In LA, You're Never Too Old to Rap

A new crop of rappers is emerging in Los Angeles, and they have one thing in common: They’re senior citizens. Hip-hop artist Keith Cross started his unorthodox rap class in 2004 to show seniors “there is positive rap out there; we just have to look for it,” he tells the Los Angeles Times. “A lot of seniors are turned off by a lot of the negativity you hear in rap music.”

With Cross’ help, though, his students—even the 75-year-olds and grandparents of 28—soon have nicknames like “Lady P” and “Sneedy Weedy.” They perform their original raps at the end of the class. One even formed her own gospel rap group; she says the class taught her that “it’s never too late, no matter your age, to pursue your dreams.” (More Jay-ZTV stories.)