JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local music producer-celebrity shocked students at San Mateo Elementary School with a surprise visit last week.
Jahaan Sweet is a Grammy Award-winning music producer who stopped by to surprise the students after they honored him in their school project for Black History Month.
“This is about him and what he made music with and produced it with,” said Ricardo, a student at San Mateo Elementary.
For Black History Month, Ricardo did a report on Sweet, who has created hits for entertainers like Taylor Swift and Beyonce. Sweet is from Jacksonville, a fact Ricardo and his peers didn’t know until music teacher Andrew Lodge explained the local connection.
“I told them there are a lot of people from Jacksonville that have great history that impact the world from James Weldon Johnson, down to my grandfather Bob Hayes onto Jahaan Sweet,” said Lodge. “History doesn’t have to be old they can be living legends.”
From there, the students’ research began.
“They went insane, they were like he made the song Fe!n, he made the song Fe!n, and they have been in love with Jahaan ever since,” said Lodge. “You would think they know Jahaan personally.” Fe!n is a Travis Scott song. It was written and produced by Jahaan Sweet, among others.
When Lodge posted Ricardo’s report on Jahaan on social media, the post went viral. The kids didn’t know it, but Jahaan was coming to surprise the kids.
When Sweet entered the school auditorium, the kids began screaming and singing the hook to the song. Ricardo was amazed.
“Ever since I did this I just wanted to see Jahaan Sweet and I got it, its like a dream come true,” said Ricardo.
And Lodge says he’s pleased for his students.
“As a teacher, I can’t stop smiling they loved it I know the kids has a great time,” said Lodge.
But this visit wasn’t just special for the students and teachers - it was also a homecoming for Sweet.
“Once he said the address (to the school) I said, ‘Oh man San Mateo, I went there,’” said Sweet.
It was Sweet’s elementary school too. The Douglas Anderson and Julliard graduate was having a full circle moment.
“It’s amazing. It’s amazing. That is the most energy I’ve seen like directly so close to me,” said Sweet, as he looked around the school auditorium where he once sat decades ago.
“I’m just honored I’m honored and I am happy I could be a source of inspiration,” Sweet added.
As the lunch time approached for the kids, it was time for Sweet to leave. As one final moment of appreciation, the auditorium filled with hundreds of school kids shouted, “Thank you!”
An inspiring moment that these students will likely never forget.