Pierce Freelon and The Beast Present

Roots to Rap: A Musical Conversation

The hip-hop and jazz quartet The Beast

Led by Pierce Freelon, the hip-hop and jazz quartet The Beast will weave a story of African American music into an informance (information-performance) at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh on Friday, Jan. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets to the program Roots to Rap: A Musical Conversation cost $15 at the door.

Performing original songs, as well as standards from the spiritual, jazz and hip-hop canon, The Beast will introduce the audience to a revolutionary new style of music, while paying homage to the musicians who came before them. The Durham-based group has been described as one of the most imaginative bands to emerge from North Carolina’s music scene. It fearlessly navigates the worlds of hip-hop and jazz with compelling lyrics and progressive compositions. 

Freelon, founder of Blackademics.org and of The Beast, is an adjunct professor at N.C. Central University and UNC-Chapel Hill. He has performed alongside such jazz greats as his mother, six-time Grammy Awards® nominee jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon; Herbie Hancock; Patti Austin; and Robert Glasper. Freelon has toured internationally in Ghana, India and Vietnam. The program Roots to Rap takes place the evening before the 11th Annual African American Cultural Celebration at the Museum of History. This free festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature more than 75 presenters — musicians, storytellers, dancers, playwrights, re-enactors and more — and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to North Carolina.

Poet and spoken word artist Shirlette Ammons

Michelle Lanier,  Acting Director, N.C. African American Heritage Commission, will be the evening’s host. Poet and spoken word artist, Shirlette Ammons will open the event.

7:00-Welcome and introduction to the NC African American Music Trail Project
7:05-Opening songs by Shirlette Ammons
7:20-Roots to Rap Program
8:20-Audience Q&A
8:30-Performance by The Beast

Roots to Rap Postcard