BLACK VIOLIN - Full Circle Tour

When the Grammy-nominated classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin set out to record their sixth album Full Circle, they were searching for a new direction, a fresh approach. They found that the answer was right in front of them.

“We took the whole band into the studio and we created together, which is something we hadn’t really done,” says violist/vocalist Wil Baptiste. “It was definitely more collaborative, which was great, because a lot of times on stage, we’re doing soundcheck and just goofing around, freestyling, coming up with really dope stuff. These guys [DJ SPS, drummer/percussionist Nat Stokes, and keyboardist/programmer Liston Gregory] are amazing musicians—we’re blessed to have them, and they helped bring this vision to its highest heights.”

Black Violin has always been about taking things further, exceeding expectations, challenging conventions. The duo has steadily built a devoted following and a diverse touring base— culminating in such triumphs as two sold-out shows at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, and appearances on the Today Show, CBS Mornings, and PBS Newshour—while occupying a musical lane that’s entirely its own.

“People are so proud of it,” says Marcus. “They want to attach themselves, they want to bring people to see it. And I never looked at it as they’re coming to see me, I never thought of it like that. They come to see this energy, this thing we’ve created. I feel like we just sit back and steer the ship, but we’re building something that will live far beyond us.”