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SURPRISE STOP
Mindless Behavior visits Chaney High School
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
It started like just a regu- lar school day, but Wednesday at Chaney High School concluded with swooning, squealing and applause.
Mindless Behavior, a quartet of 13-year-old pop, hip hop and R&B artists, made a surprise stop at the school, that houses students in sixth through 12th grades who are enrolled in either the visual and performing arts or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programs.
“Part of our program here and my goal as VPA coordinator at the Chaney VPA Campus is to introduce all of you to artists who are currently working in the entertainment and art industry,” said Tracy Schuler-Vivo, VPA coordinator.
The students, especially the girls, greeted the group — Prodigy, Prince-ton, Roc Royal and Ray Ray — jumping to their feet and screaming.
They pelted them with questions:
How did you all meet? Where are you from? Where are your real names? Can I touch your hair? Can I do a track with you? I love you, especially you on the end, you’re fine. Can I have a hug?
The visit was coordinated by radio station WRBP JAMZ 101.9 FM with the school district.
Skip Bednarczyk is radio station general manager/program director.
“The curriculum you are getting here is going to give you better skills that you need to take it to this level,” said the radio station’s Jammin Janay.
After much prodding from the audience, the boys demonstrated some of their dance moves while one of their tracks played in the background.
Princeton hopped off the stage and ran through the school auditorium dancing and touching the hands of audience members.
“You just changed my life,” one girl gushed. “You touched my hand.”
Prodigy is a native of Philadelphia, and the others are from Los Angeles.
The group’s singles include “My Girl” and “Mrs. Right” and their debut album will be released Sept. 20.
Ray Ray told students that he knew from a young age that he had a knack for dancing, so he got involved with dance crews, and someone discovered his talent.
“If you have talent, express it any way you can; someone is going to notice,” Ray Ray said. “Life is not a box. You can go forward. You control your career.”