the roots Archives

The Roots – Life, Love & Loot (Remix)

Here's a pretty ill rock song from The Legendary Roots Crew. Black Thought sings, getting his full Lenny Kravitz on (reminiscent of Always on the Run). Check out the remix to Life, Love & Loot. Click here to download. Here's Lenny Kravitz's Always on the Run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em8JuUW-OOE&ob=av2e... Read more

October 27, 2011 Audio, The Bridge, Video

RE-WIN(D): Here’s a video playlist of joints from the early to mid-90’s. You’ll find songs from Mobb Deep, Jeru Tha Damaja, Group Home, The Roots, Jay-Z, De La Soul, Gang Starr, O.C., Diamond D and more. Just press play and let it ride.

Click here for another RE-WIN(D) playlist featuring De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Kid N Play, Special Ed, Monie Love, Chubb Rock, Pete Rock & CL Smooth and more.... Read more

October 25, 2011 Playlists, Throwback, Video

Here’s the lastest from The Roots and it features Big K.R.I.T. Check out Make My, from The Roots upcoming Undun album.

A description of the concept behind the album and its full tracklist are below (note K.R.I.T. is the only feature). Here's the album description: undun is an existential re-telling of the short life of one Redford Stephens (1974-1999). Through the use of emotives and Redford’s internal dialogues the album seeks... Read more

October 17, 2011 Audio

Black Thought – Stay True ft Malik B & MdotL

Here's a previously unreleased song from Black Thought. Check out Stay True featuring Malik B and MdotL. Click here to download.... Read more

October 12, 2011 Audio

?uestlove breaks down the story behind The Roots upcoming Undun album (Video)

He discusses how the album is a concept album and why having the steady gig on The Jimmy Fallon show has given The Roots the security to fully pursue their artistic freedom. Given how much The Roots have already pushed the boundaries of hip-hop, this album should be extremely interesting. ... Read more

October 10, 2011 Video

Jill Scott – Hear My Call (Video)

Jill Scott is not hip-hop but she has deep hip-hop Roots...and she's a phenomenal talent. Here's her latest video. Check out Hear My Call. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VtapoGukzCA And, here's one of her hip-hop collabos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b5lNKnqp_o... Read more

August 25, 2011 The Bridge, Video

New Phil Ade. Check out the video for One in a Million.

It's a hip-hop love song that's not corny...kinda like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKveOqw5ukY... Read more

July 13, 2011 The Bridge, Video

The Roots recently linked with Rakim to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Paid in Full. Here’s some footage (not nearly enough) of the performance and some interviews with ?uestlove, Black Thought, and Rakim Allah.

Props to MTV.com for the news brief. Also, if you missed it, click here to check out our back in the day mix that centers on the late 80's/early 90's era that birthed Rakim. Tags: MTV Shows If you missed our back in the day mix, which focuses on that... Read more

June 24, 2011 Video

Ready for a new Roots album? Not yet…and not soon enough, but it’s coming.

Check out the interview below of ?uestlove and Black Thought for more details. Here's an excerpt from the story, and click here to read the whole thing: For the follow-up to The Roots' 2010 album, "How I Got Over," drummer ?uestlove says the veteran hip-hop band is planning a "concept... Read more

June 7, 2011 Video

This week’s Soul Cooking mix features newer soul…but let’s not call it Neo.

If you dig artists like Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Maxwell, Jill Scott, India.Arie and Lauryn Hill, this one is for you. Put this one on with the BBQ and let it marinate.... Read more

May 29, 2011 Audio

OK…so I was a little late on Nardwaur but better late…

For anyone else who missed these or who wants to be entertained (again) check out the best of Nardwaur vs. Hip-Hop. It's cool to see him consistently engage some very respectable minds in hip-hop with deeply researched questions. Warning: These interviews are like Lays...No one can have just one. Nardwaur... Read more

March 26, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

How dope has The Roots being on Jimmy Fallon been for live hip-hop on TV?? Lupe Fiasco is the latest beneficiary.

Check out his performance of The Show Goes On.... Read more

March 5, 2011 Video

If you’re a fan of The Roots you will really dig this short documentary about them.

It's beautifully shot, showcases some of their great music and captures (a bit of) their one-of-a-kind energy on stage. It's called The Legendary: A Film About The Roots. Check it out. http://vimeo.com/20022107 Here's a description from the filmmakers (props to OkayPlayer): During the latter part of 2010 Jeff Baraka and... Read more

February 17, 2011 Video

Good God. I was not ready for the remake of Eric B. and Rakim’s classic In the Ghetto by The Roots, John Legend and Rakim Allah, himself.

Black Thought's verse alone would have been enough. This is from J. Period's mixtape remix of The Roots and John Legend's Wake Up! album. You can download the full mixtape for free here. Click here to download In The Ghetto. Here's the original--easily one of the best rap records ever:... Read more

February 16, 2011 Audio, Mixes, The Bridge

Jazz has never been one of my favorite genres. Yet, it is the foundation of hip-hop samples (along with James Brown and Funkadelic). Chuwee’s Yes Yes Yo reminded me of this and inspired this week’s playlist. You’ll find A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr, The Roots, Nas, Eric B. and Rakim and others.

Guaranteed to help make a smooth transition into the weekend. Press play, sit back and enjoy. If you missed Yes Yes Yo by Chuwee, click here.... Read more

February 4, 2011 Audio, Playlists

Happy MLK Day. It’s a day of reflection so here’s a playlist that reflects many perspectives on the State of the Union 82 years after the birth of the man named King.

You'll find music from Common, Black Star, Nas, Actual Proof, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., 2Pac and others. Enjoy and keep the dream alive.... Read more

January 17, 2011 Playlists

It’s a slow day for new hip-hop so we take matters into our own hands. Check out this playlist of some classic joints.

Each Thursday night, we will be bringing you a different playlist to ease you into the weekend. This week's is full of old gems. You'll hear joints from Common, Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Snoop, Biggie, Outkast, Gang Starr, Nas, The Roots and others. Just press play, sit back and... Read more

January 6, 2011 Playlists, Throwback, Video

You’ve heard the reasons why 2010 is the best year ever in hip-hop…now hear the playlist. Happy New Year.

December 31, 2010 Audio, Playlists, Video

10 reasons why 2010 was the best year ever in hip-hop: #4 Whut? Thee album???…there have been a lot of great songs in hip-hop over the years but not a lot of great ALBUMS. In 2010, there were at least 10…

When's the last time you went back and listened to some of your favorite hip-hop albums from back in the day? I'm guessing if you randomly picked 10 of your favorites and listened to them from front to back, you would want to skip at least 5 tracks on each... Read more

December 29, 2010 Food for Thought, Video

Ever heard of Money Making Jam Boys? No? They are Black Thought's "new" side project, but keep it on the low… Check out their video for Judgment Day.

Money Making Jam Boys are Black Thought, Dice Raw, Truck North, P.O.R.N. and Philly. Click here for a very comprehensive breakdown of the genesis and evolution of the group from Brooklyn Bodega. http://www.vimeo.com/17327712... Read more

December 1, 2010 Video

Omar Akil is on a roll. Check out his re-ordering of The Roots How I Got Over in his latest installment of New World (AU)DER.

NEW WORLD (AU)DER: THE ROOTS HOW I GOT OVER The way you sequence an album can make or break its success, and affect its acclaim. For thier 11th studio album, The Roots got it right the first time around, but see if it doesn't feel any better playing it in... Read more

October 27, 2010 Audio

Black Thought is one of the best MCs ever to do it. Period. Check out his “live mixtape” with J. Period and you’ll get a taste of his greatness.

http://vimeo.com/15492429 Click here to download the J Period & Black Thought Present The Live Mixtape: Illadelph Edition Nahright.com had this to say about Black Thought: Black Thought is the ultimate “emcee.” Ask anybody who is a fan of hip hop and chances are they will note that this man embodies... Read more

October 22, 2010 Mixes, Video

You cannot front on this hip-hop medley by Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon (no matter how hard you may want to). Check it out.

There are definitely some corny parts but overall it's just too good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCxZB6GOtoM&feature=related... Read more

October 1, 2010 Video

Speaking of great Snoop Dogg classics, check out John Legend and The Roots’ take on Little Ghetto Boy.

This one is off the full album collabo between John Legend and The Roots that will be dropping on 9/21. The album is all covers of soul classics from the 60s and 70s that have a political theme. ExternalVideo.967034&w=425&h=350&fv=videoId%3D604473945001%26amp%3BplayerID%3D10172910001%26amp%3BplayerKey%3DAQ%252E%252E%2CAAAAAAAA5vE%252E%2CEeb-O-20Rk8OOHarFBBmNsbiBU9ieS50%26amp%3Bdomain%3Dembed%26amp%3BdynamicStreaming%3Dtrue Here's Dr. Dre's Lil Ghetto Boy from the Chronic featuring Snoop... Read more

September 10, 2010 The Bridge, Video

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie just dropped a mixtape full of Summertime classics.

When 1 of the greatest DJs ever links with 1 of the best mixtape DJs ever, you know it's going to be fresh. The tracklist below speaks for itself. Click here to download. 1. Summertime Intro 2. Kool & The Gang: Summer Madness (Live Version) 3. Kool & The Gang:... Read more

July 3, 2010 Audio, Mixes

The Fire – The Roots ft. John Legend

This is the second collabo between The Roots and John Legend off The Roots upcoming album How I Got Over dropping on June 22nd. Perhaps it’s a result of The Roots serving as John Legend’s band on his upcoming album. Whatever the cause, they seem to be a winning combination.... Read more

June 13, 2010 Audio

Doin' It Again – The Roots ft. John Legend

Is Black Thought the most underrated MC ever? Did the fact that The Roots are a live band and ?estlove’s presence take attention away from the fact that he consistently spits fire? This track will only help Tariq’s case.... Read more

June 13, 2010 Audio