When Andrew Lee arrived at Northwestern University from Los Angeles, he never thought he and five journalism cherubs at the National High School Institute would create a rap single using homemade beats.

Using Pro Tools, a digital audio workstation for Mac computers, Lee created the background beat for “Cherub Music,” a rap that about the ups and downs journalism camp.

“We didn’t plan on making [the song] before we came here,” Lee said. “It was spur-of-the- moment.”

Marcus Schwarz, of New Rochelle, N.Y., said the friends were listening to Lee’s beats over dinner when they suggested writing the song.

“We thought it would be cool rapping over this,” Schwarz said.

After transferring the groundwork to Garage Band, another Mac program that allowed for easier editing, the Fourth Floor Krew began adding lyrics to their first hit. Lee said he thought it was a big commitment.

“We all sat together and wrote the chorus,” Lee said. “It took about 18 hours to make the song.”

In addition to the chorus, each friend added their own verses, making the four-minute, 21-second creation complete. And each band member was given an original nickname in the song. Lee became A Lee. Schwarz became Mr. Highsocks.

(Nathan Zemanek, of Saginaw, Mich., was renamed Demonic Zemanek. Tommy Alter, of Montclair, N.J., became Tommy Boy. Sam Tzou, of Midland, Mich., was Lil’ Tzou. And Sam Wagreich was the “Swagsta.”)

“It was a great bonding experience working into the early morning hours,” Lee said.

The group presented the song to fellow cherubs after Sunday evening blog reading. Listeners applauded.

“I was really impressed,” Hunter Bradley, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., said. “It was very well produced, and I give them a lot of credit.”

“[The song] was classy and creative,” Lindsey Reese, of Waco, Texas, said.

The song can be downloaded free at www.filedropper.com/cherubmusic.