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Black Violin

Stereotypes

Universal Classics

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Black Violin at Bethune
1 Stereotypes
2 Invisible
3 Another Chance
4 Addiction
5 Shaker
6 Send Me A Sign
7 Walk On By
8 Day 2
9 Magic
10 Stay Clear
11 Losing Control
12 Runnin
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Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste (viola) and Kevin "Kev" Marcus Sylvester (violin) are Black Violin, a duo who radically fuse hip-hop and pop with classical music to create a kaleidoscope of sounds uniquely their own.  Classically trained musicians, they have opened for such diverse top names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and also creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys, the latter for the Billboard Music Awards. Set for release on September 18 on Universal Music Classics, their major label debut was produced by Eli Wolf (The Roots & Elvis Costello, Norah Jones).   

Composed of mostly original works, Stereotypes effortlessly shifts from classic hip-hop ("Invisible" featuring legendary MC Pharoahe Monch) to pulsing R&B and fiery instrumentals.  "Stay Clear," features rising star Kandace Springs alongside keyboard mastermind Robert Glasper. "Runnin" finds Wil and Kev flexing their virtuosic muscles - a flurry of notes both dexterous and emotive.  "Shaker" unwinds into a brooding beat interweaved with classical influences.

Black Violin is joined by the aforementioned guests, plus Black Thought (of The Roots), drummer Daru Jones (Jack White), guitarist Eric Krasno (Soulive) and string arranger Rob Moose (Bon Iver). Wil and Kev first started playing together in high school orchestra in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the Dillard High School of the Performing Arts.  The evolution of Black Violin followed with multiple wins at the popular Showtime at the Apollo, scoring an episode of CSI: New York, and a performance for President Obama at his second inauguration in 2013. The band tours non-stop (playing as many as 200 shows a year) and have released two independent, self-financed albums.

  • Black Violin set for Cleveland's 'Playhouse Square Theatre' / The News-Herald
    Posted At: March 20, 2024
    The News-Herald's JOHN BENSON writes….That’s what Black Violin’s classical rigor and adrenaline-charged hip-hop will do when the act returns to Playhouse Square for a show March 23 at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre in Cleveland.Consisting of Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, Black Violin views its mission as a simple equation — convincing two people, entrenched in their disparateness, that they’re more...

  • Black Violin set for Boise's Morrison Center / Idaho Press
    Posted At: March 25, 2023
    Idaho Press writes…..Any music act with a unique sound — such as Black Violin’s fusion of classical music and hip-hop — is bound to sound familiar from album to album. But violinist Kev Marcus has no problem seeing a difference between “Take The Stairs,” and especially the previous two albums he has made as one half of the duo, Black Violin. In fact, he can sum it up in one word.“This is the most authentic ...

  • Black Violin, set for University of Georgia's Hodgson Hall / Online Athens
    Posted At: February 28, 2019

    Led by violist Wil B. and violinist Kev Marcus, Black Violin blends classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes. The classically trained strings players are joined onstage by DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes in a high-energy concert that encourages people of all backgrounds to come together to break down cultural barriers. Black Violin has collaborated with artists such as Aerosmith, Tom Petty, ...

  • Black Violin plays Saratoga Springs - students-only performance prior to 'SavingsBank' show / Troy Record
    Posted At: April 13, 2018

    Black Violin is bringing its Classical Boom Tour to the Collar City tonight, following another local students-only performance earlier this week. On Monday the Florida-based duo, known for its unique blend of pop and classical music, performed a high-energy set to about 2,000 students at Saratoga Springs High School as part of Saratoga Performing Arts Center's education program. Today, Friday April 13, m...

  • Bach meets Biggie at Strauss Square / TheaterJones
    Posted At: March 15, 2018

    "Inspiring," "uplifting," and "proud" were frequent words that came to the lips of the polled patrons following Friday evening's concert of Black Violin on the Strauss Square stage in the Dallas Arts District, presented by AT&T Performing Arts Center. The classical/hip-hop crossover act brought a large and diverse crowd with an unusual start time of 9:45 p.m., allowing some of the more eclectically i...

  • Black Violin will 'classical boom' in Dallas
    Posted At: March 2, 2018

    p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} Black Violin is composed of classically trained violist and violinist Wil B. and Kev Marcus who combine their classical training and and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as "classical boom." The band released their major label debut Stereotypes (featuring Black Thou...

  • Black Violin and the Harlem Globetrotters. You've never seen heard Sweet Georgia Brown like this
    Posted At: February 27, 2018

    Named after an album by swing era violinist Stuff Smith, Black Violin is a violin and viola-playing duo from Florida consisting of classically trained musicians Kevin Sylvester ("Kev Marcus") and Wilner Baptiste ("Wil B"), who incorporate a variety of genres into their distinctive string fare. The pair met as high-school students in a Fort Lauderdale, quickly gaining a reputation for their dynamic perfor...

  • Black Violin set for AT&T Center / North Dallas Gazette
    Posted At: February 9, 2018

    Defying ‘StereoTypes' is in the DNA of the hip-hop inspired classically trained duo called Black Violin, it was also the title of their major label debut. Wil B. and Kev Marcus combine their classical training as a violist and violinist with hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as "classical boom." North Dallas Gazette readers have an opportunity to w...

  • Black Violin - 'Live at the Kate' performance set to air on Connecticut Public Television / theday
    Posted At: January 18, 2018

    Black Violin, the astonishing  Atlanta-based duo - Wil Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester will be appearing this Monday Jan 22, at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center - a performance being taped for future telecast by Connecticut Public Television. Both musicians are now violin virtuosos whose affection for and mastery of classical repertoire is substantial. At the same time, their love of rap has ...

  • Black Violin set for Milwaukee's Marcus Center / WUWM Radio
    Posted At: October 26, 2017

    Classical music can have an elitist reputation. The conventional repertoire is based almost exclusively on the work of western European white men, and the typical audiences for those works are largely older, and also white. But the duo Black Violin (Violinist Kev Sylvester and violist Wil Baptiste) thinks the music of Bach is sublime and want to bring it to people who might not otherwise hear it. Th...

  • Black Violin set for University of Denver show / FOX31
    Posted At: September 29, 2017

    They say most people assume they are football players, but their true love is the violin. The world renowned duo "Black Violin" is bringing people together through music, combining classical violin with the excitement and fun of hip hop. Performer Will B. Baptiste says their message is all about positivity. "With what's going on in our country, our shows are very diverse, very inclusive so our music ...

  • Black Violin maps out 'Classical Boom' tour / AXS
    Posted At: August 25, 2017

    Black Violin recently kicked off their Classical Boom tour, which takes it's name from the phrase used to describe the group's unique blend of classical music with hip-hop beats and rhythms. Black Violin are touring in support of their latest album Stereotypes, however, the duo said in a statement that they are currently working on their next studio album set for release in 2018.  Here are the 2017-...

  • Black Violin set for MV concert series / Vineyard Gazette
    Posted At: August 21, 2017

    Wilner Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester never intended to be headliners. Though they're scheduled to raise the roof of the Performing Arts Center next Wednesday, the duo, who are known on stage as Black Violin, originally hoped to achieve fame behind the scenes. "We just started dreaming, you know, just thinking of ourselves as major producers," Mr. Baptiste said in a phone call with the Gazette. "And we wer...

  • Black Violin set for - 'Music for All' summer symposium
    Posted At: June 29, 2017

    Black Violin have been perfecting their blend of hip-hop beats, with classical music instrumentation for ever a decade, but the group's founding members go back even further. Violist Wil B met violinist Kev Marcus while both were attending the Dillard High School of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The pair's unique musical bond has been growing exponentially over the years. To date Blac...

  • Black Violin brings classical music to DCJazzFest / AFRO review
    Posted At: June 22, 2017

    The cool breeze off the Potomac River convinced the crowds at this year's D.C. Jazz Festival from June 9-18 to dance – even as the temperatures crossed 90 degrees – as soon as "Kev Marcus" Sylvester and Wilmer Baptiste hit the stage.  Known as Black Violin, Sylvester and Baptiste have found and perfected a meticulous mix of classical music with hip-hop, as well as jazz, soul, R&B, ro...

  • Back by popular demand, Black Violin returns to Lied Center / Kansas Public Radio
    Posted At: May 10, 2017

    Due to popular demand, the Lied Center is bringing back a favorite on Friday, September 22, 2017. "Black Violin was absolutely amazing last night!!! They filled up the Lied auditorium and captivated the audience with their talent and charm. A truly inspiring group of young men breaking stereotypes and proving that one can do anything once they put their minds to it," said a Lied Center patron after t...

  • Black Violin play Red Room / The Berklee Groove
    Posted At: April 25, 2017

    Black Violin performed two sold out shows at Berklee's Red Room at Café 939 on Saturday, April 22nd. They are currently on their "Unity" tour where the duo is joined by a drummer and DJ SPS. I could clearly see Black Violin's message at work by taking a look at the audience. The diversity in age and ethnicity was evident and everyone was excited about what was to come. The show started with DJ SPS...

  • Worlds collide at Black Violin concert in Tucson / Arizona Daily Star
    Posted At: April 14, 2017

    Black Violin's Kev Marcus, left, warned the sold-out UA Presents audience Thursday night that they were in for more than a night of violin music. He and violist Wil B had the Fox Tucson Theatre audience on its feet. "Some of you thought you were coming to a quiet evening of violin music," said Marcus - aka Kevin Sylvester - and a handful of people who knew better cheered along as if they were in on t...

  • Black Violin keeps breaking stereotypes at Casa Manana / Fort Worth Star Telegram
    Posted At: April 12, 2017

    It's not every night that you get to hear a hip-hop DJ go to town on Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons." That was just one of the highlights of the performance by Black Violin, a combo rooted in classical music that shattered boundaries in its concert Friday at Casa Mañana. The band is made up of Kev Marcus on electric violin, Wil B. playing a viola equipped with a pickup, drummer Jermaine McQueen ...

  • Black Violin thrills at ABT / Billings Gazette
    Posted At: April 3, 2017

    Black Violin's performance Thursday night at the Alberta Bair Theater had a wildly enthusiastic crowd on their feet, pumping arms in the air by the second song. The two lead musicians, Kev Marcus on electric violin and Will-B on viola, rocked to hard, it was like they were blazing on electric guitars with flames shooting from them. A highlight was the improvisation where Marcus sawed back and forth on hi...

  • Billings welcomes Black Violin / Yellowstone Public Radio
    Posted At: March 25, 2017

    Billings will be welcoming a unique musical duo Black Violin, to the Alberta Bair Theater next Thursday. The high-energy group is anything but common, and bridges the divide between hip-hop and classical music. The Miami Herald says the musical duo Black Violin "upends cultural and musical stereotypes," and these classically-trained string musicians will bring their inventive style to Billings next week ...

  • Black Violin set for Washington Center / The Olympian
    Posted At: March 24, 2017

    When Kevin "Kev Marcus" Sylvester picked up a violin, it was hardly love at first sight. Sylvester is the violin-playing half of the classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin, playing Tuesday in Olympia. As many young musicians do, he started on the violin at his mom's suggestion. He liked playing well enough and liked the friends he made in orchestra, but he didn't imagine making music his career. "I had...

  • Black Violin set for South Carolina's Newberry Opera House / freetimes
    Posted At: March 22, 2017

    Black Violin is set for South Carolina's Newberry Opera House, this Friday, Mar. 24. The classically trained Florida duo of Kevin Sylvester (violin) and Wilner Baptiste (viola) create truly hybrid music, fitting comfortably in neither hip-hop nor classical. But breaking ground wasn't the initial plan. "Honestly is was more about us becoming producers, incorporating what we knew from classical music a...

  • Black Violin sells out Knight Theater / Charlotte Observer
    Posted At: March 16, 2017

    Unclassifiable Black Violin keeps kicking down musical walls. The name of the group, which comes to Knight Theater Tuesday and Wednesday, tells just part of the story. In the first place, only Kevin Sylvester (aka Kev Marcus) plays violin; Wilner Baptiste (known as Wil B) plays the slightly larger and deeper viola. In the second, they come with a band, including a drummer and DJ SPS on turntables. You ne...

  • Black Violin engages at UWGB / WeAreGreenBay
    Posted At: March 14, 2017

    A show with Black Violin is to engage. Take Sunday night at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. After letting loose with the opening burst of "Stereotypes," Kev Marcus of the quartet passes on this notice: "Rule One, this is a party." The audience is expected to help fuel the action. Another "rule" is take photographs and videos and share them. This is stuff that performing arts centers and copyr...

  • Win tickets to Black Violin at Olympia's 'Washington Center' on 88.5 KNKX
    Posted At: March 11, 2017

    Win tickets on 88.5 KNKX Radio to Black Violin at Olympia's Washington Center for the Performing Arts. on March 28. Named after an album by African-American preeminent jazz swing-era violinist Stuff Smith, Black Violin blends classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B, and bluegrass music. Accompanied by a drummer and a DJ, Wil Baptiste (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin) are a string duo from ...

  • Black Violin set for 'the mac' in Glen Ellyn / Chicago Tribune
    Posted At: February 28, 2017

    Black Violin consists of classically trained string instrumentalists Kevin Sylvester (violin) and Wilner Baptiste (viola), who met first in high school in Miami. They reconnected after college and discovered that not only did they both still play, they were inspired by the same artists including Curtis Mayfield and jazz violinist Stuff Smith. Together they formed Black Violin, with the idea of fusing the...

  • Black Violin sells out and then rocks Stanford's Bing Concert Hall - The Huffington Post
    Posted At: February 19, 2017

    For many, it was a refreshing surprise and to others they just could not wait to hear live and in living color the musical geniuses who were the talk of the town in anticipation of their performance in Palo Alto, CA. That would be Kevin Sylvester and Wil Baptiste, nationally and internationally known as Black Violin. Black Violin rocked the roof at Stanford Bing Concert Hall on January 28, 2...

  • Black Violin thanks moms for preserving classical music / San Francisco Classical Voice
    Posted At: January 20, 2017

    Give a large slice of the credit for protecting, preserving, and propelling the future relevancy of classical music to moms. Who, other than mothers, has throughout history played a larger role in shoving a violin under the chin of a wiggly boy or reminding a willful girl it's time to stop climbing trees and sit down at the keyboard? At the very least, lovers of classical music who want the art form ...

  • This February, Indianapolis will have a chance to experience Black Violin / Indianapolis Recorder
    Posted At: December 23, 2016

    This February, Indianapolis will have a chance to experience Black Violin at Clowes Memorial Hall on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. If you're into rocking out to a genre-blending synthesis of hip-hop, pop and classical music with people of all ages and backgrounds, a Black Violin show might be the move. The sonically eclectic Black Violin consists of violinist Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who play...

  • Live in Studio with Black Violin / Illinois Public Media
    Posted At: December 10, 2016

    On the 21st: Florida-based - Black Violin discusses how they're working to break down stereotypes. Kev & Wil performed a few songs for us and discussed how they're working to change stereotypes in both music and society. Classically trained Black Violin have opened for such diverse top names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and also creatively collaborated with t...

  • Black Violin / Violinist.com
    Posted At: December 5, 2016

    With so many classically-trained musicians auditioning for an ever-shrinking number of orchestra jobs, sometimes musicians need to find a new path toward employment and artistic fulfillment. Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste have done just that. Their band, Black Violin, is something quite out of the ordinary: a meeting and meshing of hip-hop, popular and classical styles. Florida-based Sylvester and B...

  • Black Violin finds the right 'Pitch' in FOX's new baseball drama / Daily News
    Posted At: November 26, 2016

    When FOX's new baseball drama "Pitch" debuted in September, it wasn't just the pilot that started on a high note. The show's soundtrack also made a strong impression of the audience, featuring upbeat string instrumentals. The group pulling the strings? Black Violin, Florida-based pair Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste - who go by Wil B and Kev Marcus - who combine classical and hip-hop. "Pitch" creator...

  • Black Violin. Still shattering Stereotypes, inspires kids at STRIVE Prep-Ruby Hill school / Denver Post
    Posted At: November 23, 2016

    They grew up playing classical music in the school orchestra, but what they listened to on their own time was hip-hop. Now, two former high school classmates have found a way to blend the two genres in the breakout duo Black Violin. Wil B plays the viola; Kev Marcus plays the violin. They shared a music stand at Dillard High School of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - and they've been creating m...

  • Black Violin excites the Holland Center / Omaha World-Herald
    Posted At: November 19, 2016

    Black Violin brought their unique fusion of classical and hip-hop styles to the Holland Center for Performing Arts Friday night in a high-energy concert that had audience members dancing in the aisles. The two-member band consists of classically trained Wil Baptiste (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin). The pair has been mashing up highbrow tunes with danceable beats since they met in a Miami high school 20 y...

  • Black Violin with Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra play Strathmore / DC Metro Theater Arts review
    Posted At: November 14, 2016

    "This is a party!" said Wil B (Wilner Baptiste) one half of the group Black Violin, which performed a genre-mashing amalgam of hip hop and classical in an unforgettable concert last night at The Music Center at Strathmore. Black Violin consists of Kev Marcus (aka Kevin Sylvester) and Wil B (Wilner Baptiste), two string instrumentalists, classically trained, who met in a Miami high school 20 years ago. Th...
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