In Portland, cello players lay down a hip-hop beat

LOS ANGELES, May 2: The people of Portland, Oregon enjoy a reputation for living somewhat outside the mainstream, so it should come as no surprise that a group of the city’s cello players is using its classical instruments to lay down hip-hop beats. What rappers such as Kanye West and Jay-Z do with syncopated rhymes and rhythms, the Portland Cello Project bangs out with strings and bows. And they don’t stop there. Pop tunes from Britney Spears’ “Toxic” to Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around” also bring cheer to their fans. (agencies)