Newbridge Inclusion Centre
Rap Project with Rufus Mufasa and Patrick Jones
Working with 8 young people (ages 13-16) at Newbridge Inclusion Centre, poet Patrick Jones and rapper Rufus Mufasa created a series of rap and spoken word compositions over a period of just six weeks.
The centre is a specialist educational facility provided for students with a history of challenging behaviour in the classroom; not just at Newbridge, but all schools in Caerphilly County Borough. The young people are mentored and encouraged by a group of committed teachers and staff, including Deputy Head Tony Gallagher. Himself an actor and performer with a passion for script-writing, Tony Gallagher is keen to encourage creative activities for the students of the centre, to improve their aspiration, confidence and learning skills.
“I Am Special as a Diamond that Shines Bright like the Universe”
The young people’s words – link below – were recorded and put to a beat by Rufus Mufasa and Jamey Peace, before being shared at a presentation ceremony at Newbridge School in July 2015.
Here’s a sneak-peak of the lyrics:
“Boxing in the ring
Makes me want to sing
I’m going to be the champion
I’m going to be the king.”
“I’m too good for this game
I’m like a special star
Shining in the sky
Not so far
I’m far off like lightning
Everyday I’m so frightening
I’m one thing; I’m exciting”
“My name is Jack
And I am a sprat
And everybody says I look like that
Is a skunk; is a punk,
Is a dirty little one
Look at him standing there
[…] Two feet tall
Look at this one-inch wonder
Looks like a sign of thunder…”
“I am all that I wish for
Winning the lottery
Dad coming home
Getting on well with my brother.”
