“Everybody has rhythm.
If you have a heartbeat, that’s your rhythm.”
- Founder | Tony “Tone” Royster aka Mr. Y Not
“Drill team was my escape so that I wasn’t subjected to drug dealing and the streets.”
MR. Y NOT
Tony Royster grew up in the Pulaski Housing Projects in the city of Philadelphia. It was the heart of negativity, riddled with drugs and shootings almost daily. Tony grew up in a single parent home surrounded by adversity, aggression and death. His mother didn’t have a lot of money so he didn’t have a lot of the things that other kids had. They were living day by day, trying to survive.
“I was left behind - always trying to catch up to everyone else.”
Drill team was his saving grace, it made him feel a part of something and gave him confidence. He’s certain that without his drums he would be lost. After attending a disciplinary school, he was sent to Germantown High School, where he was able to join the drill team once again. But the Director of the team got angry with Tony for overstepping the lead drummer during a performance and he was kicked off. Shortly after, he dropped out of school all together - which he still regrets to this day. He struggled to find a job without a high school diploma or GED and ended up homeless, sleeping in abandoned houses or parks - but he kept drumming, it was the one constant in his life.
“The loudness of the drum speaks to me. It makes me feel alive.”
One day, Tony realized that he wanted to do more - pursue a higher purpose. It didn’t take long for him to conclude, his two passions were drumming and contributing to his community. He envisioned a way to positively impact all the kids that reminded him so much of himself growing up and in 2011,
POSITIVE MOVEMENT was born….
“Because, YNOT be positive? My smile should make you smile.”
- Tony “Tone” Royster aka Mr. Y Not
Positive Movement was started in 2011 as a drum line and became a drill team in 2014. PME is probably the most distinguishable drum line in Philadelphia thanks to Tim Harris and Seven Knots Film released a documentary in April 2020 about Mr. Y NOT and his mission. The group can be seen on any given day drumming throughout the city of Philadelphia.
Viral Videos
Viral Moment #1
The Great Kensington Scrapyard Fire of 2018
PME’s first viral moment came in July 2018 during an impromptu performance in Kensington near a large scrapyard fire.
“The most Philly thing ever.”
- The Internet
Viral Moment #2
The South Philly Pandemic March
The second viral video came at a time when the city of Philadelphia (and the World) was in desperate need for some positive news and of course, PME was happy to assist.