Beats & Rhymes was founded in 2007 at the Nellie Stone Johnson Beacons Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Shortly after the program was founded, the YMCA received a grant from Best Buy to fund this new venture.

Its purpose was to provide school-age kids the chance to experience making and recording music in a way they could relate to.

Each student has to complete their homework in order to participate in the after-school program.

It was designed to provide challenging, positive youth and career development opportunities for low income, culturally-diverse youth.

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