[Elevator Ping] Opus 3 Artists goes back a 100 years and we are tied to the premier and most important classical concert agency probably in the world and certainly in North America.

I think what we look for most is a combination of virtuosity and a singular artistic voice.

We need to focus on developing new kinds of art but still maintaining this tradition of excellence and virtuosity that we have in our 100 year history.

From the invention of the radio, we've all been talking to each other, eating each other's food... we've been studying each other's languages.

And now, even just in America, we're retrenching back into tribes.

You have western classical music and hip hop.

Many people see them as the polar opposites of cultural expression.

What Hip Hop Orchestra Experience I think is doing is really creating new music.

It's creating something that audiences haven't experienced before, that they can feel equally welcome and discover each other and create a new audience.

This is a revolution.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You don't think I should retaliate, the situation Am I supposed to lay here like some girl on menstrua-sh?

Curled up in the ball like some type of mental patient Walking through life with a stench of hesitation I can't do that, I got a moral obligation I'm putting in work and they gonna feel my occupation I'm going to make sure they have a permanent vacation Is it hard to understand?

Well, let me free the complication... Have you ever been kidnapped and held for ransom Then beaten to the point to where you're no longer handsome Real strong twine has your body confined And your mind is exhausted From all of the hard hits to the skull As they pull you from the floor Thick blood drips from your mouth and nose And every time you cough your heart beats in off repetition Your reputation is in submission mode Your ventricle veins receive extreme pressure Now you're having migraines They strap a green letter to a pigeon With demands written in it You're hoping that your family will get it And come to your rescue but they don't stress you So, now you struggle for your life reaching for the light You gotta resist that you hearing them footsteps Here comes the violence again It goes silent and then The torture begins And this is why I sing the concerto Of a mad man I must get even!

This human being born from semen is now a demon I'm gleaming In a mansion full of passion with an axe in my hand And a few rubber bands spreading out my plans Studying my blueprints to bring the new gift to the world And when it unfurls the clouds will rain pearls My enemies receive a golden shower, I tower over humbleness I can't stop this rumble in my soul 80 staircases long is how deep it goes And until you've climbed those stairs And stared at the bear inside of you growling It's just bare inside of you now then Do you feel the madness jumping of the atlas When those you've trusted With your sadness do blasphemous acts behind your back With a secret attack it's time to react With a ceremony of repercussions I hear the drums Rifles and bayonets in my head making me sweat Come a little closer put your hands in my holster Feel my convulsions Touch my emotions It's deeper that the oceans in the tropics My personality has adopted a tinge that could fill a syringe With the venom within me Not even a kidney donor could filter the poison There is no abortion!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I know you're out there I'm not alone here I know a beautiful place where we can break fear And we don't have to go far Because it's so near open up your mind And don't look behind And you will truly find it, boy, it's sublime When you see the light shining on the horizon There's a mountain we can climb here the snow is exciting And you can finally master the key of enlightenment ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops] Tonight's event is really exciting.

This is one of our very first events in the brand new Calvin Simmons Theater completely new and renovated.

And it is the Hip Hop Orchestra Experience.

So this is a classical orchestra backing a rapper, several rappers.

And so what you're seeing is this kind of new oppor.. to experience different forms of music together and really looking at what is the future of classical music and how do these things combine?

I think that's the opportunity that we have here in the Calvin Simmons and across the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts is, y'know, bringing in new ideas, understanding what's happening in the arts landscape.

So we are just so excited to have this going on this evening.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I ascend like wind I'm cooler than ice water, when it's necessary I gets hotter than fire I'm harder than the solid earth My mind is the universe I'll never suffer death And I won't experience birth, nah Immortal living in many dimensions right now Spirit is breath and happiness is what it's worth So fight now because it's your God-given right, child 'Ta know the truth Seek it when you reach it Don't keep it as a secret gotta share it Make it a TV show and air it The struggles what I bare and I don't compare Anybody to anybody 'cuz everybody is a part of the same body Most just don't know it I'm telling it 'cuz I'm a shamanic poet It's too deep and my lyrics show it The seed that the wicked plants I never grow it I know the truth and everybody knows it The universe Is just one mind The universe Is just one mind The universe Is just one mind And ain't no such thing as space nor time Life's so deep, you sow what you reap Reap what you sow eventually pay what you owe Regardless of what your karma is Time to stack merit towards spiritual elevation This is the proclamation to heal the nation Whatever your relation Let's unite, it's time for unity I've studied life studiously And know it's time for you and me to come together Be one forever Find the sun to treasure Pleasure is measured within the life I live by how I give Unselfishly The wealth me is healthy set if free an.. Give a care with every feeling you could care with Dare to gift the little bit you came in here with For the ancestors and future generations If you are in the position to give back Now's the time to do it Right now [Audience Applauds] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops] When you come to an EMN show, you're going to hear something very unique in the fact that we're sampling elements of each other.

So you're not gonna hear that anywhere.

And in both genres, you're dealing with the best of the best.

You're dealing with some of the most experienced people when it comes to putting together classical music and some of the most skilled and rooted MCs when it comes to the hip hop culture.

So, you're gonna hear something very authentic that represents all music, that represents good music, that defies any genres or limitations.

And yeah, you're gonna hear something brand new and fresh.

♪ ♪ Eh, yo!

Check.

Cuantas veces hablamos pero cuantas ayudamos Según un buen amigo llega y te dice aquí estamos Cuando lo necesitas de su lealtad dudamos Pues nunca se aparece lo predije Nostradamus Cualquier morro dispara un arma No le enseñaron que existe un karma No hay momento pa guardar calma El no se salva ni con alarma Todos tenemos cola que pisen De frente que onda a espaldas maldicen Aquí solo somos aprendices Mi vida en tonos varos matices Hey al parecer Yo no digo nada solo los dejo ser El mundo repleto de pura mentira y cabezas hueca yo de lejos En corto puedo oler Se va a prender Hay que aprender Que si eres muy debil cual mas te .. Hagan lo que quieran estoy en la acera lo hago A mi manera se muy bien lo que yo tengo que hacer Nadie es un angel todos tenemos errores Siempre los cometemos intentando ser mejores Lujos y excesos que nos hacen ser peores El dia que me muera de que serviran las flores En crisis fumando mas verde que dos pinches hippies Antes se la daban neros ahora se sienten bien pickies Cuidado si entra a mi cuadra los mios mas ratas que mickies Aquí lo hacemos picante pa que le de una gastritis Tirado por algun parque en un distrito te tabogo Fumandome algun corroto por nosotros y mis modos La carne ya no escasea maldita sea de ninos bobos No sabiamos que ser felices era tenerlo todo Tengo una mala fama porque el drama jamas se me habia dado Si tengo buena vida es por cada herida Que tengo vivida en el pasado Trafico rap de mexico al dorado Dejar esto nunca lo habia pensado Como un ranchero cuido a mi ganado Estas en mi contra o estas en mi lado Aquí no hay pierde Si llora que se acuerde Mi corazon mas frio que el mismo frio de Diciembre Haciendo lo que quiero los años nunca se sienten Unas chelas con el parche escuchando las de chente What's going on 'n on 'n on?

What!

What's going on 'n on 'n on?

What's up Oakland!

What's going on 'n on 'n on?

No me asusta salir a buscarla cuando la vida no ajusta Pero no me quejo porque a mi nada me frusta Sembrando semillas para que crezca una fruta Decian que no podia porque tenia mala conducta Siempre severo Abran paso que les alborot el gallinero Claro mil veces personas antes de ser raperos Noches en pena queriando salir Buscando el camino en este sendero Dias grises dias nublados al final el sol nos brilla Si hace frio mi fe calienta hasta el metal de una parrilla Vine a hacer revolucion con letras a lo pancho villa Siempre estoy listo pa comentarios sarcásticos Soy malo con mis enemys piensan que estoy satanico Ni malo ni fantastico pero si algo lunatico Cada que tomo el micro pa las chicas soy simpatico Me desenvuelvo en la escena para llenar la alacena Gracias a letras tan buenas mi cartera esta llena Hablan hacia mis espeldas quieren buscar su quincena Pajaros en el alabre que se acerquen sin pena Estoy es calibre grueso asi es como expreso Ahora estan conmigo los que estaban cuando no hubo pesos Cuando salgo a la calle le doy a mis hijas beso Porque solo dios sabe si talvez no regreso [Orchestra Music Stops & Audience Applauds] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops] It takes the virtuosity of these two very different styles of music and doesn't blend them together, necessarily, but allows them each to stand on their own.

And I can't think of any other type of music that does this and with quite the dexterity that the Hip Hop Orchestra Experience does.

From a hip hop standpoint, people who are generally coming here maybe as a, with a hip hop background, it kind of blows their mind.

It can be triggering for some people because it may feel like, hey, those who don't look like me are doing my music.

But I think that that's unfair.

I think that art is beautiful and all people should be able to do all things artistically.

So for some folks hip hop is a part of their personhood growing up, y'know, I listened to this kind of music, I dressed this kind of way and now this is a different version of that that doesn't represent the way I grew up listening to it.

That could be the challenge and that can be the trigger for a lot of people.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I woke up today, I'm blessed, I'm worriless I'm stress free the hate don't bother me Positivity is the only thing that I see I'm blind to the negative On the news you see murders and shootings it's repetitive I lost my cousin then my granny it was consecutive I'm all about my business you can call me an executive I'm very wise you can see it in my eyes Many people losing faith but I'm not surprised You have to be like the sun and rise When you find happiness all the negative dies I been through a lot but I ain't make no excuses I got the bruises to prove it Yo' mind you can't lose it, especi.. Up in the storm Look Let's come together and form Look, I've been through a lot but I ain't make no excuses I got the bruises to prove it yo' mind you can't lose it Especially, yeah, up in the storm Yeah, let's come together and form Mind over matter, sit back and watch 'em scatter I'm reaching for the stars I climbed up the ladder My mind so clear like the water in my bladder They want to copy my style they really like my swagger Life is a journey don't stress about what's after I believe in you even through the tears and laughter Less being pessimistic and more optimistic It ain't Christmas this month but I'm still gifted I rose above the concrete I'm thankful that I lifted The pandemic took a toll on the world then it shifted I've been through a lot but I ain't make no excuses I got the bruises to prove it yo' mind you can't lose it Especially Up in the storm Let's come together and form I've been through a lot but I ain't make no excuses I got the bruises to prove it yo' mind you can't lose it Especially Up in the storm Let's come together and form ♪ ♪ You have to burn off all that negative emotions.

Y'know, life ain't perfect, neither are we.

It's okay, life, life gonna be life.

But you stay strong.

It's gonna be okay.

We gonna be a'right.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops] When we don't know what we're listening to either stylistically or through language, it makes us uncomfortable.

Music is often seen as entertainment and we don't expect to be uncomfortable when we're being entertained.

Because it's neither this nor that I think it, it takes people off guard and because of that there's more openness to the music and I think that it, it goes straight to the heart.

Oh, classical music, and oh hip hop, y'know, like oh, oh... And the way that it's blended it completely destroys those kind of divisions that are completely artificial.

And for me that is really one of the main things that this ensemble does that mix people together and breaks all those artificial things that divide us.

♪ ♪ Take a little time for yourself Have an open mind and be kind to your health Embrace what's been dealt don't camouflage what's felt Eventually the misery won't be worth mentioning Precision with your energy reinforces the mission we Set out envisioning, babies are born glistening As I grow older I struggle to keep it shimmery When I fall off my game I just hustle from muscle memory Infinite agility I have an affinity The fire burning within me gently needs rekindling now and then Despite all the suffering The world got us stuck up in I keep a piece of me in tranquility To fight the anxiety given by the society Through violence and rioting I'm protected I'm unaffected!

When you know what focusing is moving a boulder is bliss The global warming can get hotter and hotter but still I have adapted a skill to keep my attitude chill And let my aptitude build 'til it enhances the magic That helps us censor the tragic moments Givin' my life a bonus when tragedy creeps up on us I'm living within a fortress At night I can't hear no voices but quiet enough to focus I'm hearing the sounds of oceans And like trees we sway in the breeze all day But the darkness offers a different energy I can sink and breathe within the tranquility I have the serenity giving me an inner peace That I carry in my sleep giving me tremendous dreams!

Then I'm waking up in the morning, phone is blowing up before I'm yawning Scroll until y'know all of the issues Who is doing what with all the missiles?

Check the tally score... How many rights left?

No one really.. or the in between...

Claiming they righteous normally the street playi..

Reality has now become a nightmare Casualties of war standing right there I don't pay attention to tension 'Cus I'm in a place where I'm ascending!

Why is there equipment built to destroy all the living?

And war is the invention to solve opposing opinions Compassion is a distant indifference to those with billions Why does it correlate to be rich is to be an idiot I'm not getting it It's getting a little ridiculous the systematic oppression It's engineered so meticulously...

But I'm still able to breathe and leave it behind me Because I'm not afraid of the day when I am dying ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops] I think what people are feeling now, majority of people are feeling anger, desperation and fear and uncertainty because of the economic situation.

So it really creates more and more conflict and more tension in the society.

I think that that is worldwide with the rise of the, all of these extremist political parties and extremist views is representative of this new fear that the world seems to be having about the risk of sharing is becoming too great and that maybe we need to go back to the way things used to be when we didn't share, which never existed.

But I think that finding ways through what the Hip Hop Orchestra Experience is doing - through trying to create new concert experiences, but demonstrating that not only is it not scary, but reminding society that sharing the experiential is profoundly moving and far more fulfilling than just celebrating what you already know.

♪ ♪ Hey!

Yo!

Check.

Estoy tratando de ser mejor Compito contra mi a prueba y error Las circunstancias me hicieron mejor La musica me dio otra opcion What's up, Oakland?

Put your hands up!

Put your hands up!

Que quieres que te diga yo no soy un ejemplo Pero como vez la musica tambien es mi templo' No me voy a rendir aqui morire en el intento De conseguir todo lo que quiero hasta el momento Todo va muy lento El rap fue como botella de agua en el desierto Por eso ando activo y a todo estoy atento Ando fumando lento loco pero contento Una por mis homies dos por los que ya no estan Tres porque ya no me importa lo que hablen y el que diran Grande a lo Jimi Hendrix gorila como Ben Davis Tengo mas recorrido si solo hablaran mis tennis Hey!

Traemos cual carretera Cuidate que los buites buscan carrona alla fuera Siempre un pirata siempre raper a lo fino Que me entierren cantando como lo decia chalino Traemos mas lineas blancas que carretera Cuidate que los buites buscan carroña afuera Siempre un pirata siempre loco Hey, hey, ya, what!

♪ ♪ Siempre un pirata como logo en los Raiders Estilo al caminar de lado como lowrider Put your hands up manos al aire Traemos rap metal put your hands up!

♪ ♪ Traemos rap metal cual Iron Maiden Estilo al caminar de lado como un lowrider Put your hands up manos al aire Traemos rap metal cual... Sobre aviso no hay engaño yo no sigo al rebaño Lo que no te comos no tiene porque hacerte daño Mi cuerpo esta mas rayado que una pared de baño En modo bandalismo cubro mi cara con paño Siempre un pirata como logo en los Raiders Estilo al caminar de lao como un lowrider Put your hands up manos al aire Traemos rap pesado metal cual Iron maiden Traemos rap pesado metal cual Iron maiden Put your hands up manos al aire Siempre un pirata como logo en los Raiders Estilo al caminar de lao como un lowrider Estilo al caminar de lao como un lowrider Traemos rap pesado metal cual Iron Maiden ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops & Audience Applauds] Without tolerance and acceptance we will not have a common vision of beauty.

I have to be willing to accept what you find beautiful.

So we have to be willing to look at ourselves and, and accept the opinions and the ideas of others.

I think that the vision of the people is unified globally.

And I think that the real question is, will the true story ever be allowed to be told when the media is so controlled and contrived to produce the desired outcome.

It's more like a catalyst that will help them think about bigger things.

So, and apply it to everything.

I mean I know I do now even more when I look at my daughter and everything that she does and it makes me rethink the way that I live my whole life.

And so if there are things like that, that can trigger you to think differently and to maybe begin again or have a different way of thinking to, to guide you, I think beauty probably could save the world.

I mean we should get some t-shirts or bumper stickers or something, right?

♪ ♪ Invade Conveyed Invade Conveyed I wanna be great I will be great Invade Conveyed I'm taking what's mine I read between the lines yo' daughter fine She want me Standing my ground can't let a man .. All in your house I can tell you're salty Hydrate... 'bout to take off just like a rocket Everyday you go to war just coming outside Put your seatbelt on and get ready to ride Because it's real Things happen on the regular be concealed But its consequences when it's revealed Traumatized from my cousin but I healed No matter what you go through You got bills That's life in California I just wanna warn ya If you don't know They throwin' up for grabs I'm kickin' down the door I will prosper I'm not the average Joe!

♪ ♪ Dream chasing wanna million in my bank account Had old dreams I was young and they faded out I wanted to play football I stood tall I failed in that aspect I'm past that Gave them a warning like hazmat Told 'em then I would achieve they didn't believe I knew I would grow before I plant the seed I will conquer We will conquer Whatever you do put full effort in it Yes, you might fail but, oh well Life about challenges life about risk Instead of breaking down we should uplift I love music but its been challenging I've been balancing I've been battling I fought through situations with my family I let it brew Thought they had my back but it wasn't true But there's consequences I knew the truth Because of elevation and dedication High expectation High expectation Look, I'm reaching for the stars Even teachers get taught I will conquer We will conquer Invade Conveyed Invade Conveyed I wanna be great We will be great Invade Convey ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops & Audience Applauds] Hit me up Listen, if you ain't a real person That's a bad thing In da streets they get sick boy ain..

They say dat love real but what does dat mean?

I'm not beefing on no internet so please don't @ me Hell yeah I'm a gift but you can't wrap me If you ain't a standup dude please don't dap me Always had big dreams since a kid wit acne She wild like a lion she try'n ta attack me Too many said they were solid but they wasn't You might not feel my pain but they killed my cousin It get crazy but this is what made me I went to juvenile hall it really saved me Best believe I had to wise up Ya doing all that faking I see ya got yo' lies up Please mind yo business don't worry what's in my cup To win is the goal I'm gonna slide like an ice puck Best believe dat Young Reshaud.

[Applause] Eh, yo, yo, yo, what's up, what's up?

Eh!

Realidad supera al ego bro soy un antiheroe Aprendimos en la acera ya que no toco un pesebre Por muy duro que te veas tambien tienes punto de quiebre Has ganado batallas no la guerra no celebre Caminando hacia la luz aunque la noche me reclama La vecina al poli llama ni comex tiene mi gama Soy un loco extrovertido que analiza el panaroma Siempre un paso por delante otro mundo kaiosama Aquí soltamos mas hits que en cualquier jeugo de beis Los niños fumando frio porque no tienen North Face Los malandros de mi cuadra siempre tapan su face Ellos te borran la cara no tienen fotos ni face What's up Oakland!

Thank you.

[Applause] Now there's a couple of pieces That have been chipped off my statue But I'm still stoic and lethal I'm adamant to be classic Made from power for pain and pleasure so vividly tr..

The sensories will remember history and the magic Fire clings to my structure my roots are deep in the desert At the core of the desert I'm deserting all my influences I'm doing this better Sick of the influenza Tell that girl ta get off my credenza Respect my house when you enter This is a shrine of wine and dine and act refined Violins for music candles for lights Real hitters in the crib please be polite We doin' things formally Bon Appétit Mon Ami!

Gimme currency then you can take part of me It's an urgency The resurgence of Kirby D in the ga.. 'cuz I'm in the streets Amongst the connoisseurs of substance I'm a functional art piece An audio Henri Matisse A vocabulary Keith Herring offspring Within the studio I gross so immensely, yeah!

[Applause] Properdopolis, I'm holding down the obelisk Rocking in the metropolis Mik Nawooj chicken waffles The way that we go together Is fresher than fresh picked vegetables All of these grooves are edible All of my rhymes dissectible This blapper is acceptable Beyond merely respectable never could be forgettable I'm an extraterrestrial Blessings to you Celestial lessons off my pedestal Pedal is to the metal Burn rubber on tracks and flex on fools Yeah!

♪ ♪ [Applause] [Orchestra Music Stops] Oakland, how y'all feeling?

[Audience Applauds] I think it's worth reminding very loudly what this country was created for and what it means in the eyes of the world and why people wanna come here.

Rediscovering our values of being an innovative inclusionary society has just gotten lost in this tribal warfare of incredibly rigid and inflexible culture has sort of devolved into.

So how do we solve it?

I don't think we know that right now.

And I'm not saying that what we are doing will solve these issues.

But I do know that what we are doing will generate prototype of new way of doing things, which we desperately need right now.

Because if you're trying the same things and then expecting a different result, that's the definition of insanity.

So I feel like it is crucial that we try something new.

♪ ♪ Homie I be out here standing 10 toes down Feeling like the hardest working man on my side of town Gotta make them dividends can't be with yo' pockets flat Gotta hold your family down better stay on top of that Gotta a son that stays oceans away That I don't see that much Think about him as I'm clutching almost every buck I touch 'Bout to be a teenager those those influential years Gotta help him stay on course He needs his pops to help him steer I done came to a point in life where I can see clear Knowledge gained by lessons learned Accumulated through the years Yo, I got a lot of wisdom started getting gray hairs But I'm also at the point in life where I don't even care Ladies still love me all the same like I was Cool James But I don't got time ta be out on the prowl or poppin' game Gotta make them dollars can't be 40 with my pockets lame Right now it's money on my brain I don't really got the time It takes to get ta know you better Sorry I'm so flighty I just really gotta stack my cheddar I was doing bad had to pull myself up out the mud Had it all then lost it all and just started recouping funds Pushing used books rocking Postmates and Uber Also rocking Lyft I stayed working but they called me..

Looked at me like I was done Everyone thought that I was through Oh, now I'm a bum because I work a normal job like you?

Guess they use to looking up to me as the money man But when things switch as they often can do Know one understands Folks that always was jealous of me re..

I never let it get to me 'cuz I knew again I'd rise If I could do it once I could do it all over again Got inside myself and hustled Stopped hanging with so-called friends Now I'm making ends Everybody's smiling in my face They hit me up to try to kick it But I ain't got time to waste If it ain't about some progress I ain't got the time If it ain't about this movement homie I ain't got the time ♪ ♪ Currently, I'm thinking about my currency The current of the sea be floating money straight to me Financially, I got a lot of energy I'm giving back, that's why the cash was sent to me Currently, I'm thinking about my currency The current of the sea be floating money straight to me Financially, I got a lot of energy I'm giving back, that's why the cash was sent to me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Currently, I'm thinking about my currency The current of the sea be floating money straight to me Financially, I got a lot of energy I'm giving back, that's why the cash was sent to me I only got time to lace tracks when I'm making money Stacking big bags my monopoly is mine solely Making boss moves on a level Don Corleone I been so blessed, pockets bustn' out the seams they holey Get my cheese pie and avoid all of the pepperoni Having money so old it's starting to smell moldy Swear I studied origami, all the paper that I'm folding We be high rollin' Ain't a thing of mine stolen chains golden, ice fro.. And y'know I'm always holdin' What you lookin' fo'?

I always cookin' bro I stay stocked I got a sto' And I could get you all these jugs on the low ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Currently, I'm thinking about my currency The current of the sea be floating money straight to me Financially, I got a lot of energy I'm giving back, that's why the cash was sent to me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [Orchestra Music Stops] [Audience Applauds] Thank you.

My name is JooWan Kim.

I'm the artistic director and composer of Hip Hop Orchestra Experience.

It's Hip Hop Orchestra and it's an Experience!

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Henry J Kaiser.

Thank you, Terri.

Thank you, James.

Thank you, EJ.

Thank you.

♪ ♪ We are a Hip Hop Orchestra and it's an Experience!