On Friday, May 18, Racquet Up students gathered in the theater at the Northwest Activities Center. With months of writing and weeks of preparing, the students showcased their talents as story-tellers, poets, dancers, rappers, and artists.
After a night created and run entirely by Racquet Up students, the audience left entertained and eager to hear more. And the students share in the excitement: just yesterday, Anthony asked if Racquet Up could hold two Open Mic nights each year, one in December and one in May.
Yes, Anthony!
Get ready for more performances from Racquet Up students. Also, be prepared to grab a copy of the upcoming Racquet Up Detroit student publication, “My Writing, My World: Racquet Up Detroit Creations.” We’ll have the books in early June, and students will perform selections at the Racquet Up year-end party on Friday, June 22 at the Northwest Activites Center ballroom. It will be another blockbuster Racquet Up Detroit event — don’t miss it!
Here are a few highlights from the Open Mic night. Stay tuned for video clips of the students performing.
Marc and Aaron MC the night
I Am K. Price by K. Price
Who are you?
I am a burning squash ball along the wall
What are you?
I am a professional racquet swinging through the winds.
What can you be?
I am a college graduate playing with the pros.
Where are you from?
I am from Detroit, the city of hard times where you hear kids spitting rhymes.
Who is K. Price?
I am burning squash balls coming from swinging racquets hit by a college graduate playing with the pros.
RU Forever, Written by Justin Bradley, performed by Justin and Nathan Hayes
Unstoppable alone indestructible together RU assemble!
I look up to this opportunity every day, try to be the best in every way
I work in the classroom, play in the court
But no matter what I’ll always be a good sport.
You ready, let’s go!
I leave school with my friends, that’s right they’re my friends
because I think they’re tight but when we get in a fight it’s not alright
Mr. Derek, Mr. Patrick, and Ms. Connie too come to the problem they know what to do
we all talk it out we shake hands now we can be friends again.
That’s my rap about RU don’t forget it, if you do you’ll regret it
Now I bid you farewell and good night
but respect all other because that’s what’s tight.
Justin and Nathan wow the audience
Why I Like Squash, Written by Starnisha Ramsey, Performed by Starnisha and Patricia Rucker
Squash is fun
Squash is great
Why do I play?
Because it’s fun
How to play?
With a racquet and ball
It’s hard?
No, when you get used to it.
It’s not hard at all!
RU Rap by Khalil Anderson, Performed by Khalil and Desmon Darby
Racquet Up Detroit is my hometown fellow and you know our colors are black & yellow
Everytime we meet someone new we clap and say hello
Our grip is tight not jiggly like jello-o if you lose a point always stay calm & mellow
You know we get them serves in, when we play a match I know we are going to win
Up or down that’s called a racquet spin, hit the shots high and don’t hit the tin
Hit the ball high but not straight out, Racquet Up Detroit is what I’m talking about
Racquet Up from the big D & the 313
if you want to mess with us you gotta go through me
and you can’t spell team with a T
I’m Desmon D and I’m number 3
and I want you to see this is the program for you & me
Racquet Up is cool Racquet Up is awesome, this program really helps me blossom
in academics, if you know just where you want to go
I keep my racquet up and my eyeguards on
I want to have protection right or wrong
We stay active & fit all day long
We do push-ups, sit-ups, crunches & lunges
We jump & run and that’s just the beginning of the fun
I love Racquet Up now I am done.
Khalil shows his rap skills
Cortnee shares her story
See you in December for the 2nd Open Mic Night!