Biography
Known for blending classical traditions with hip-hop in unexpected ways, New York violinist Ezinma cultivated listeners during the second half of the 2010s through distinctive violin renditions of popular trap tracks. The online traction of those clips, above all Future's "Mask Off," opened doors beyond classical circles such as a slot on Beyoncé's tour and joint projects alongside Stevie Wonder and Kendrick Lamar. Often called "Classical Bae," she championed access to classical training for minority youth and entered the recording arena in 2020 via her inaugural original composition, "Beethoven Pleads the Fifth."
Meredith Ezinma Ramsay entered the world in Lincoln, Nebraska, to a Guyanese father and German-American mother; as a mixed-race child in the largely white Midwest she frequently sensed isolation. She took up the violin early, channeled her energy into disciplined practice, secured multiple competitive scholarships, and trained overseas. Although she first enrolled in a pre-med program at University of Nebraska, lessons with Chiara String Quartet violist Hyeyung Yoon redirected her toward music full-time; a 2012 scholarship then brought her to the New School in New York. There she advanced through classical venues including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center while simultaneously exploring jazz, performing with assorted ensembles, and incorporating hip-hop and R&B textures.
Mid-decade she began uploading violin adaptations of major hip-hop and trap releases. Tracks such as Lil Pump's "Gucci Gang" and especially Future's "Mask Off" spread rapidly online; in 2016 she received an invitation to Beyoncé's all-female ensemble. That affiliation encompassed the Formation World Tour, the Lemonade project, and the celebrated Homecoming set at Coachella. She contributed string parts to multiple Mac Miller recordings and, over ensuing years, appeared with A$AP Ferg, Stevie Wonder, Yo-Yo Ma, and additional artists. Parallel work in film yielded scores for the 2017 documentary The Times of Bill and the 2019 short Promise Me.
Known as Classical Bae, Ezinma inked a deal with Decca Records and shifted emphasis to her own material. The resulting debut single, "Beethoven Pleads the Fifth," surfaced in 2020 as an offbeat, rhythm-centered reinterpretation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Meredith Ezinma Ramsay entered the world in Lincoln, Nebraska, to a Guyanese father and German-American mother; as a mixed-race child in the largely white Midwest she frequently sensed isolation. She took up the violin early, channeled her energy into disciplined practice, secured multiple competitive scholarships, and trained overseas. Although she first enrolled in a pre-med program at University of Nebraska, lessons with Chiara String Quartet violist Hyeyung Yoon redirected her toward music full-time; a 2012 scholarship then brought her to the New School in New York. There she advanced through classical venues including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center while simultaneously exploring jazz, performing with assorted ensembles, and incorporating hip-hop and R&B textures.
Mid-decade she began uploading violin adaptations of major hip-hop and trap releases. Tracks such as Lil Pump's "Gucci Gang" and especially Future's "Mask Off" spread rapidly online; in 2016 she received an invitation to Beyoncé's all-female ensemble. That affiliation encompassed the Formation World Tour, the Lemonade project, and the celebrated Homecoming set at Coachella. She contributed string parts to multiple Mac Miller recordings and, over ensuing years, appeared with A$AP Ferg, Stevie Wonder, Yo-Yo Ma, and additional artists. Parallel work in film yielded scores for the 2017 documentary The Times of Bill and the 2019 short Promise Me.
Known as Classical Bae, Ezinma inked a deal with Decca Records and shifted emphasis to her own material. The resulting debut single, "Beethoven Pleads the Fifth," surfaced in 2020 as an offbeat, rhythm-centered reinterpretation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Albums
Singles
