A genre-defying performance blending hip-hop, classical music and dance is set to reach UK audiences this month, as The Hip Hop Orchestra Experience premieres exclusively on Marquee TV from 20 April.
The film, Method Sampling, documents a live concert alongside behind-the-scenes interviews, offering insight into a creative process the group describes as “running hip-hop through the logic of a symphony”.
Described as “groundbreaking” by NPR, the production brings together a 28-piece ensemble featuring rappers, a lyric soprano, a turf dancer and a full chamber orchestra.
From Oakland streets to orchestral stage
At the heart of the performance is dancer Yung Phil, known for his work in turf — a street dance style that emerged in Oakland, California. He previously performed alongside Kendrick Lamar during a Super Bowl halftime show tribute to the genre.
In Method Sampling, Yung Phil performs with an orchestra for the first time. “A lot of people think about Oakland as being negative but I’m here to show them we can do something that’s positive,” he said. “Turf dancing was a way for young people to escape that and show where they come from.”
Having started out filming himself dancing on trains, he is now widely regarded as one of the leading figures in the style.
Reimagining hip-hop through classical music
The project is led by Korean-born composer and pianist JooWan Kim, who co-directs the film with Josh Nesmith.
Kim’s approach combines classical composition techniques with hip-hop performance, creating a hybrid form that has already attracted international attention. The ensemble previously sold out a 10-day run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022.
The production also features MC Unity Lewis, who has worked with artists including Snoop Dogg and George Clinton.
Filmed at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in California, the documentary captures both the scale of the performance and the philosophy behind it.
Expanding audiences for the arts
The UK release highlights the growing role of niche streaming platforms in bringing international arts content to wider audiences. Marquee TV, described by the Financial Times as the “Netflix for the arts”, specialises in curating performances across music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Cecilia Beacon, the platform’s Vice President of Content and Marketing, said the film reflects its commitment to showcasing diverse voices: “Genre-bending collaborations like the Hip-Hop Orchestra Experience are at the heart of what we offer audiences around the world, defying expectations of what prestige arts can be, and who it reaches.”
The Hip Hop Orchestra Experience is available to stream exclusively in the UK on Marquee TV from 20 April 2026. www.marquee.tv
