Blending orchestral works in the style of Igor Stravinsky with rap inspired by matriarchal, Afro-diasporic folklore, chamber music group W4RP Trio and rapper/DJ LiKWUiD have announced their upcoming collaboration, Sermon of the MatriarK.

With the reveal of their new LP comes the release of a video for the album’s lead track, “Sermon of the MatriarK Part i: Prelude” - check out the new video here:

Sermon of the MatriarK is a conceptual collaboration that, as stated by W4RP Trio, intends to “honor the strength and resilience of women across the Black diaspora.” The album’s label, Phenotypic Recordings, has stated that all sales proceeds of the LP will be donated to non-profit organizations advocating for black women and girls. Further statements from their website express hope that listeners connect with the themes and figures that inspired their work – songs celebrating the Black diaspora’s history and resilience, expressed through a unique blend of classical, gospel, jazz, and hip hop production. 

W4RP Trio is an internationally-touring chamber music group that explores a variety of musical styles through their live shows. Their work in combining classical, rock, and jazz performances often addresses social issues both on and off stage; the group holds educational workshops at universities around the world, and frequently collaborates with pop, jazz, and hip hop artists. All of this lead up to their latest work with DJ LikWUiD, who has provided the voice and lyrics to Sermon of the MatriarK’s bombastic, Stravinsky-esque compositions. 

DJ LiKWUiD’s music blends house, hip hop, and afrobeats into her signature “traphrobeat” style - inspirations that help represent her Gullah ancestry, southern upbringing, and influences from Harlem’s cultural scene. She is a Cultural Ambassador to the United states and a voting member of the Recording Academy. A full biography of her extensive work within the music and activist communities can be found on her website, along with advocacy resources for those interested in the messages shared throughout her work.  

In a press release, W4RP Trio went into further detail about the inspiration behind Sermon of the MatriarK, and expressed their gratitude for LiKWUiD’s indispensable partnership in crafting the album:

"Sermon of the MatriarK began as an exploration of folkloric material from the African diaspora with powerful female protagonists. As we sought to understand these characters, we became increasingly aware of their real-life counterparts—the heroines who shape our daily lives. We connected the dots from the legendary African warrior princess Yennenga to Black freedom fighters Harriet Tubman and Assata Shakur, all the way to our mothers, aunties, sisters, and friends fighting to protect and uplift themselves, their families, and their communities.

Try as we might, instrumental music alone can only go so far in communicating the details of these stories. We are thus forever indebted to a longtime friend of the band, the amazing lyricist and human Faybeo’n Mickens (LiKWUiD), for taking our rough concepts and lyrically running a marathon with them. By helping us articulate these complex ideas, LiKWUiD helped us create a project that evokes the deep roots of matriarchal Afro-diasporic folklore and celebrates women’s rise and empowerment. We hope this album will instill in the listener a sense of these powerful figures’ legacies and honor the strength and resilience of women across the Black diaspora."

A special release show for the album will take place at Brooklyn Art Haus in Williamsburg on Thursday, January 9, 2025 - tickets and event details can be found here. W4RP Trio has also announced further dates for upcoming live shows, including multi-day residencies in various cities across the US. Tour events can be found through their website, with dates down below:

W4RP TRIO LIVE DATES, 2024-2025

Nov. 8 - The (In)Door Series with The Chesapeake Orchestra - St. Mary's City, MD
Nov. 12 - Short North Stage presented by The Johnstone Foundation - Columbus, OH
Dec 8 - Gather NYC at The Museum of Arts & Design - New York, NY
Jan 9 - Album Release Show with LiKWUiD @ Brooklyn Art Haus - Brooklyn, NY
Jan 25 - Moab Music Festival Winterlude Residency - Moab, UT
Jan 31 - Moab Music Festival Winterlude Residency - Moab, UT
Feb 1 - Copeka - Grand Junction, CO
Feb 3-5 - Wyoming Symphony Education Residency - Caspar, WY
Feb 6-7 - Improvise Arts Residency - Rapid City, SD
March 10 - Long Island University - Brookville, NY
March 12 - ​​Fessenden School - Boston, MA
May 12-17 - Geneva Music Festival - Geneva, NY

Sermon of the MatriarK comes out on January 9, 2025 via Phenotypic Recordings and can be pre-ordered now through their website.