Common & The Roots Join Forces To Break The Cycle Of Ills Facing Black America (Video)

Earlier this month, Common was a surprise guest at The Roots Picnic New York. There, the Things Fall Apart, Rising Down, and Wake Up! featured MC performed his single “Black America Again” with The Roots crew in the misty rain for all of Bryant Park to hear. Last night (October 27), Comm’ Sense appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to do it again.

This time, Questlove and the band play a more minimal beat than the single/video version. Common spits his verse—one of 2016’s most evocative, and one of the biggest in a nearly 25 year career. Throughout the performance, Common is filmed going around in circles, a metaphor for the cycle of ills he depicts in the song as plaguing the Black community. Wearing a grey hoodie throughout, Common’s nod to Trayvon Martin, who had on a hoodie when he was shot and killed by vigilante George Zimmerman, is powerful symbolism. BJ The Chicago Kind also performed in place of LP guest Stevie Wonder.

The message is loud and clear from Common: It’s time to re-write the story for Black America.

The Roots Confirm 17th Album Title & Preview Some Sounds (Video)

Earlier this week, The Roots crew jammed with Phil Collins, performing an incredible version of “In The Air Tonight” on Fallon.