MINNEAPOLIS — On April 5 and 6, 2024, Nur-D will partner with the Minnesota Orchestra for a pair of energetic debut concerts.
One of the fastest risers in hip-hop in the Midwest, Nur-D is known for his infectious energy, passion for engaging with audiences, and ability to cross genres and push stylistic boundaries. Nur-D has partnered with arranger Andy Thompson (Dessa, Taylor Swift, Céline Dion, jeremy messersmith) to adapt his music for symphonic orchestra, crafting a unique hip-hop-classical crossover.
The South African musical ensemble 29:11 International Exchange—who has regularly appeared in concerts with the Orchestra since 2019—will also join Nur-D in these concerts.
The program will take place at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, April 5, at 8 PM, and Saturday, April 6, at 8 PM, with ticket prices ranging from $33 to $99. Prior to both concerts, the Orchestra Hall lobby will host activities and food from vendors curated by Nur-D, including Banana Leaf Collective, The Legacy Building, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen and Modist Brewing.
Matt Allen, a Bronx, New York-born, Rosemount, Minnesota-raised artist known onstage as Nur-D, first began performing across his home state in 2018. Since then, he has performed alongside some of hip-hop’s biggest acts, including Wu-Tang Clan, Ludacris and Tyler, The Creator. His sophomore album “Songs About Stuff” was featured as one of the Star Tribune’s Best Albums of 2019.
Released in 2023, his latest album “Crush” is a celebration of body positivity and love, following previous projects that were influenced by the uprising in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder. Nur-D’s concerts with the Orchestra will incorporate works from throughout his expansive discography.
The Minnesota Orchestra’s partnership with Nur-D follows the organization’s previous collaborations with leading local artists who have shaped the Twin Cities’ music scene. Under the direction of Sarah Hicks, principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, the ensemble has collaboratively created programs with such guests as Chastity Brown, Cloud Cult, The New Standards and Dessa—with whom the Orchestra recorded and released a full-length, live-in-concert album titled “Sound the Bells.” The program with Nur-D reflects the Orchestra’s commitment to driving innovation in the orchestral field and highlighting the perspectives of artists making music in the Twin Cities today.
