In the video of rapper 2 Chainz’s song “Deadz,” is “an element that fans rarely see in rap videos: a maestro dramatically instructing an orchestra—an all-black orchestra,” writes Jewel Wicker in Sunday’s (3/19) Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Orchestra Noir says their participation is a way to reach young African-Americans, an audience who may not routinely frequent orchestra concert halls. Orchestra Noir is an all-black orchestra founded by Atlanta resident Jason Ikeem Rodgers less than a year ago. He’s the impeccably dressed maestro in the ‘Deadz’ video by Migos, a popular Atlanta-based hip-hop group…. ‘In orchestral music, sometimes we forget the heritage that goes into it. We forget that you can play R&B [and] hip-hop with an orchestra,’ Rodgers said…. The orchestra [launched] with 25 musicians last March.… A 44-piece orchestra will perform in concert alongside producer, songwriter, and Atlanta native Bryan-Michael Cox on March 31. Cox, who has nine Grammys for co-producing albums such as Usher’s ‘Confessions’ and Mariah Carey’s ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ said … the orchestra approached him with the idea to collaborate on the show ‘A Night at the Opera.’ ‘I think it’s going to be mind-blowing and powerful,’ he said.”
Posted March 21, 2017
Pictured: Jason Ikeem Rodgers, founder of Atlanta’s Orchestra Noir
