Hip hop star Savage helps Mount kids in viral video

Arataki School children Tyler Balks, 6, Zalee Davies-Biddle, 6, Jakhova Wharepapa, 6, and Matamitchell Rikirangi-Ben, 6, are over the moon their video has become popular online. Photo/John Borren

A Mount Maunganui school has enlisted the help of New Zealand hip hop star Savage to get more children to read in an online video which has gone viral.

A class at Arataki School re-made the hit song Freaks into a song about reading.

The cute video shows six and seven-year-old children plus teaching staff singing 'Where the reading's at', dancing and pretending to play trumpets.

I just want to glorify the teachers and students. I don't want to take any gain from this. I want to get behind them.

Savage

Savage told the Bay of Plenty Times the teachers at the school deserved all the praise they could get because of their efforts with creating the video.

''The video will help parents get involved with having quality time with kids and teach them just the basics about learning,'' he said.

''I just want to glorify the teachers and students. I don't want to take any gain from this. I want to get behind them.''

Children involved in the video said they were excited and proud of their video.

Tyler Balks, 6, said his favourite part was when they danced like monkeys, while Zalee Davies-Biddle, 6, preferred dancing 'Gangham Style'.

Read tomorrow's Bay of Plenty Times for the full interview with Savage and school staff.