A&E Press Release: Hip-Hop Artist Signs w/Classical Label

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For immediate release:

B-Boy Meets Beethoven

Thee Phantom an MC/Producer from Philadelphia who specializes in combining Hip-Hop with live orchestration by recording and performing with classically trained musicians is signing with Newport Classic. Primarily a Classical Music label, Newport’s CEO Larry Kraman former Vice President of Sony Classics, has been on the cutting edge of the music business for the last 20 years recently producing several genre-crossing remix records for Koch. “Thee Phantom has taken classical music to a new level. Connecting the dots between Hip-Hop and Classical is no mean feat, and he does it with class, brashness, humor and an innate musical sense that simply knocks me out. It’s an honor to work with him”, says Kraman.

A product of Hip-Hop’s “Golden Age”, Phantom has been writing rhymes since the age of 8 and made his first beat by blending the Beastie Boys “Paul Revere” with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on his brothers’ stereo in ’87. In 2002, Thee Phantom became the first Hip-Hop artist to perform at Philadelphia’s prestigious Kimmel Center with musical accompaniment by members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. He followed that up in 2003 performing with a DJ, a string quartet, a concert pianist, an all female Hip-Hop dance company and a sitar player in front of a standing room only crowd at the Kimmel Center’s Summer Solstice Celebration. Also in 2003-2004, his independent single entitled, “Storming the Bastille”, received airplay on over 300 college and independent stations in the U.S. “Storming” subsequently reached the airwaves in Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Africa, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Sweden and France.

Phantom is currently in the studio finishing his album with the help of some of Philadelphia’s best classically trained musicians, session musicians and MC’s to boot. “It’s an exciting time for me. Finally my life’s work will come to fruition.” says Phantom. “Recording with the musicians is allowing me to take the original samples I have and expand on them. I have even co-composed a few pieces from the ground up with the help of Gloria Justen.” Slated to be released in February of 2006, Phantom’s “Hero Complex”, will seek to blend Old School with Ye Olde School without missing a beat. He even has an audio movie worked into the album, linking one song to the next with characters, sound effects and scored scenes. The release will culminate in a trip to Houston for Thee Phantom and an opportunity to perform with a 40+, piece ensemble named Orchestra X. A few of Phantom’s earlier works can be found on www.myspace.com/theephantom. His personal website www.theephantom.com is currently being remodeled.

{If you are interested in writing a story on Thee Phantom and/or review the album, feel free to contact me at this e-mail address. If your newspaper is online, please provide us with a link and we will post a link to it on Thee Phantom’s site. We are really attempting to get this to the college audience as Thee Phantom is in the midst of scheduling a spring college tour, starting in March at the U. of Texas, where he will be performing with classically trained musicians that attend these institutions. His next single, “Kiss My @$$”, will also be shipped out to college and independent radio stations later this month. We can also forward additional press info, pics and MP3’s if you desire. Even a short blurb with a weblink would be greatly appreciated.}

Magnum Opus Music www.theephantom.com www.myspace.com/theephantom http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Phantom_Hip-Hop_Group/