Music

Black Violin Breaking Stereotypes One Note at a Time

WASHINGTON INFORMER — The classically trained viola/violin duo of Wil B. and Kev Marcus return to the DMV, inviting us to take a ride with them on a musical journey that will include a modern blend of classical, hip-hop, rock and R&B sounds. They’ll perform with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra at the Strathmore, April 9 and 10.

Published

6 years ago

April 7, 2019

D. Kevin McNeir Senior Editor

By D. Kevin McNeir

The classically trained viola/violin duo of Wil B. and Kev Marcus return to the DMV, inviting us to take a ride with them on a musical journey that will include a modern blend of classical, hip-hop, rock and R&B sounds. They’ll perform with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra at the Strathmore, April 9 and 10.

The celebrated musicians tour the world with over 200 shows a year, collaborating with such superstars as Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keys, P. Diddy, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin and The Eagles.

But with the duo connecting with and performing for over 100,000 students each year, it’s obvious that the Florida natives hold education outreach with youth as one of their primary and ongoing goals.

Kev Marcus spoke more about what’s new with Black Violin.

Washington Informer: As two Black men who play violin, I’m sure you and Wil B. have been teased and ribbed a lot. How do you address stereotypes that keep others from going after their dream?

Kev Marcus: We never really set ourselves up to defeat stereotypes. But we believe that when you’re told that you’re too young, or you’re a girl, things like that, we say run toward it — don’t run away from it.

Two Black dudes playing violin — that’s our stereotype that we’re fighting. There will always be other kinds of stereotypes that will need to be broken and we want to shed light on that. Sometimes, breaking those stereotypes is something worth going after because no one else has done so before. For us, Black and classically trained, we through the hip-hop element in too — not so much, however, that our classical roots come in question.

Washington Informer: In your visits to youth across the U.S., what changes are you seeing in arts education?

Kev Marcus: STEAM education in Montgomery County is on a far higher level than in many other parts of the nation. Arts are so important. But ironically, even at the schools where Wil and I received our formative training back in Florida, while they provide classical training, they no longer offer a violin program. They’re still performing arts schools and have band and choir but offer less in terms of classical music training. We just hope our work will help inspire youth — we want to do all we can to push artistic people. And it doesn’t have to be on the violin or even in music. We want youth to have alternatives — options other than mathematics, English or sports. It’s so important to give young people as many opportunities as possible to find themselves. Not everyone is a good reader, an A student. Some have other talents that don’t get enough encouragement. We’ve been involved with talent competitions and performances and have seen some amazingly talented young people.

Washington Informer: What’s on your wish list — your bucket list?

Kev Marcus: I would love to work with Stevie Wonder. The true bucket list guy. Also, we’ve never played Carnegie Hall — not yet … but one day! It’s funny, I was in a barber shop the other day talking to a woman and she asked me about being nervous when I perform. I don’t get nervous anymore. After we were invited to perform for President Obama’s inauguration, I felt like we’d been to the mountain top. Nothing else since then has compared. What an honor and an experience.

Washington Informer: With your feet in both the classical world and the hip-hop world, where have you been earnestly embraced?

Kev Marcus: When we came along, no one was doing what we wanted to do. We wanted to blend the genres without disrespecting either side. But no question, the biggest pushback comes from the classical side today. Some orchestras we play with, they’d put earplug in their ears. Some will say the pop stuff is beneath them. That’s unfortunate. But it hasn’t stopped us. But with the hip-hop world, they always give us much love. We try to prove them wrong but some things and some people never change.

Black Violin will release a yet untitled CD later this year — three of those songs will be performed during their shows next week. On Tuesday, April 2, the duo returned to the Apollo where they got their big break — winning three of their appearances during the 2004-2005 season and then returning to be crowned as the season winner.

For more about them, visit blackviolin.net.

This article originally appeared the Washington Informer.

D. Kevin McNeir Senior Editor

Posts by D. Kevin McNeir Senior Editor

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Activism

Andre Thierry Explores Zydeco Music at Marin City Library

Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry leads the musical program with an interactive, engaging experience that combines traditional and newly composed music.

Published

4 months ago

January 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Andre Thierry’s music program for kids. Courtesy photo.

By Godfrey Lee

The “Are You Ready to Learn” music program allows children, families, and adults, to explore the rich Kreole culture and Zydeco music of southwestern Louisiana.

Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry leads the musical program with an interactive, engaging experience that combines traditional and newly composed music.

The program, created by Thierry, showcases a mix of African and Native American Blues and French Kreole dance melodies with elements of Afro-Caribbean music.

Children and families sing and dance while learning about popular Zydeco instruments like vest rub boards, drums, and accordion.

For information on the program, go to https://www.andrethierry.com

The free program will take place on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m., at the Marin City Library, 164 Donahue St., in Marin City. For more information, call 415-332-6158.

Thierry will be performing again the Fairfax Library, 2097 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. For more information, call 415-453-8092.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Opinion: When Hip-Hop Sold Its Soul for a Stack

The hypocrisy is staggering. Black hip-hop artists celebrating the election of Donald Trump is baffling. In Trump’s very first hours in office, he signed executive orders that directly harmed Black and Brown communities, including his pardoning of leaders from extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers — organizations tied to White supremacist ideologies and violent white-power movements.

Published

5 months ago

January 2, 2025

Oakland Post

The hypocrisy is staggering. These Black hip-hop artists celebrating the election of Donald Trump is baffling. In Trump’s very first hours in office, he signed executive orders that directly harmed Black and Brown communities, including his pardoning of leaders from extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers -- organizations tied to White supremacist ideologies and violent white-power movements.

Jasmyne Cannick. File photo.

By Jasmyne Cannick

Once upon a time, hip-hop was the voice of the streets. It was a movement, a message, and a megaphone for Black empowerment and communal struggle. Born from block parties and sound systems in the Bronx, N.Y., it was raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically Black. It was a blueprint for survival. But somewhere along the way, the cipher got hijacked by the almighty dollar, and now we’re left wondering: when did hip-hop trade its soul for a stack?

They Caught the Vapors

Soulja Boy, Rick Ross, Nelly, and the Doggfather himself, Snoop. These are the same artists who once rode waves of Black creativity, who stood on the shoulders of a community that built them up, only to later moonwalk into Donald Trump’s inaugural events like it was a VIP lounge. And yes, Black people have every right to critique that.

The hypocrisy is staggering. These Black hip-hop artists celebrating the election of Donald Trump is baffling. In Trump’s very first hours in office, he signed executive orders that directly harmed Black and Brown communities, including his pardoning of leaders from extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers — organizations tied to white supremacist ideologies and violent white-power movements.

Snoop Dogg’s decision to perform at a Trump-related event directly contradicts his outspoken criticism of Trump in 2017. Back then, he was vocal about rejecting Trump and everything he stood for, positioning himself as someone who wouldn’t sell out for any price. Fast forward to now, and his involvement in a Trump celebration feels like a complete 180, leaving fans questioning his authenticity and commitment to principles he once preached.

That’s why we’re upset.

The Crossover

We’ve seen this coming for a while now. The slow but steady shift of hip-hop from a movement to a money-making machine has been happening for decades. It was only a matter of time before we hit this embarrassing moment.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Trump’s inauguration wasn’t some neutral gig. It was built on policies and rhetoric that harm Black and Brown communities. To stand on it as a Black artist, pocket the money, and then retreat to your mansion feels like the ultimate betrayal.

Rappers used to talk about surviving the struggle–now it’s all about thriving in excess. If it’s not sex or drugs, every other line brags about a Birkin bag, a private jet, or a stack of cash that’s apparently so heavy it’s a workout just to hold it.

The Message

Hip-hop is supposed to be bigger than flexing on the gram. It’s supposed to be about truth, resilience, and resistance. Those of us old enough to remember the history and evolution of hip-hop know this better than anyone. We remember when it was a lifeline, a mirror for the struggle, and a call to action, not just a showcase of wealth. But for younger generations, some of whom have only known hip-hop that is obsessed with money and status, it’s a different story.

So, yes, folks have every right to question when the moves don’t align with the culture. If we don’t hold hip hop accountable, who will?

About the Author

Jasmyne Cannick is based in Los Angeles and is an award-winning journalist and political commentator who writes to challenge, critique, and hold the culture accountable.

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Arts and Culture

Promise Marks Performs Songs of Etta James in One-Woman Show, “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley

“The (show) is a fictional story about a character named Etta, aka Lady Peaches,” said Marks. “She falls in love with Johnny Rhythm, leader of the Rhythm Players Band and headliners of Madam G’s Glitta Lounge.” Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

Published

5 months ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo Courtesy Of Promise Marks.

Special to the Post

It was “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Group Theater in Berkeley on Saturday night, Dec. 7. The one-woman musical based on the music of Etta James featured the multi-talented singer Promise Marks

Marks, who wrote and directed the musical, also owns PM Productions.

Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

In between her soulful songs, Marks narrated impactful moments of the love story and journey of blues and forgiveness.

Marks sultry voice carried the audience back to an era that echoed with the power of Black music and a time of great change.

Marks said James shared love for the Black community by singing at gatherings during the Civil Rights Movement uplifting the people.

“She spoke to the movement, spoke to the people, and let her music speak for itself,” Marks said.

Backing the musical’s monologues, images and videos of Etta James are projected for the audience to view. While the production is fictional, Marks infused script with the unfairness and heartbreak James experienced while performing.

Marks performed gospel artist Donnie McClurkin’s “We Fall Down” as she narrated acts of reconciliation and forgiveness among the characters at Johnny Rhythm’s deathbed.

Marks, who regularly sings for the Miss America Pageant, was asked to perform as Etta James last year. “(At the event) a lady yelled out to me: ‘You’re Etta James!’ And then the audience went crazy. I said to myself, ‘I may have something here,’” she said.

Within 12 months, Marks created the musical production, which featured a dozen songs honoring “the great legacy of Etta James,” she said.

Marks says she was saddened to see how Etta James was often judged by the struggles in her life and wanted to offer attendees a more layered view.

“Etta’s life was so big. I want people to know that she was more than her drug addiction,” said Marks. “We can’t make that her legacy. Her catalog is too amazing. You can’t just be that and have the catalog that she (created). I don’t want the addiction to be the focus: I want her music, her element, her sassiness, and what she brought to be the focus – her woman-ness, that she was strong, and I wanted to honor that.”

Set Designer Nora Burnette says she created the set segments to mirror James’ life story. A set designer for BRG since 2016, she explained that her process of researching the scenario and the character serve as her inspiration for her design.

“I try to design a set as close to real life as possible so that the actress can deliver the performance sincerely,” said Burnette. “By creating the right setting, it helps the actors release the true essence of a character.”

The set brought the story to life and absolutely floored Marks. “Once Promise (Marks) saw the actual set, she understood my vision: ‘Wow, you get me. You get it,'” Marks told the designer.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins, Etta James, began her career in 1954 and gained fame with hits such “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.” She faced a number of personal problems, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album “Seven Year Itch.”

Co-producer and BRG Development Director, Sean Vaughn Scott, works with Overseer Production. According to producer Pamela Spikes, “Marks talent truly does Etta’s life story justice.”

Pam Jacobs of Hercules, a friend of Marks’ mom, Jackie Smith, said, Marks “was fabulous and sang all of those songs flawlessly.”

“I’m so proud of my daughter,” said Smith.

Marks, who has served as an instructor for BRG, will return on Feb. 21- 23 for an encore run of the musical.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the BRG (Black Repertory Group) family and continue our executive director Dr. Mona Vaughn Scott’s vision for the Black Repertory Group theater,” said Marks.

The Black Repertory Group Theatre is located at 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703. For information, visit: BlackRepertoryGroup.com