LT students Adrian Ramirez ‘17 and Santino Salinas ‘17 have created a rap group called UNITE, Universal Nomads Influenced Through Evolution, comprised of six peers who began to rap together at the beginning of the school year. The group is not affiliated with LT, however, they are open to the idea of creating a rap club in the future, Ramirez said.

“I just want other people to get involved with rapping too,” Ramirez said. “I feel confident showing my raps to people. Usually it’s a good reaction and people like it, but I just want a reaction. If it isn’t good then I know what to fix.”

Ramirez and Salinas both draw off of everyday life to find lyrics for their songs using current world events and their family life for guidance. Their songs are generally two to four minutes long.

“When I first started rapping, I would just take any random beat that I found and use the first part of that song and work off of it,” Salinas said. “I used to go on dictionary.com a lot and look up words there, but then as I got better I just got used to it and started free styling.”

Rapping is the best way they express themselves, because they can relate to the words, and they want other people to be able to relate to theirs, the two boys said.

“Being able to come up with rhymes that make sense and fit all together and having the craft and ability to do it is amazing,” Salinas said. “With rap you get to say what you want and express yourself how you want. To say what others can relate to. Your mind is your limit.”

No one from UNITE has recorded a mixed tape yet, but over spring break Salinas began recording his first. Ramirez has three mixed tapes written out, and is waiting for the opportunity to record.