The Rapsody, a German musical group, formed in 1997 by German producers Dieter, Klaus and Achim Volker, also known as the Volker Brothers. The band's breakthrough came with their debut album Overture: Hip Hop Meets Classic, released on January 9, 1998, by Mercury Records and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. This concept album blended hip hop and classical music, featuring collaborations between American rappers and European opera singers. One of the standout tracks from this album was "Prince Igor", a duet between Warren G and Norwegian soprano singer Sissel that reached Number 1 across Europe in 1998. The song featured Sissel singing an aria from Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor during the chorus, while Warren G provided the rap verses. Another notable track was Xzibit's "E Lucean Le Stelle", which sampled Giacomo Puccini's E Lucevan Le Stelle. Following the release of Overture: Hip Hop Meets Classic, The Rapsody released a second album titled Hip Hop Meets World on March 14, 2000. Despite their brief career, The Rapsody left a lasting impact on the music industry, paving the way for future collaborations between hip hop artists and classical musicians.
