Ian Willey, 28, had his first experience with hip hop early.

“I wrote this great poem once in second grade called Fat Pat. It started like this, “Once there was a boy named Pat, who was very, very, very Fat.” And ever since then I liked rhymes,” Willey said.

Willey is now actively pursuing his dream of becoming a hip hop artist, having recently released his first professional album.

But the words and motivation behind that album originate from an unexpected place — 90 fifth grade students at an elementary school in Harlem.

Shot, edited and produced by Christian Als, Janine Boreland and Edith Champagne.