By Léo Stallworth

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WATTS, California (KABC) – A state-of-the-art music studio has been opened at Markham Middle School in Watts.

A charity run by Lil Mussie, a rapper based in Auckland, New Zealand, outfitted the studio with state-of-the-art production equipment.

“This space has a recording installation… the whole concept that surrounds it revolves around musical creation. Inspire the confidence of these kids to believe in themselves and focus on their incredible quality, ”said Lil Mussie.

Markham Middle School partnered with donors to set up the music production studio, which has been kept a secret from students. Lil Mussie and other rappers have gone to great lengths to ensure that students have all the tools they need to turn their dreams into reality in the world of music.

“At the time, we were in the process of setting up the studio here in New Zealand and I just came up with an idea if we open a studio in LA and here we are today with a launch,” said Lil Mussie.

Educators at Markham Middle School were overwhelmed with gratitude for the new music studio.

“As I share this space and look around the room, I see enormous inspiration and potential…

Some of the legends reflecting the rich musical history coming straight from Watts.

“I am the father of one of the fathers of rap. It was at Watts that the world’s first rap record titled “Rapping black in a white world” was released. It’s the first record on earth called rap. From there you have hip hop and all that stuff that came out of it, ”Watts Prophet Hamilton said.

“When we first started rapping it was a social commentary and now it’s more entertainment,” Hamilton said.

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