Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Towns. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michael , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Our mission is to create inclusive, engaging hip-hop music, videos, books, and colorable T-shirts that inspire and educate children of all abilities. Through rhythmic content and interactive resources, we aim to foster a love for learning while helping children, with and without disabilities, develop essential skills like creativity, motor skills, and self-expression.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Michael was born in Altadena, CA, in 1980 and developed a passion for teaching children at an early age. After graduating from Pasadena High School in 1998, he earned degrees in music education and early childhood development from Pasadena City College in 2000. From 2001 to 2005, he taught special needs students at Noyes Elementary, where he founded Educational Hip-Hop for Kids. In 2003, he was honored with the Unsung Hero Award by the Pasadena Unified School District.
Michael furthered his education, graduating at the top of his class from The Los Angeles Recording School in 2007, where he was offered a teaching role in Pro Tools music software. He later transitioned to working as a technical engineer for Focusrite LLC in 2011. Throughout his career, Michael has been dedicated to teaching children through music, visual media, and hands-on learning experiences.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is seeing the impact my work has on children of all abilities. Whether it’s through music, visual media, or interactive resources like books and colorable T-shirts, I love watching kids engage, learn, and express themselves in ways they never thought possible. It’s especially fulfilling to witness children with special needs connect to the music and develop new skills, whether that’s through movement, creativity, or motor skill activities. Knowing that I’m able to foster joy and growth in their lives through my passion is what drives me every day.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When my mom became ill, I had to make a significant pivot in both my career and personal life. At the time, I was working as a teacher at the Los Angeles Recording School and as a royalty analyst at Universal Music Group, but I had to leave both positions to care for her during her time in hospice. It was a challenging period, but I relied on all the experience and education I had gained over the years. I built a studio at home and started recording and mixing to support myself financially while caring for her. It was a time of immense personal and professional growth, as I had to adapt quickly, drawing on everything I had learned to make it work and keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://HipHopforkids.org
- Instagram: educationalhiphop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.towns.9?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: Michael Towns
- Twitter: educatehiphop
- Youtube: hiphopforkids
Image Credits
Michael Towns