[Cover photo credit to Rachel Bennett]
Grammy-nominated Classical-meets-Hip-Hop duo Black Violin has released their new single and video “Smoke.” Produced by Phil Beaudreau (Dr. Dre, Justin Bieber, The Game, Lalah Hathaway), the song is the second single released from their upcoming album, Full Circle, set for release later this Spring.
Black Violin’s Kev Marcus shares:
Nothing has ever been recorded like this song. There is no song in the history of songs that’s a viola solo like that. I watch a lot of Beat Bobby Flay, and the chefs are like, ‘This is me on a plate’—this is Wil on a track. It’s what the viola has always wanted, since the days of Bach, to be able to shine in a melodic, super-soulful way, and no one else in the world could make that song but us.
Black Violin members Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus met on the first day of orchestra class in 1996 at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Classically trained by day, they faithfully put on their headphones and listened to Rap records each night. Eventually, they moved into together and started Producing for other musicians before delving into their own ability to create.
Black Violin’s work extends far beyond the stage, reaching into communities nationwide with numerous free performances for students and hands-on engagement with youth symphonies and community centers. Through collaborations with local and national education programs such as Turnaround Arts, they connect with more than 100,000 students throughout the year, including low-income and Title 1 schools, and adopted Bethune Elementary, in Florida’s Broward County (near where they grew up) to initiate an ongoing mentorship program.
In 2019, the duo launched the Black Violin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by working with them in their communities to provide access to quality music programs that encourage creativity and innovation.
Black Violin – Full Circle Tour – 2025
03.29: Salina, KS – The Stiefel Theatre
03.30: Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place*
04.01: Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
04.02: St. Louis, MO – The Sheldon*
04.04: Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre*
04.05: Menomonie, WI – Mabel Tainter Theater
04.08: Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
04.09: Collingswood, NJ – Scottish Rite Auditorium
04.10: Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
04.11: Washington DC – Warner Theatre
04.12: New London, CT – Garde Arts Center
04.13: Lexington, MA – Cary Hall
04.25: Madison, WI – Overture Center
04.26: Carmel, IN – The Palladium
04.27: Glen Elyn, IL – McAninch Arts Center
04.30: East Lansing, MI – Wharton Center
05.01: Lexington, KY – Lexington Opera House
05.02: Paducah, KY – The Carson Center
05.03: Fort Smith, AR – TempleLive Fort Smith
05.04: Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
05.06: Lawrence, KS – Lied Center of Kansas
05.08: Toledo, OH – Valentine Theatre
05.09: Bay Harbor, MI – Bay Harbor Arts Center
05.10: Flint, MI – Capitol Theatre
*with support from Abraham Alexander
