Ry’Zair Robinson is a creative spirit with natural ingenuity, athleticism, and a winning personality. Awarded “Mr. Corcoran Cougar” at Corcoran’s annual Seeds of Peace talent competition for his performance of his original composition “Outside,” Ry’Zair has a gift for identifying problems in his world and addressing them through art.
“My first song I ever wrote was spelling out my name,” Ry’Zair said. “I never really liked my name growing up. People used to always pronounce it wrong. People would say ‘Rah-zeer, Razor, Razire’. It was kind of annoying and I just didn’t like it. So my name was the rap I always performed to make sure people would say my name right.”
Other problems aren’t so easy to solve. Ry’Zair’s award-winning song “Outside” chronicles the dark realities of living in a community where gun violence complicates the simplest of childhood freedoms, like playing outside with friends: ”Mama don’t want us going outside/ Too many villains people killing I ain’t trying to die.”
Backed by a complex multidimensional beat Ry’Zair composed from scratch on his computer, “Outside” gives voice to the trauma of losing peers in the streets and forgoing friendships to stay out of harm’s way. It also speaks to Ry’Zair’s personal strength and fortitude as a young artist finding his way through: “I’m just picking up the mic ‘cause music gonna change my life/ I want to make it past 25 I don’t want to die.”
Ry’Zair also performed this song in front of students from several schools, Mayor Ben Walsh, and coordinators from the Good Life Foundation, as part of the Stop the Violence peace rally at Clary Middle School in May.
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Ry’Zair also creates wildly funny comedy videos, where he edits together multiple camera angles, allowing him to play all characters in a situation. He bounces ideas off a lifelong group of friends who make similar videos and promote one another’s YouTube channels. “I give them my output, they give me input,” he said.
On the field, Ry’Zair is a formidable tackle, helping to propel the Corcoran varsity football team to some big wins. He has also participated in Corcoran’s wrestling and track and field teams. Ry’Zair can throw the 12 pound shot put an impressive 41 feet, 3.5 inches, and discus more than 96 feet.
Ry’Zair plans to attend Onondaga Community College in the fall and then transfer to a four year school to study graphic design and sound engineering.
His senior quote and advice to incoming freshman is “U.G.L.Y.” which stands for U Gotta Love Yourself. “Happiness comes from loving yourself no matter what,” he said. However Ry’Zair admits he often focuses on others’ happiness first. He’s a good friend who goes the extra mile to make sure his peers are okay. Ry’Zair never takes “I’m fine” at face value, when he knows it’s not true. Instead he will sit down next to his friend and ask them again via text message, and they will often open up. “You gotta check on other people and make sure they’re okay,” he said. “Sometimes it takes a minute.”
Favorite spot in your school? “The auditorium.”
What have you overcome to get where you are today? “People’s opinion.”
Favorite class and why? “Piano. I like playing piano.”
What quality do you love most about yourself? “I have a great personality.”
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