A group of young Irish students from Cappabue National School recently made a fire rap about the state of the environment and global warming – a call to action to make “One Small Change.”
Like the Wu-Tang Clan, the Cappabue National School collective features a variety of rappers with different perspectives and lyrical flows. But instead of renowned emcees like Method Man and Ghostface Killah, this 24-person crew features newcomers like Mollie May Ní Chríodáin and Jesse O’Leary. The budding hip-hop collective is composed entirely of primary school students.
Throughout the course of the video, the crew advocates for people to change their ways, in whatever small way they can. Examples include turning off the tap and cutting down on plastic use, as well as biking to and from class.
The chorus, although lyrically simple, packs a powerful punch: “Just one small change in the little things we do / We’ll show you how and now it’s up to you.”
The entire class had a hand in the production, lyricism, and rapping of “One Small Change,” calling upon members of the world to take small efforts to help mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
The music video features a variety of shots, including aerial footage of mountains, Snave Beach, Glengarriff Nature Reserve, and the students in their respective classrooms.
Some of the shots, paying homage to classic hip-hop music videos, are based inside of an SUV. The crew is fully-equipped with fly sunglasses, chains, and Brooklyn-esque hip-hop gear
Global warming is an undeniable issue currently altering the state of the entire world, from macroscopic climate variances to resource availability. The greenhouse effect, or the process by which the sun’s heat is trapped within the earth’s atmosphere by specific gases, plays a pivotal role in the warming process, according to NASA. A common example of the greenhouse effect can be seen in the heating of the inside of a car left out on a summer day.
A variety of drawings were featured within the flow of the music video, including a depiction of global warming’s effect on the icecaps and sea level rise.
Over 30 people were involved in the performance and production of the music video to “One Small Change.” The entire ensemble behind the scenes also included editors, a director, a drone handler, a handful of project facilitators, a music producer, dancers, an environmental scientist, and of course, the teachers, themselves. Through their collective effort, they were able to create a powerful, well-produced video, which coincidentally ties into the theme of the music – if everyone contributes and plays their part, quality results will undoubtedly come.
Whether it’s GZA, Raekwon, or little Tazzy Pullin, good hip-hop features lyrics with a meaningful message. The Cappabue National School crew is composed of children, the so-called “future” – the faces of tomorrow.
It’s wonderful to see children take such a proactive approach in initiating change. Global warming is an increasingly threatening issue – one that will ultimately affect their generation deeply. For their sake, change must come now – what can you do?
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
