woodland Hills High School, is streaming now on Spotify and Apple Music.
The album project and performance at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville are the result of a collaborative effort between Center of Life in Hazelwood and the Green Building Alliance (GBA) Sustainable Communities initiative.
The album is the work of the following KRUNK Movement members: Shombay Akoben (emcee, 16, homeschool), Aryana Booker-Gamez (emcee/vocalist, 17, Westinghouse Arts Academy), Te’Mar Carlisle (vocalist, 17, Pittsburgh CAPA), Dahnayl Champine (emcee/producer, 16, Woodland Hills Sr. High School), Anjali Dixon (artist, 16, Pittsburgh CAPA), Bayjai Germany (artist, 14, Propel Hazelwood K-8 ), Julai Germany (artist, 17, Pittsburgh CAPA ), Dilana Gray (poet/artist, 17, Pittsburgh Allderdice High School), Shailynn Mwangi (poet, 16, Jefferson High School, Indiana), Ava Paredes (artist, 17, Pittsburgh CAPA ), Micha Pinnix (emcee, 17, Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy ), Hanae Rayzer (poet, 18, Pittsburgh CAPA), Raujenay Rixey (emcee/vocalist, 17, Pittsburgh CAPA ), and D’Asia White (artist, 17, Pittsburgh CAPA ).
KRUNK, which stands for “Kreating Realistic Universal New school Knowledge,” is a program at Center of Life, a nonprofit that serves Hazelwood and its surrounding communities with rich academic out-of-school programs and outstanding experiences in music and arts. The KRUNK Movement program is run as a student-led initiative where they learn the skills, professionalism, and financial literacy necessary to succeed as an artist.
“We provide a platform for our students to stand on and be heard. During the day, they are like every other teen going to school. But after school, they transform into vessels of change for Pittsburgh and the world,” says Shundeena Beard, Music & Arts Program Manager. “This performance will be a monumental experience for our KRUNK students, staff, and Pittsburgh!”
Hanae Rayzer, KRUNK poet, says, “Put into the world what you want to get back,” with Aryana Booker – Gamez, KRUNK singer/emcee, adding, “Before choosing to not listen to the youth, remember who holds the future.”
“Working with these remarkably smart and talented students has been an inspiration to our entire team at the Green Building Alliance,” says Dionna Reynolds, GBA Senior Director of Social Impact. “While our initial goal was to equip these young people to understand how the environments in which we learn, live, and play affect health, well-being and economic opportunity, and to empower them to take action in their communities, it is the students who have given us hope through their commitment and energy.”
“Our youth are our future, and community-based partnerships such as this provide opportunities to engage with young people around the concept of sustainability in ways that are relatable and real,” adds GBA President and CEO Jenna Cramer. “This project emerged from 15 years of working with Center of Life and the Hazelwood community to positively impact the built environment in the neighborhood, and we are so inspired to see young people connecting with environmental issues in a personal way.”
The album Su(stained) Reality will be performed in its entirety for museum patrons in the Rechter Family Concourse/Lobby. In preparation for the KRUNK x GBA Nashville trip, students will perform the album live at Center of Life’s end of year Block Party on Friday, May 24th, 2024.
"The KRUNK Green Building Alliance partnership has taken our outreach to families and youth to a new level,” says Center of Life CEO Tim Smith. “GBA has provided vital information about green infrastructure and renewables to our students and the students have taken the technical language from GBA and translated it into youth friendly HIP HOP language and produced an amazing album to be released on Earth Day.
“The KRUNK Movement has come a long way,” adds Smith. “It was established in 2004 in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. The founding students who both named and started KRUNK are all in their mid to upper 30's and gainfully employed in the music industry. I'm so proud and excited for all the students who are in the program now, preparing to perform in Nashville, Tennessee! The new album is hot, commercial and poised to have a powerful impact on our world. Congratulations KRUNK!”
The KRUNK Movement and Green Building Alliance would like to thank
The Forbes Funds for helping to make this project happen.
Center of Life is supported by The Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Grable Foundation, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, The Pittsburgh Foundation, McElhattan Foundation; Philip Chosky Charitable and Educational Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Arts, Equity, & Education Fund, The Pittsburgh Steelers, UPMC Health Plan, P.J. Dick, and The Urban Redevelopment Authority.
About Center of Life
Founded in 2001 by Tim Smith, Center of Life (COL) supports the people of Hazelwood as they strive to be strong and to make their community strong. With its roots planted deeply in the community and supported by extraordinary partners, COL serves Hazelwood and its surrounding communities with rich academic out-of-school programs and outstanding experiences in music and arts. COL employs a holistic approach to community through all of its programs, believing that commitment to others is most productive when you walk with those served in their schools, homes, and families.
About Green Building Alliance
Green Building Alliance (GBA) is the nation’s first regional green building non-profit organization bringing 30 years of experience and expertise working with a broad and diverse network of partners to positively transform the world through the built environment to create a healthy, just, and sustainable future for everyone. GBA drives the supply and demand for green buildings, sustainable and equitable communities, healthy environments, and clean energy through education, training, technical assistance, policy, network-building, and action.