{{COI|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox publisher | image = Smart Songs Logo.jpg | founded = 2008 | founders = Shoeless Jeff, Scott Free | country = United States | headquarters= Los Angeles, CA | distribution = Social Studies School Service | topics = US History, Social Studies, Economics | url = {{URL|http://www.smartsongs.org/}} }}
'''Smart Songs''' is an educational music group founded in 2008 by Shoeless Jeff (Jeff DuJardin) and Scott Free (Scott Geer).<ref name="Providence Journal">{{cite news|last=Massimo|first=Rick|title=Rapping Through History|newspaper=The Providence Journal|date=6 October 2008}}</ref> According to the group’s website ''www.SmartSongs.org'', the mission of Smart Songs is to “provide kids and teachers with fun and educational hip hop that makes learning fun.”<ref name=SmartSongsWebsite>{{cite web|last=Smart Songs|first=Website|title=About|url=http://smartsongs.org/about|work=Smart Songs Website|publisher=Smart Songs|accessdate=23 March 2012}}</ref> Media sources ABC News Los Angeles (KABC-TV) and ''BostonInno.com'' have described the group as the current version of Schoolhouse Rock.<ref name=ABC1>{{cite news|last=Pennacchio|first=George|title='Smart Songs' use rap to make learning fun|url=https://abc7.com/archive/8438272/|access-date=23 March 2012|newspaper=ABC|date=18 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=BostonInno>{{cite web|last=Landry|first=Lauren|title=Smart Songs: Putting a Fresh Spin on Education with Hip Hop That Teaches|url=http://bostinno.com/2012/01/18/smart-songs-putting-a-fresh-spin-on-education-with-hip-hop-that-teaches-videos/|publisher=Boston Inno|accessdate=23 March 2012}}</ref> Album DVDs ''Trip to DC'' and ''Trip to Wall Street'' are currently distributed through Social Studies School Service.
==Origins== Shoeless Jeff and Scott Free met each other while playing baseball for the Babe Ruth League in Providence, Rhode Island at age 13, while Jeff was playing shortstop and Scott was on second base.<ref name="BostonInno" /> In high school, Jeff began writing educational raps for extra credit in his classes while he and Scott worked on non-educational hip hop songs. In college together at Providence College, Jeff and Scott helped form a live hip hop band called Capitol Hill that toured the East Coast.<ref name=Harvard>{{cite web|last=Weber|first=Matthew|title=Harvard EdCast: History Hip Hop|url=http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news-impact/2012/01/harvard-edcast-history-hip-hop/|work=Harvard Graduate School of Education|publisher=Harvard University|accessdate=23 March 2012}}</ref><ref name=Boston.com>{{cite web|last=Soto|first=Kenny|title=You may have 99 problems, but with Smart Songs, learning won't be one|url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2012/03/you_may_have_99_problems_but_w.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311172652/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2012/03/you_may_have_99_problems_but_w.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2012|work=Boston.com|accessdate=23 March 2012}}</ref> While on tour, the group visited an inner-city school in Dorchester, MA and realized their style of music fit well with students and decided to launch Smart Songs.<ref name="BostonInno" /><ref name="Harvard" />
==Albums== In 2011, Smart Songs released a remixed and remastered version of its album ''Trip to DC'' (originally released in 2008), which explains several topics in United States Social Studies and History.<ref name="Providence Journal" /><ref name="BostonInno" /> Smart Songs released its second album ''Trip to Wall Street'' in 2013, which explains the economy and money management.<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news|last=Weber|first=Matthew|title=History Hip Hop Visits Harvard|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-weber/history-hip-hop-visits-ha_b_1181703.html?ref=education|accessdate=23 March 2012|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
==Distribution== Album DVDs ''Trip to DC'' and ''Trip to Wall Street'' are currently distributed through Social Studies School Service. In 2008, Smart Songs’ music was distributed through Highlights for Children,<ref name="Providence Journal" /> which is the largest children's magazine in the world with over 2 million subscribers.<ref name="ALC Data">{{cite web|last=ALC|first=DataCard|title=Data Insert|url=http://search.alcdata.com/market;jsessionid=52B4C4613B9440B4292C8AAD0A6FCCE6?page=research/datacard&id=218462|work=ALC Data Insert|publisher=ALC Data|accessdate=23 March 2012}}</ref> In 2010, Teachers Discovery began distributing Smart Songs’ new version of ''Trip to DC'' through its website and catalog.<ref>{{cite web|last=Teacher's Discovery|title="Trip to DC" CD: Hip Hop Songs for U.S. Government|url=http://www.teachersdiscovery-socialstudies.com/item_details.php?item=tcd466|work=Social Studies Products|publisher=Teacher's Discovery|accessdate=23 March 2012}}</ref>
==Publicity== In January 2011, Smart Songs was interviewed by Harvard University’s School of Education for a university podcast.<ref name="Harvard" /> This podcast also appeared on ''The Huffington Post''.<ref name="Huffington Post" /> In October 2011, Smart Songs appeared on ABC News Los Angeles.<ref name=ABC1 /> Other interviews include: March 2012 - ''The Boston Globe'' (Boston.com)<ref name="Boston.com" /> January 2012 – ''Boston Inno''<ref name="BostonInno" /> March 2009 – ''Bay State Banner''<ref name="Bay State Banner">{{cite news|last=Leenders-Cheng|first=Victoria|title=New School|url=http://www.baystatebanner.com/local11-2009-03-05|accessdate=1 April 2012|newspaper=Bay State Banner|date=5 March 2009}}</ref> October 2008 – ''The Providence Journal''<ref name="Providence Journal" /> October 2008 – Fox Channel 12 Providence<ref name="Fox News">{{cite news|last=Buteau|first=Walt|title=Hip Hop Poetry|url=http://www.wpri.com/dpp/on_air/street_stories/local_wpri_street_stories_street_poetry_20081017#13138665-2|accessdate=23 March 2012|newspaper=Fox News|date=17 October 2008}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{official|http://www.smartsongs.org/}}
Category:Musical groups from Rhode Island Category:Culture of Providence, Rhode Island