Symphonic · Kennedy Center
2014
Pioneered the first Hip-Hop composition performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. Orchestral arranger and music director for Nas's Illmatic 20th anniversary at the Kennedy Center, conducted by Steven Reineke. Named by FENDER as one of the top moments in Hip Hop history.
This visionary premiere marked the first time a Hip-Hop composition was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra — a milestone that redefined the boundaries of orchestral programming in America. Hodge architected arrangements that translated the raw energy and lyrical complexity of Nas's seminal album into symphonic language, honoring both traditions and cementing his reputation as a genre-bridging visionary.
