Introduction to Hip-Hop’s Latest Trend
The most popular genre of music in the country has not only achieved acceptance but also critical acclaim since its inception, creating a Pulitzer award winner in Kendrick Lamar and long overdue recognition as one of the most important cultural exports in the country. Hip-hop has always experimented with other musical forms, and the latest trend involves collaboration with symphony orchestras.
The Genesis of Hip-Hop and Classical Music Fusion
This idea of fusion is not new and can be traced back to the 1960s and 70s when groups like The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, ELO, and Deep Purple recorded rock albums with symphony orchestras. The trend started gaining momentum when NAS released "Illmatic: Live from Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra" in 2018. The legendary rapper is currently on a summer tour, supported by the Boston Pops, Atlanta Pops, Las Vegas and Chicago Philharmonic, and Baltimore as well as Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras.
Recent Collaborations
In recent months, the trend has gained significant traction. In April, LL Cool J took the Coachella stage with conductor Gustavo Dudamel and La Phil for a set that included "Mama Said You Out" and a medley of "I Need," "Murdergram," and "Rock the Bells," alongside John Williams’ "The Imperial March" from "The Empire Strikes Back." Cypress Hill, now comprising founding members B-Real and Sen Dog, along with Eric Bobo and ex-Public Enemy turntablist DJ Lord, collaborated with the 70-piece London Symphony Orchestra and conductor/arranger Troy Miller at the historic Royal Albert Hall last summer to score their 1993 album "Black Sunday."
The Creative Process
B-Real, also known as Louis Mario Freese, revealed that the idea was initially triggered by a scene from "The Simpsons" where Cypress Hill booked for the "Hullabalooza" festival on the Springfield Fairgrounds by Peter Frampton – accidentally ordered the orchestra while "really high" to carry out a spontaneous "crazy in the brain" with them behind the stage. The collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra was made possible through a tweet exchange between B-Real and the orchestra, which led him to conductor/composer Troy Miller. Miller, who has worked with Amy Winehouse and Roy Ayers, created arrangements and charts for classic musicians to play Cypress Hill’s songs.
The Outcome
The collaboration resulted in a film with a feature-length documentary that had a short theatrical run at the beginning of this spring and is now streaming on Veeps, Amazon, and Apple TV, as well as an accompanying album that came out in June. B-Real described the collaboration as "only the climax of a trip for us." Sen Dog, another member of Cypress Hill, compared the experience to listening to Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven" for the first time. The collaboration has been deemed a success, with both parties praising the organic process and the freedom to be themselves.
The Future of Hip-Hop and Classical Music
Beyond Cypress Hill, other artists have also kicked off the trend. Red Bull Symphonic presents its first collaboration with hip-hop/classical music when Rick Ross joined Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers and his all-black symphony orchestra in November 2022. Travis Scott was accompanied by a 43-piece orchestra conducted by Antony Parnther at the La Dolby Theater with special guests John Legend and Swae Lee. Red Bull Symphonic has planned a July show with MC Kresha & Lyrical Son and an orchestra in Kosovo. B-Real believes that this trend is the power of hip-hop, which can create something from everything, including classical music. The collaboration has opened up new possibilities for hip-hop artists to experiment with classical music, creating a new and exciting sound.
