Hip-hop meets the orchestra! Jéan P the MC to perform with Canton Symphony
CANTON − Jéan P the MC felt a sense of wonder the first time he saw the sheet music for his collaboration with members of the Canton Symphony Orchestra.
"They showed me the music I made in my apartment," he said of his rap and hip-hop songs. "From that moment, I thought I arrived. I felt when I held it, this is it, and it's not something everyone can say. These are my songs in different notes."
Jéan P the MC, whose name is Jéan Pierre Johnson, will perform the tracks on Thursday with four members of the Canton Symphony Orchestra at The Auricle Venue + Bar in downtown Canton.
The 7:30 p.m. concert is part of the orchestra's Divergent Sound Series, which meshes instrumentalists with local and regional musical artists in the pop, rock, folk, jazz, alternative music and hip-hop genres.
"I never thought I'd do a show like this," said Jéan P, a 2008 McKinley High School graduate. "It's mind-blowing; I've done some big things, but I never thought it'd be this."
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Tickets cost $20 presale at https://cantonsymphony.org/, and $25 at the door. Tickets also can be purchased at the symphony box office at 330-452-2094 and boxoffice@cantonsymphony.org.
The Auricle, 201 Cleveland Ave. NW, holds up to 150 people and features a full bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. Parking is available in the venue's lot, as well as at the Eric Snow Family YMCA, 420 Third St. NW.
Here are six things you need to know about Thursday night's concert.
1. Jéan P the MC isn't even sure what to expect
"I don't know what to expect from myself," Jéan P said with a smile and laugh. "My fan base isn't familiar with something like this from me. I've seen a lot of major artists collaborate with orchestras."
Examples include the Wu-Tang Clan's performance with the Colorado Symphony and the rapper Common's concerts with the Oregon Symphony and Houston Symphony.
"So for me to have that experience is awesome," he said.
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Divergent Sounds concerts formerly took place at Foundation Hall at the Zimmermann Symphony Center at McKinley High School.
Nathan Maslyk, director of marketing and development at the Canton Symphony, said The Auricle is equipped with quality sound equipment and a stage.
"The ambience is ideal there for what we envisioned for Divergent Sounds," he said.
2. Jéan P selected four orchestra instrumentalists
"I picked the harp, the violin, trumpet and cello," he said. "I chose a harp because it just sounds good. A violin has emotion; a trumpet is triumphant, and a cello is a great instrument."
3. Jéan P is nervous about the orchestra show
"It keeps me on my toes," he said of the Divergent Sounds concert.
During his mail delivery job, the 33-year-old rapper has been listening to his set list of songs when possible in preparation for Thursday.
"I just make sure I know my words," said Jéan P, who released his first full studio album in 2017. "I want to make sure I'm on point."
This show comes in the wake of his December concert with the University of Mount Union choir.
"That made me excited for the symphony show," said Jéan P, who also hosts the podcast, "Say What You Mean w/ Jéan P the MC. "That was special because it was Mount Union, and it was a campus that never really had a hip-hop artist perform there."
4. Jéan P will tone down some of his lyrics
Canton Symphony Orchestra said the concert may contain mature themes and language. Parental discretion is advised if children attend the show.
"My manger is really big on structure and really big on me being professional," Jéan P said. "So I do plan on toning it down. This may be a show where I censor myself when it comes to certain words because I want to be professional."
5. Fifteen songs will be performed
Tracks will include "Hometown Hero," "Ode to Canton," "Calling Me," "Playa Pimp," "Say What You Mean" and "330 Kids," as well as songs from his 2023 album "Jéan, Not John," including "Sound Blessed."
"I combined the classics and the songs that really tell the story of who I am," Jéan P said.
"I picked the songs with my manager," he said. "I imagined what instruments would sound good with my songs. I trust the orchestra to do what they do with my music."
6. Hip-hop and classical music will collide
Asked why people should attend Thursday's show, Jéan P perked up.
"I want people to see worlds collide," he said of fusing hip-hop and classical music. "I like the fact that it's on the last day of Black History Month.
"I just want to show people this is something that can be done," Jéan P added. "That's what this show means to me is − that anything is possible."
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com.
On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_ balint
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jéan P the MC and Canton Symphony Orchestra team up for concert
