Latto Teaches Third Graders How To Freestyle Rap In Bronx Classroom

Latto surprised students at PS 369 in the Bronx with an unforgettable rap masterclass that turned a classroom into a recording studio.

The Grammy-nominated rapper taught third graders the fundamentals of freestyle rap, songwriting, and self-expression while filming a music video for a remix of her song “Mama.”

The Celebrity Substitute episode showcased Latto’s passion for Hip-Hop education and her commitment to showing young people that rap is a legitimate art form.

“Rap is a way to express yourself. Think of it like perhaps a poem to a beat,” Latto told the students. “Rap is everything to me. It’s where I let my feelings out. When I’m angry, I talk about it in the music. When I’m sad, I talk about it in the music.”

Latto started her lesson with freestyle rap, a skill she emphasized doesn’t require perfection.

“Freestyling is when you come up with the lyrics for your rap off the top of your head. So, you’re just having fun. You’re letting loose and you don’t overthink it,” she explained. “Freestyling is fun and it’s okay to mess up. It’s more of spur of the moment.”

Students like Jaylee, Alexander, and Baiana stepped up to freestyle, with Latto encouraging them to push through their nervousness.

The rapper drew from her own childhood experiences to connect with the students.

“I was very independent. I knew who I was at a very young age,” Latto shared. “I did love school in general. I was quite the geek. Fifth grade was by far like standout year. I had my teacher, Miss Harris. And that’s when I started rapping and everything, too. Ms. Harris was so cool. She kind of like pushed me to pursue my passion for writing.”

When asked why rap matters for kids to learn, Latto didn’t hold back.

“They probably listen to it first of all. So, I think we should teach them appreciation for music, specifically rap. I think we get like a misunderstood type of outlook when it comes to our genre. So, I think maybe we can teach these kids to put some respect on it. It’s actually an art.”

The second part of the lesson focused on songwriting. Students wrote personal raps about the “Big Mamas” in their lives—mothers, grandmothers, and other important women.

Melissa rapped, “If my mama says, ‘Hey,’ I say, ‘Slay body.'” Irving shared, “I love my mama. I love my papa. My mama take me to the park.” Diana added, “My mama cooks rice and it tastes nice. I do my chores. She don’t ask twice.”

Latto’s new album Big Mama served as inspiration for the lesson. The project, released while she was pregnant with her daughter, explores motherhood and personal growth.

“Big Mama is this musical time capsule of my life over the past 9, 10 months while I was carrying my baby girl,” Latto explained. “I love being a mom. I feel like I’m seeing into the future. Like one day I’m going to be walking my baby girl down these hallways and stuff.”

The lesson culminated in a performance of the “Mama” remix, with students and Latto performing together in the school’s auditorium.

The school also received a major upgrade, with Amazon providing new lighting, a wireless sound system, and professional audio-visual equipment to support the arts program and future performances.

One student gave Latto an A for her teaching, saying, “She was fine. Rhyming is hard.”