On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Victoria Conservatory of Music is proud to premiere Hip Hop Kids 2, five new music videos created by youth through our Music Outreach Program, Children’s Musical Journey.
- 82 young visionaries
- 5 classrooms
- 8 months and a 6 week summer intensive
- 1 collective voice
School Year Programs
From October 2025 through June 2026, students from Craigflower Elementary, ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal School, and a small group of Home School students came together weekly to explore Hip Hop culture and discover the power of their own voices.
Through lyrics, bar counting, rhyming, beatmaking, recording, and music video production, the students transformed ideas into art—learning to create with smartphones, free digital audio workstations, cameras.
Together, they created:
- 4 original beats
- 50 original verses
- 4 original hooks (chorus)
- 4 original tracks
- 4 cinematic music videos
Powered by an iPhone 17 Pro Max, gimbal, DSLRs, and the students’ own creative camera side quests, the project became more than a collection of songs and films. It became a living record of young people finding their voices, trusting their ideas, and creating something together.
From the first spark to the final frame, 82 young artists manifested a collective vision into reality. They spoke bravely and straight from the soul.
These tracks carry their Hope.
Their Love.
Their Joy.
May their voices resonate far beyond these classrooms — and deep within your heart space.
6 Week Summer Intensive – Watchers
12 Esquimalt Nation youth met weekly for 6 weeks as 1 collective voice.
In July–August 2026, Esquimalt Nation youth came together weekly to explore Hip Hop culture and discover the power of their own voices. Through lyrics, bar counting, rhyming, beatmaking, recording, graffiti, dance and music video production, the youth transformed ideas into art— learning to create with smartphones, free digital audio workstations, cameras, playtron midi controllers, paint pens/ canvas, and their own creativity.
Conservatory faculty members helped with making their beats on the land and with writing. They went to a professional recording studio to record the song with an industry professional and had two professional videographers collaborate with them on the music video, filmed at Mungo Martin House at the Royal BC Museum.
The youth showcased their culture, their families, and their love of sports through the music video, bringing their own stories, personalities, and experiences into the project. This project became more than just making a song and a music video. It was about youth coming together, creating together, sharing their voices, connecting with the land, celebrating culture, and having fun.
From the first beat on the land to the final frame, 12 young artists manifested a collective vision into reality.
Watch the Hip Hop Kids 2 playlist on YouTube
Video Credits
Full credits are in the description of each video. The following were involved in the creation of all videos:
- Nicole ‘Nikky E’ Ermineskin – Conservatory Faculty Member (Hip Hop)
- Nathan Shelby ‘of Saanich’ – Conservatory Faculty Member (Hip Hop)
- Daniel Brandes – Conservatory Artistic Director, School of Music Technology and Creativity
- Greg Forsburg
With Gratitude
Thank you to Auchinleck Family Foundation, the Community Gaming Grant – Province of British Columbia, and the Telus Foundation for the generous financial support.
Thank you James Mcguire and the team at Royal BC Museum for granting us access to the Mungo Martin House.
Proudly created on the Ancestral homelands of the Songhees, Xwepsum & W̱SÁNEĆ Nations.
