Elementary-Age Hip-Hoppers Release 'Beat Dat ‘Rona' Single

TAMPA, FL — A catchy tune written by a group of Tampa elementary students has hit the local airwaves to encourage community members to practice good hygiene and social distancing.

"Beat Dat ‘Rona" features three Village of Excellence Academy students who attend the Jackson Heights Community Center’s after-school program. The song lyrics coupled with a hip-hop beat stress the need for taking necessary steps to avoid catching and spreading the potentially fatal coronavirus.

The city of Tampa Jackson Heights Community Center staff issued a spring break challenge for park participants to find creative ways to help raise awareness at the start of the pandemic.

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Chaz Moore, Rohan Malone and Tehran Malone accepted the challenge and took their talents to the mic. Parks and recreation site supervisor Jamal Jefferson and his team helped produce a short video to show their support for the young songwriters while the after-school program remains temporarily inactive.

The rapping trio, who go by the stage names of Chaz, T-On The Beat and Lil Ro, hope their "Beat Dat ‘Rona" single will help make a difference in their community by helping other young people embrace public health guidelines for the coronavirus.

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