Not all the Tupacs, Eminems and Biggies of the world hail from the mean streets of New York, Detroit or Los Angeles. A few Bethesda students spit some game of their own.

When they’re not busy with schoolwork, junior Rodney Stallworth, freshman Malik Garone and Pyle eighth grader Guilan Massoud share beats in person or post them on YouTube and Facebook. The three friends compete against each other and other local teenagers in informal freestyle rap battles.

“Sometimes, it can get a little tough battling other rappers,” Garone said. “A lot of people will challenge you, but if you stand your ground, it’s all love.”

Stallworth started writing his own songs at age 12, after watching his uncle rap. Since then, he’s made a mixtape called “Turning Point” in a Gaithersburg music studio.

“I grew up in Baltimore, and everyone had to find a hobby fast, or you were going to get caught up in gang activity: doing or selling drugs, killing and robbing people, or doing nothing in life,” Stallworth said. “I don’t want to be a lost soul walking on the streets.”

Music also serves as a therapeutic way to release anger, Stallworth said.

“I have anger problems, so it’s another way to relieve myself and put everything on paper,” he said. “That’s what draws people to music. They have something they can relate to.”

Garone, who goes by “MG,” his initials, was born in Brooklyn. He draws inspiration from his father, who rapped recreationally. Garone hopes to pursue his passion for rap by producing songs and DJing.

For Massoud, rapping is a form of self-expression. Massoud, who goes by the stage name “Goody 2 Shoes,” records demos at Omega Studios in Rockville every Friday. Though Massoud doesn’t have a recording contract, his music will be available on iTunes later this year.

“I started rapping to show people who I really am ,because I was a timid kid who wouldn’t talk too much,” Massoud said. “I felt like people didn’t respect me before. I rap mainly to represent myself and Bethesda.”

Although the students come from different parts of the county and rap with unique styles, the content of their music is similar. Most of their songs are about girls, school, pride and following their dreams.

Garone’s YouTube songs also symbolize Whitman’s growing diversity, junior Jaimie Carlson said.

“Malik’s music is beyond rad,” she said. “The way he spits and the flow of the song in general is far from amateur. Rapping just comes to some people.”

Combined, Garone and Massoud’s Facebook pages have almost a thousand fans. Garone’s 20 YouTube videos alone have almost 9,000 views.

Stallworth said he prefers to rap for his friends at open mic nights at high schools and recreational facilities in Baltimore rather than posting them on the Web. This way, he doesn’t have to worry about others stealing his beats from videos online, which aren’t copyright protected.

Although they may compete with each other, in the end, the three students support each other’s music.

“Every rapper has his own style,” Stallworth said. “If we both sounded alike, then I don’t think people would listen to us. It’s not a competition, it’s more like, this is your thing, this is my thing, let’s do something with it.”