Entertainment Studies | Candlelight Concert: 90's Hip Hop On Strings
The concert was on June 6, 2026 at the Great Aunt Stella Center right outside of Center City Charlotte.
By Kia O. Moore
Keynotes:
Picking the right songs for the setlist is crucial.
Provide a setlist of songs to the audience before the concert.
Talk through the setlist as the concert happens.
Create ambiance through lighting and other set pieces.
Allow the audience to produce social media content throughout the event.
The cello can handle the bass and mids of a piece.
Two violins is better than one, especially when one is playing the vocals and the other is playing back up music.
The Candlelight Concert: 90’s Hip Hop On Strings was a highly anticipated event for me. This would be a chance to see classically trained musicians that may not be as steeped in Hip Hop culture presenting the music I love. It would show me if classically trained musicians could bring that “it factor” to Hip Hop played from music sheets.
While taking in the show, I learned several things that can be applied to Hip Hop Orchestrated.
The Setlist
For this concert, much like a DJ, getting the setlist right is essential. Charlotte Strings, the string quartet putting on the concert, put out a general outline of the songs for the show. The songs selected were all good. They spanned a range of Hip Hop styles from the 90’s. Knowing what songs to expect made me more excited for the concert because I wanted to know what they would sound like on strings.
The setlist shared just gave an idea of the songs to expect, not the exact songs they would play. I think sharing an exact setlist would be better so audiences can determine if the show would be a good fit for them. Or, if you hint at the setlist during the marketing and promotion timeframe, during the show provide a flyer or playbill with the exact setlist. I say this because during the concert there were some songs I could not figure out what was being played and a setlist would have helped me.
Something that Charlotte Strings did well was talk us through the setlist as they played. They introduced two or three songs at a time that were grouped by artists or Hip Hop subgenres. This made me decide that I would have a host introduce each song or maybe two songs so the crowd is not left guessing what they are listening to.
Creating Ambiance
The most obvious takeaway from the evening was that it is important to create ambiance for the audience. For this concert lighting created the ambiance. Using the warm glow of only candlelight made for an intimate feel. This factor of the show made me realize I want to create ambience with lighting effects, projectors, and set props.
Audience Engagement
One drawback of the show was that pictures and videos were not allowed until one particular set of songs were played at the end. It was done so people would actually watch the show with their eyes and ears and not through their phone, but nowadays that is the way people engage. This restriction keeps the online engagement low and takes away an audience from actively interacting with the content being shared on stage.
The Magic of the Cello
One thing that really captured my attention sonically was the cello. It could handle both the bass and mids of the songs. You don’t necessarily need a bass if you have a cello. It may not sound as deep, but it can give you enough bass to satisfy the sound the song needs.
Two Violins
Another sonic stand out was the use of two violins. Having one violin handle lead vocals and the other playing back up music is ideal. It really brings the song to life when you can hear the vocals played and can sing along in your mind or under your breath (this was not a concert where you sang along out loud). The back up violin adds the high tones to the song. Having at least two violins seems essential for a good string section.
There were a lot of great takeaways from this concert. I had a great time with my family enjoying the Hip Hop I grew up listening to. With each song, I took mental notes about what I want to apply to Hip Hop Orchestrated. I have a lot of ideas to work with.
