Hipster Orchestra Plays Classical Hip Hop With an 808 [VIDEO]

 By 
Zachary Sniderman
 on 
Hipster Orchestra Plays Classical Hip Hop With an 808 [VIDEO]

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The Hipster Orchestra was covering popular songs with classical instruments before it was cool. At least that's what this band of classically trained hipsters would have you believe.

In this video, the Hipster Orchestra, a collective of musicians who cover pop songs such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Seven Nation Army" using violins and cellos, tackle the world of hip hop. The medley above has clips from Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, 2pac and more all played with classical instruments. To get that old-school vibe, the band also picked up an 808-style drum pad. (The "808" was one of the first programmable drum machines that became a mainstay of early hip hop and R&B. It's sound is still widely used, like in Kanye's album, "808s and Heartbreak.")

The Hipster Orchestra was created by Jingle Punks on a bit of a lark. Jingle Punks is a music-licensing company who has provided songs for channels such as Comedy Central and The Voice. The Orchestra was a fun side project for the Jingle Punks team but quickly picked up steam on its own right. The Hipster Orchestra has appeared on Late Night with Carson Daly, it has been featured on Vulture and Stereogum and has put out two albums of covers.

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