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Know Your Rebels: Damien & Tourie Escobar
May 4, 2005
Age(s): 17 and 19, respectively Representing: New York City Why You Should Fear Them: They're classical violinists and they rock cornrow braids. Need I same more? In a quest to merge classical music and hip hop, the Escobar brothers have formed the breakout group, "Nuttin' But Stringz," also known as NBS. When most elementary school kids were staring at the television, Damien and Tourie began taking violin lessons. Raised in the inner city, they endured the taunting of friends and stuck with the violin in spite of its lack of popularity. Together, on weekends they studied at the Julliard School of Music as well as the Bloomingdale School of Music. As the brothers grew up, they found their love of hip hop didn't mesh well with their love of classical music. They sought to change that. The brothers began performing their music in the subway and in front of anyone who would listen. At first glance, the Escobar brothers appear like the average hip hoppers--hair braided, the bling, baggy jeans, and clean sneakers. But they wield a secret weapon that promises to upset the average traditionalist. While in the past, hip hop has often incorporated strings, there hasn't yet been a true crossover into the classical music genre. With their fusion of R&B, hip hop and jazz, the brothers wear head mikes and incorporate their own vocals into their performances. As it stands, the Escobar brothers have deferred any college plans so they can tour schools, do concerts and gear up for their album release. Their first album, "STRUGGLE FROM THE SUBWAY TO THE CHARTS," is set to be released this summer. Thus far, the brothers have been featured on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show," "The Tonight Show," "The Today Show," "The CBS Morning Show," VH1, BET and Nickelodeon. As the brothers often say at the end of their set, "Welcome to a new era." Man I love my generation. I am sooooooo coppin' this album. Website: Nuttin But Stringz Press: New York Daily News and Times-Ledger, New York Cool. Past Rebels: Roger Powell, Jr., Taylor Moore, Ben Shapiro, Erika Harold, Farrah Gray, Hans Zeiger, Adam Hunter, Dwight Howard, Sheri Valera, Princella Smith 
As a violinist myself I say "You go, guys!" BTW, Ambra, I really enjoy your "Know Your Rebels" features. I couldn't think of a worse style to mix with classical than hip-hop. (OK, I would not mix hip-hop with anything! Or have it all by it self!) Everybody knows that classical mixes best with heavy-metal. An amazing pair of brothers; I wish them well. Hope for a lost generation? Steven, you're gonna be left behind. You should go to their website and hear their music. It shows their entire performance on the Tonight Show. These guys are going all the way. In spite of my love/hate relationship with your blog...today I can admit to have been school'd...supafresh post! Stringed instruments ROCK. I play naive guitar and bass, which of course, developed from the violin/cello/double bass. The discipline it takes to do what these young ones is doing is nothing short of phenomenal. I dig the fact that they already have forged ahead with synthesizing new sounds. As a musician, it excites me. As the parent of a teenager, it makes me smile. Larry Graham once sang "Music is the only LOVE." In the sense that it is the one art that everyone can relate to on some level, that is true. I wish these young cats all the best. I'd like to see them hook up with Wynton Marsalis or Victor Wooten--talents that aren't afraid to try something new and would be willing to give them pointers without co-opting their unique (and obviously still developing) vox. I know Steve doesn't dig hip-hop, but it is a genre that is fluid enough to blend with any other and still retain its unique flavor. Acid Jazz=hip-hop+jazz. Trip Hop=hip-hop+psychedlica. There are quite a few Gospel hip-hop artists that keep it real. I have recently heard of a 20-something female bassist/rapper that goes by the handle MC Divinity. She actually raps WHILE playing the bass, which astounds me. These dudes aren't dissing anyone but those with closed minds. I will enjoy seeing their development. I'll be buying this CD twice--one for me and one for my son. Thanx for the 411 Ambra. Miri Ben-Ari did this first. She's an interesting lady as well. A bit older, but I guess she could claim that generation. Miri Ben-Ari did this first. Sort of. She does more collaborating than anything. I haven't totally seen her stand on her own. I know she's working on an album right now, but Nuttin But Stringz will probably beat her with their album release. Ambra, I just had to comment on this seeing that I am a classically trained professional clarinetist. I went to their site and listened to their whole performance. The sound quality wasn't that great but I could tell they had a lot of talent, confidence and charisma. All those things are needed to succeed and I wouldn't be surprised if they went far in creating something really popular and new. However, I don't feel it will be anything close to achieving transcendent artistic achievement, just something new and fresh. I do admire them for being assertive and innovative in combining two very different styles, but this is not new. I play in a community orchestra and we just performed with jazz violinist Randy Sabien who has been on the scene for a long time. Now that is a guy who has really created something new. He writes his own arrangements and has taught jazz violin at the Berklee College of Music. He goes around to high schools and teaches the students how to improvise. For these guys to make a dent in the music world they're going to have to be more than a one hit wonder. Best wishes to them. I love it when you do these rebel posts.
http://www.imaniwinds.com/ It's funny how every. single. time. I do these "Know Your Rebels" posts, people get into the crabpot mentality and have some ridiculous bone to pick....and yet we wonder why there's a gap between generations. Something to think about. Actually Meredith, I take issue with your comments. I don't think these guys have even seen the tip of the iceberg of what success lies in front of them. They're no one-hit wonders. They're only 17 & 19 and they've already been at it for a long time. They have mixed two very popular and transcendent music styles, one of which has been around for centuries, and another that will be around for many years to come. Your comments pretty much line up with the general philosophy that hip hop is on its way out the door. Unfortunately, that's just not so. Of course mixing of two very different music styles isn't innovative, but the way in which these brothers are doing it is. "However, I don't feel it will be anything close to achieving transcendent artistic achievement, just something new and fresh." And from what position, pray tell are you able to accurately make this prediction? I'm glad you feel this way, but sometimes emotion gets the best of us. The Escobars haven't even lived 25% of their lifetime and we're already making predictions on what they won't be able to do? Please...the devil is a liar.......I choose to speak life. Instead, how about we say, gee, I pray these guys DO achieve transcendent artistic achievement? But then again, maybe we don't want that.... OK, I gave then a listen - they can REALLY play them fiddles! Can't stand all that grunting and groaning that is hip-hop. It is interesting to here violin music with that beat though. I agree with Rafael. They should hook up with Victor Wooten (on bass) and "FutureMan" Wooten on percussion and they would have a great sound. I DARE you to tell me when FutureMan is playing real drums or his little electronic creation!
These guys are HOT. Bring them to perform in Philly! Thank you, Nykola. I'm older, and don't normally like much hip-hop, but I liked these guys enough to download a sample. You'll bring me into the modern music world yet. Whoa Ambra. I didn't realize my comments would rile you up so much. I do confess to not liking hip hop. It's just not me. I don't find it an uplifting musical genre at all. I'm sorry if I came across with an attitude of, "I hope they fail." I don't wish their demise, I do hope they succeed in making hip hop something better than what I have heard - a genre of music that usually lends itself to objectifying women and glorifying violence. I don't think hip hop is going out the door either, not by a long shot. I think what I meant is I don't know whether those who love hip hop will love them enough to allow them to change hip hop into a more positive and uplifting musical genre. Does that make sense? I didn't mean to cause a ruckus with you. Now I need to get back to my regularly scheduled day - homeschooling and training up my three little ones. Blessings. Now if this music can be frozen and lived or worked in, I wonder what type of architecture it would generate. Im glad they retain the grit and
Aw man, you missed your chance! { Comments are now closed for this entry. } |
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Rebels: Damien & Tourie Escobar
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I have so much respect for people who don't restrict their talent to "acceptable" circles.