The Virginia Beach Journal

When was the last time you witnessed strings, horns, woodwinds & a pianist at a Hip-Hop concert?

Add to that a Fierce soul songstress, a party rocking DJ & a fire-breathing MC & that is still but a fraction of what you’ll get when you catch Thee Phantom & the Illharmonic Orchestra in action.

Fronted by husband & wife duo, Phantom & Phoenix, The Illharmonic combines the raw energy & passion of Hip-Hop with the beautiful sounds of live orchestral accompaniment. Phantom wrote his first rhyme at the age of 8 & made his first beat by mixing the instrumental from the Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere” with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at age 13.

In 2001, the ensemble became the first Hip-Hop group to perform at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center where they were accompanied by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra & Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. In 2015, The Illharmonic became only the third Hip-Hop group to headline their own event at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. The Illharmonic has since Sold Out the Kennedy Center, performed with 40 and 50 piece ensembles and toured the United States and Japan.