Jonathan Taylor Rush Conductor
Chill Moody Rapper
In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, The Philadelphia Orchestra and West Philadelphia rapper Chill Moody will perform Black Metropolis by composer Darin Atwater. This one-of-a-kind composition explores the pillars of hip-hop and Black culture through an architecture of sound. In addition to the great Philadelphia Orchestra, this evening will also feature rappers, DJs, dancers, choirs, and visual artists. Join us for this free concert debuting at the TD Pavilion at the Mann on July 19!
Black Metropolis is a multi-layered piece exploring classical music, hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and visual art. At its core, it is a celebration of hip-hop as a unifying force through a lens of respect and hope. With each movement representing a color and a corresponding message, Black Metropolis is a symphonic masterpiece of sound, sight, and thought.
Atwater has pulled inspiration for Black Metropolis from his piece Paint Factory. The original Paint Factory first premiered in 2007 with Atwater’s Soulful Symphony, a 75-member orchestra predominantly featuring people of color. While many of the themes will remain the same in this newly adapted iteration, Black Metropolis is an entirely new work in partnership with Mann Artist-in-Residence Chill Moody.