When the Homewood Middle School 8th Grade Band performed Big Tymers' 2002 hit “Still Fly,” middle schoolers sang, danced and played their instruments.
“Still Fly” was released in 2002 by Big Tymers, peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, while their platinum album *Hood Rich* debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to HotNewHipHop. The song is a 24-year-old Southern rap classic.
A Homewood Middle School Band Director
Murrell is the middle school's head band director.
The online reaction has been enthusiastic. On X, commenters including Matt Ragland and Mark Bronson praised the performance.
Roy Wood Jr. Weighs In
Birmingham native and comedian Roy Wood Jr. said the performance reflected the Birmingham metro's diverse community. Wood, who grew up in the Birmingham area, appeared as a guest on a National Park Service podcast.
Feeding a Nationally Recognized Program
The Homewood Patriot Marching Band is Alabama's largest high school band, with over 380 students, and it has appeared in at least nine Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, multiple Rose Parades and Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade. In January, the high school band completed its sixth appearance at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, marching the 5.5-mile route during only the 11th rainy Rose Parade in the event's 137-year history, according to Bham Now.
That track record lines up with Homewood City Schools' recognition as one of the nation's “Best Communities for Music Education” in 2026, according to the NAMM Foundation.
Homewood High School Rankings
Homewood High School ranked first among Birmingham-area public high schools in U.S. News rankings, as Hoodline previously reported.
