A$AP Rocky, Global rap icon, fashion trailblazer, and Harlem native steps into Harlem’s PS 125 to produce a music video inspired by his new song “Punk Rocky.” This episode of Celebrity Substitute is a masterclass in hip hop, creativity, and self expression.
A&AP Rocky introduces students to the art of rap, breaking down how a song comes together from subject matter to structure. A$AP Rocky then shows the class how rap is numbers, from counting bars to finding rhythm and flow. The lesson becomes a crash course in storytelling, confidence, and owning your voice.
In part two, the students put theory into practice, freestyling their own verses before coming together to write lyrics for an original song. With A$AP Rocky’s guidance, the class steps into a brand new recording studio built inside their school, laying down vocals and bringing their ideas to life.
The episode culminates in a once in a lifetime moment as A$AP Rocky and the students film a full music video for their original track, “IDK,” written, recorded, and performed by the kids themselves and inspired by “Punk Rocky”.
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Hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum (Recess Therapy), Celebrity Substitute invites some of the world’s most recognizable stars to step in as teachers for unsuspecting public school students. The series is executive produced by EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul via their Ampersand production banner.
▶️ Watch Next:
→ Rauw Alejandro Salsa Dances with 1st Graders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXngA8APZzc&pp=2Aa3Aw%3D%3D
→ FKA twigs Turns a Classroom Into an Interpretive Dance Studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzvZszvP4jg&pp=2AYN
→ Karl-Anthony Towns Turns Third Graders Into Basketball All-Stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTr5x2mliiQ&pp=2AY3
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A$AP Rocky released his fourth studio album Don’t Be Dumb on January 16, 2026. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with approximately 123,000 equivalent album units in its first week, marking his first No. 1 debut in over a decade and his third chart-topping album overall. Don’t Be Dumb features a wide range of collaborators including Brent Faiyaz, Gorillaz, Westside Gunn, Doechii, Jessica Pratt and will.i.am, among others, and incorporates experimental hip-hop, trap and genre-blending elements. The rollout included singles such as “Punk Rocky” and “Helicopter” and visual work tied to creative partners like Tim Burton.
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