Rob Ayala

From the Music Vault: “RHYME Special” (2021)

In the summer of 2021 a small group of R.H.Y.M.E scholars gathered together with Thrive Collective teaching artists, Randy Mason and Kevin Toledo, at the Good Shepherd – Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence studio to write and record an original song highlighting what makes them special. The project was sponsored by the Verses Project with dinner…

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Honoring Robert W. Ayala

With a heavy heart, we must let our community know our dear friend and collaborator, Rob Ayala, passed away. Rob played a key role with Thrive Collective; as a leader and pillar of RHYME, a content creator with our social media team, and contributions to our Murals Program. Rob was the epitome of what it…

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Books Beats & Bars The Pura Belpré Song

R.H.Y.M.E x Bronx Arts Elementary x The Point CDC For this edition of Books Beats & Bars, Bronx Arts Elementary scholars learned about the life of Pura Belpré, a Puerto Rican pioneer who helped to change the landscape of literacy in NYC in the 1920s. Scholars wrote bars inspired by the book “Planting Stories” The…

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The Cypher

R.H.Y.M.E x LRYOH Harlem NYC youth come together to write and record “The Cypher” In Hip-Hop, there is what’s known as a cypher. It’s where artists physically come together to participate in a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences. A cypher forms a human circle where everyone is visible and in it together–equally. It’s an…

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“My Passion” – Music Video Debut

R.H.Y.M.E x Renaissance School of The Arts Ever wonder what middle school students are passionate about? Check it out! During our winter R.H.Y.M.E semester at RSA students learned all about the art of rapping, storytelling and songwriting. Students met with R.H.Y.M.E teaching artists Rob Ayala and Josh James twice a week after school for 12…

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“Find Our Way” Student Celebration

R.H.Y.M.E X LRYOH “You shouldn’t let fear stand in the way of what you want to do.”- Demetrius (Youth participant) On May 5th, 2022 students who wrote and produced the song “Find Our Way” as part of the R.H.Y.M.E x LRYOH winter music and mentoring project came together with family and friends to see their…

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“Find Our Way” – Music Video Debut

R.H.Y.M.E X LRYOH R.H.Y.M.E (Rhymes Help Young Minds Excel) winter music and mentoring program in collaboration with LRYOH The Living Redemption Youth Opportunity Hub. Participants worked together to tackle serious issues such as the pandemic and gun violence to collaboratively write and record a heartfelt song titled “Find Our Way.” In addition to recording an original…

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Artist of the Month: Rob Ayala

March may have come and gone, but we wanted to take a moment to celebrate someone who has gone above and beyond throughout the month — the one and only, Rob Ayala! Coming through with his beats and artwork, Rob has been doing incredible work in and out of the classroom. He is currently serving…

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