By Tavon N. Thomasson
AFRO Intern
One of hip-hop’s most celebrated artists brought his lyrical genius to Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on July 23, joining the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for an unforgettable performance that captivated fans both old and new.
Performing his iconic album “Illmatic” with full orchestral backing, hip-hop legend Nas made history as the first internationally renowned rapper to share the stage with the orchestra in its 109-year existence. The concert sold out in just 48 hours, a testament to the excitement surrounding this bold fusion of hip-hop and classical music.
“I’ve never seen it like this before,” said Jackie Mislyan, a volunteer usher with BSO for 20 years. “When I pulled up outside and there were these long lines of patrons waiting to come in—I’ve never seen anything like that. I’m sure it’s happened before, but I’ve personally encountered it.”
The concert drew a wave of first-time attendees and returning guests who hadn’t been to a BSO performance in years. Among those experiencing the BSO for the first time was La’toya Gaskill, a Baltimore resident of 11 years. Although she played in an orchestra as a child, she had never attended a performance at the Meyerhoff, until Nas provided the perfect reason to attend.
Stories like Gaskill’s echoed throughout the packed pre-concert party held in the hall lobby, where guests shared why this night felt different, and why it wasn’t just another concert but a cultural moment they didn’t want to miss.
“This collaboration is epic–it’s actually historical,” said Robert Callaway, an attendee. “Nas is like one of the rappers of his time. You can’t get any better than that… So, being that I live close to Baltimore, I wasn’t going to miss it.”
As the pre-concert festivities wrapped up, guests took their seats for the main event, an orchestral reimagining of “Illmatic.” The crowd was engaged from the very first note, singing along and applauding tracks like “The World Is Yours” and “N.Y. State of Mind.” Even as the night ended and the hall began to clear, the mood remained electric, with many attendees still talking about the performance long after the final note.
“The combination of the orchestra with Nas was just immaculate,” said Sundiata Osagie, a concertgoer leaving the show. ”It was so phenomenal… . We could hear the lyrics , the violins, the bass, the trumpets, every section. All of it came together to infuse hip-hop with the orchestra and birthed a whole new baby.”
Gaskill, the first-time symphony patron and former orchestral member, said she’s glad she took the chance on this performance.
“It was way better than I expected it to be,” she said. “I knew it was going to be fantastic with the live orchestra, but it just immersed you into the music, the storytelling. It was just marvelous.”
The impact of the evening wasn’t lost on the crowd. Even longtime BSO patrons noticed a more diverse crowd, something the orchestra is actively working toward under its new conductor.
“The new conductor, Jonathan , has definitely been trying to appeal to a wider audience,” said Mislyan. “They’ve been doing a lot of community concerts and I think that’s gone over really well. They’re doing them in West Baltimore and elsewhere in the city. So hopefully it’s generating some interest from people that want to come in and see what the looks like.”
Great Job Tavon Thomasson & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
