JANUARY 2026

Black Violin is an American hip hop duo from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, comprising of two classically trained string instrumentalists, Kevin Sylvester (violin) and Wilner Baptiste (viola), who go by the stage names Kev Marcus and Wil B. For two decades, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities along the way. This groundbreaking duo has captivated audiences around the globe, harmoniously merging the sophistication of classical melodies with the rhythmic pulse of hip-hop, often referred to as a “classical boom.”

Wil-B immigrated to the United States from the Bahamas with his family at the age of 11. He hoped to join the school band to play saxophone but accidentally was placed in the string program. He grew to love the viola and mastered it as well as the trumpet, drums and bass guitar.

Kev Marcus began playing violin at age 9, with the encouragement of his mother. He and Will-B met while attending the famed Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where they were trained in the classical tradition. During their class and practice time they developed firm classic techniques and in free time listened to hip hop and rhythm and blues.

Both Wil-B and Kev Marcus attended college on full music scholarships. Wil-B attended Florida State, and Kev Marcus went to Florida International University.

Black Violin was born when Marcus heard the music of violinist Stuff Smith, considered to be the first violinist to use electrical amplification techniques on a violin. His professor sat him down at a lesson and told him to listen. Marcus said Smith’s music was “unbelievable,” saying “classical violin with soul and fire. I loved it.” He passed the music on to Wil-B and together they decided to form a band, calling it Black Violin, named after Smith’s eponymous soulful solo album. Inspired by Smith’s music, the two realized that they could synthesize all the styles they loved: classical, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and even reggae and gypsy music.

Kev and Will-b have forged a powerful fusion of classical and Hip Hop music, creating an extraordinary opportunity to connect with young children. Among their achievements, Black Violin clinched the Showtime at the Apollo 2005 Legend title, performed on the same bill with some of the industry’s biggest artists and performed at the official President’s Inaugural Ball in 2013. They even scored an episode of CSI: New York, adapting the finale of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly for an on-screen murder. The two are also avid producers and writers, and have released several albums of original music.

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