Students Win Best Song, Open for Pitbull

Five teens from North Minneapolis are making headlines with original music they are writing, producing and performing in collaboration with the Capri Best Buy Teen Tech Center. 

The teens won top honors at the Global RE@CH Music Festival for their song “Long Way Home.” They also got to open for Pitbull at Best Buy’s annual fundraiser to support its 52 Teen Tech Centers across the nation, the Charity Classic.

“I’ve never performed in front of a crowd that big. It was crazy,” said Tremell C., a junior at Patrick Henry High School. “I couldn’t believe all those people were waiting to see us.” 

The teens wrote and recorded the song in their free time after school. They also designed the album cover art and promoted the song using social media.

“We try to get kids involved in all aspects of songwriting and production,” said Andrew Hopkins, Program Director of the Capri BBTTC. “It’s all part of the process.”

The resources that students have access to are the same ones used by professional recording artists, and they’re available at no cost.

“Usually you would have to pay for opportunities like this,” said Chuckie Smith, Program Manager. “To be able to come in and learn music production, video production, anything of that nature for free — it’s a huge step up.”

It wasn’t the first time that members of the Capri BBTTC opened for a celebrity artist, and it won’t be the last. 

“When I told my mom we were going to open for Jennifer Hudson last year, she lost it,” said Janae H., who’s now a freshman at ROC School of Music in New York. “It was an important moment for me. I was able to show her that all the driving around and taking me places is starting to pay off.” 

Pictured above, from L-R: Chuckie Smith, Angel Sandro, Alyssa K., Qyntin C., Pitbull, Janae H., Shante P., Tremell C.

The Capri Best Buy Teen Tech Center is a state-of-the-art technology space where teens 13-19 get hands-on experience in music recording and production, 3D printing, digital photography, videography, computer programming, graphic design and more. To sign up, or request more information, please contact Chuckie Smith at csmith@pcyc-mpls.org.