When you think of an orchestra, the first instrument you probably think of is the violin. After all, it’s the most prominent string instrument. However, one group is using the violin to play something very different: hip hop.

On Feb. 20, Black Violin performed at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The American duo, originally from Florida, consists of two string instrumentalists, a DJ, and a drummer.

Wilner Baptiste, who goes by the stage name Wil B, originally wanted to play saxophone but was “accidentally” put into viola classes (the band and orchestra teachers actually had a bet to see who would get him in their class). Kevin Sylvester, who goes by the stage name Kev Marcus, started learning violin when he got into trouble, and his mother decided she needed to “get him into something”. Despite being introduced to their respective instruments against their will, the two stuck with it and eventually met in high school orchestra, joining up after college to create the group Black Violin.

Black Violin plays a variety of music and relies heavily on classical music, but they’re usually classified as a hip hop group because of the changes to the rhythm and beats. They’ve released three albums (Black Violin, Classically Trained, and Stereotypes), as well as two mixtapes.

The group has performed and worked with famed artists like Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, and more. They were also invited to play at the Kids Inaugural Concert, an event dedicated to military families and attended by the Obama family and former Second Lady Jill Biden.

However, Black Violin isn’t just about what they play: it’s also about what they do. They’re notorious for shaking things up at their performances. Sometimes they’ll make up songs on the spot or interact with the crowd. Sometimes Wil B will serenade his viola, which he has named “Tiffany”, saying that she “pays his bills” and that he “falls in love with her every night,” before he launches into his cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”.

The entire concert is jam-packed with crowd pleasers like their hit “Virtuoso” and covers of pop songs like “Blurred Lines” and “Uptown Funk”. However, the highlight of the concert is generally considered to be their cover of “Brandenburg Concerto” by Johann Sebastian Bach. They start out relatively calm, with low volume and energy, before blooming into a cloud of hip-hop beats and classical strings.

The group also inspires future generations to pursue their dreams in music. Many of their audience members are young children who want to play a stringed instrument as a career. During breaks in the concert, the musicians encourage their young fans to break stereotypes and perform “in a way that no one has ever done.”

Sadly, the group has no upcoming concerts in the area. However, you can, and should definitely check out some of their songs on YouTube.