Oakland middle schoolers drop their own mixtape
This spring, a group of Oakland middle schoolers did something extraordinary: they dropped their very first mixtape. The project was part of an after-school music production program run by Yeah, Art!, the nonprofit co-founded by Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship. Designed to give students hands-on experience in songwriting, beatmaking, and audio engineering, the program culminated in a full album of original tracks — written, recorded, and produced by the students themselves.
Using tools like Soundtrap and working alongside professional teaching artists, students learned how to turn ideas into finished songs. From crafting hooks to mixing vocals, they were exposed to every step of the creative process — and more importantly, they got to tell their own stories through sound.
The program is rooted in Yeah, Art!’s mission: to bring tech-forward arts education into underfunded schools and uplift the creative voices of youth of color. And this mixtape is proof of what happens when you give young artists real tools, real mentorship, and real belief.
“They didn’t just learn how to make music — they learned how to collaborate, take creative risks, and finish something they’re proud of,” said Mike. “That’s what being an artist is about.”
You can stream the mixtape here and hear the next generation of Bay Area storytellers stepping into their power, one track at a time.