Renaissance launches nationwide rap contest on inspirational historical figures though Flocabulary platform
Renaissance, a provider of K-12 education technology, has announced it is hosting a nationwide rap contest through the Flocabulary platform.
Students are invited to research, write, and rap about a historical figure who inspires them, with the best raps turned into Flocabulary video lessons.
The Flocabulary Student Voice Rap Contest aims to celebrate and uplift student voices, asking entrants to submit at least 16 lines about what they learned about their chosen historical figure, incorporating strong vocabulary, rhythm, and flow.
Two winners from, from Grades K-5 and 6-12, will see their raps turned into Flocabulary videos and a suite of learning activities.
The winning lessons will be shared with 20,000 schools across the US, premiering in April 2026 during National Poetry Month.
"The lyricism in hip-hop is incredible for helping students engage with curriculum and become stronger writers," comments Dr Mervin Jenkins, Director and Solutions Consultant at Renaissance. "This music genre relies on many of the techniques common in poetry, and it's created to tell stories, evoke emotions, and share perspectives about the world. Music opens doors and helps people connect, and I can't wait to see and to celebrate students' creativity."
Previous winners include Isabella V from California who was the Elementary school winner for the Black History Month Contest in 2023 with a rap about Sojourner Truth.
Flocabulary is an instructional platform that uses hip-hop and storytelling to teach academic concepts, build vocabulary, and inspire creativity in K-12 students.
