Hip-Hop Wired » the roots

Big K.R.I.T. Performs "I Got This" On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon [VIDEO]

Alvin aqua Blanco — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:22:20 +0000

Last night, Big K.R.I.T. brought his travelling soulful southern Hip-Hop road show to Late Night Jimmy Fallon. The Mississipi rapper performing "I Got This," the lead single from his upcoming official debut, Live From The Underground.

Watch the Roots crew ably recreate the vigor of K.R.I.T.'s production for the Def Jam rapper to get busy to live, below (spotted at Rap-Up). Live From The Underground is due in stores June 5th.

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Photo: NBC

?uestlove, Black Thought & Yasiin Bey Featured Artists For 2012 NYC Blue Note Jazz Festival

D.L. Chandler — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:45:16 +0000

Celebrated Hip-Hop veterans ?uestlove and Black Thought of The Roots and the rapper formerly known as Mos Def, Yasiin Bey, will all bolster the second annual NYC Blue Note Jazz Festival lineup beginning on June 10. The three-week festival will feature an abundance of notable artists spanning generations and genres throughout separate venues in the city.

“After an extraordinarily successful first year, the Blue Note Jazz Festival will return from June 10 – 30, 2012 with over fifty shows throughout New York City,” read a statement found on the festival's website. “The 2012 Festival will feature numerous high-profile international and local acts such as McCoy Tyner, Bela Fleck, Soulive, Buika, Kathleen Battle, Groove Theory, Stanley Clarke & George Duke, Michel Camilo, Cassandra Wilson, ?questlove, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Scott, Black Thought & Rahzel with Strings and many more.”

Black Thought will be performing alongside beatboxing wizard Rahzel under the name Riq and Rah for free on June 17 at the Central Park Summerstage at 6 p.m. Joining the pair on the same stage will be R&B mainstays Groove Theory and funk/jazz band Soulive. Yasiin Bey is slated to take the stage at the legendary Apollo Theater a week later on June 29 at 9 p.m. Former Roots collaborators The JazzyFatNastees and famed jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson are also part of the Blue Note line up.

For more information, click here.

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Photo: Mr. Mass

The Roots To Headline Philly Fourth Of July Jam

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:44:11 +0000

The summer is shaping up to be very busy for The Roots. Aside from holding down their post as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and throwing their annual picnic, the legendary hip-hop collective will headline the Philly Fourth of July Jam.

Billed as the largest free concert in the country, Black Thought, ?uestlove and crew will perform their own set, as well as hit the stage with special guests, Queen Latifah, Common, Daryl Hall, and Joe Jonas. “We are very excited to be back again as the headlining band for the Philly Fourth of July Jam,” said ?uestlove in a statement. He will also serve as music director for the concert. “It is an amazing event and we are proud to be an integral part of the show You can expect an Independence Day celebration full of music right on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway-Philly is the place to be for the 4^th of July.”

2012 marks the second year in a row that the four-time Grammy winners have been asked to perform at the concert. Last year's show, which was attended by more than 500,000 people, featured appearances from Earth Wind and Fire, Boyz II Men, Estelle, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and more.

Now in its 20th year, the Fourth of July Jam will starts at noon on Independence day.

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Photo: BET

President Obama, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots Slow Jam The News [VIDEO]

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:20:15 +0000

President Barack Obama turned his swag up in this hilarious clip from last night's episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. The Commander-In-Chief took the stage last night to participate in one of the shows most hilarious running sketches, "Slow Jamming The News", with The Roots. Check it out after the jump.

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Photo: NBC

Beastie Boys Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Tribute ft. Kid Rock, The Roots & More [VIDEO]

Alvin aqua Blanco — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:46:25 +0000

The Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this past weekend. Chuck D held the honor of inducting the rap trio into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

"It broke the mold," said Chuck D. "The Beastie Boys are indeed three bad brothers who made history. They brought a whole new look to rap and hip-hop. They proved that rap could come from any street -- not just a few."

Mike 'Mike D' Diamond and Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz were on hand but Adam "MCA" Yauch, who has been battling cancer, was unable to attend. Due to MCA's absence, plans for the Beastie Boys to perform were scrapped but nevertheless Kid Rock, Travie McCoy and the Roots performed a tribute set.

The ceremony will air May 5th on HBO, but for now how here is footage of Kid Rock and company's performance below.

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Photo: Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

Dave Chappelle Joins Twitter (No, For Real This Time)

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:45:49 +0000

Although the magical blue verified check hasn't appeared yet, very reliable sources are confirming that legendary comedian, Dave Chappelle has joined twitter. His twitter handle, @ChappelleDavidK, was chosen due to the large amount of false accounts that have taken his desired name of plain old @DaveChappelle. After several people like Aziz Ansari, Talib Kweli, Neal Brennan and Questlove all confirmed that this is indeed the real Dave Chappelle, he took a twitpic of himself on a motorcycle "in deep thought." Twitter has to be a big step for the notoriously reclusive comedian, who fell back from fame after walking out on a $50,000,000 deal for a third season of his famed skit series, Chappelle's Show in 2005. The famed series included cameos and performances from the late Rick James, The Roots, Black Star, De La Soul, DMX and more.

We could imagine it would be too much to ask for a return to the hilarious show, but this is a start.

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Photo: Twitter

Kid Cudi, De La Soul, And Wale Headline The Roots Picnic Lineup

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:03:42 +0000

The 5th Annual Roots picnic is going down June 2nd and 3rd this summer. The legendary Roots crew will warm up the summertime at the Festival Pier at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia with Kid Cudi, Wale, De La Soul, Major Lazer, Diplo, Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire and more. Peep the full lineup after the jump and hit up Ticketmaster to get your tickets before they are gone.

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Photo: AP/Charles Sykes

Russell Simmons, Deepak Chopra Hosting Fundraiser For President Obama, The Roots Performing

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:00:55 +0000

With the 2012 presidential election gaining steam, Russell Simmons and Deepak Chopra decided to throw a little more support behind President Barack Obama's re-election campaign. Known for their fondness for Obama, philanthropy, and meditation, Simmons and Chopra are hosting a star-studded dinner at the ABC Kitchen tonight (March 1).

But all that positive energy in the room doesn't come cheap. Guests will shell out up to $35,800 per ticket for the soiree which will feature a performance by the Roots. The night's attendees are set to include Aziz Ansari, Jimmy Fallon, Ingrid Michaelson, and DJ Cassidy—who has been tapped to helm the ones and twos.

Ticket prices start at $1,000 which basically only gets guests in the door. For those with deeper pockets, dropping over $30,000 for the event comes with a photo-op with the President, which is perfect since they're not allowed to bring cameras.

This trip to the Big Apple is shaping up to be very profitable for President Obama. In just one day, he is expected to raise $4 million for his campaign, by attending a total of four events. Aside from the dinner at the ABC Kitchen, Obama is scheduled for a private reception at the home of Clinton supporters, Sarah and Victor Kovner. He will end the night at a dessert reception hosted by former President and COO of News Corp., Peter Chernin.
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Photo: Twitter

The Roots and Elle Varner Pay Tribute To Whitney Houston [Video]

The Kid Skoob — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:40:01 +0000

During a Grammy pre-show concert, The Roots teamed up with Elle Varner for a tribute to legendary singer Whitney Houston. In celebration of the fallen singer's life, Varner performed Houston's hit "Saving All My Love For You."

Jennifer Hudson officially handled the tribute to Whitney Houston during Sunday's Grammy ceremony, with a rendition of "I'll Always Love You."

?uestlove Spins Tribute Mix To J Dilla On Hot 97 [Download]

The Kid Skoob — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:55:47 +0000

?uestlove was Hot 97's Friday guest DJ and in honor of fallen producer J. Dilla, the Roots drummer spun some of the late producer's greatest hits. The outpour of love for Dilla has been admirable from all facets of Hip-Hop. He's been celebrated in his hometown of Detroit, praised by his mother, had mixtapes released in his honor, and had his legacy discussed; all as his birthday has come and gone this week.

Listen as ?uestlove pays his respects to one of Hip-Hop's greatest producers of all time.

Download Here