URB » The Roots

Win Free Tickets to Hangout Fest courtesy of @BrownYoChris & @Phil_enn

Phil Nacionales — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:09:18 +0000

Back at it again. With Hangout Fest going down this week, I’m sure that someone out in the Gulf Coast area just hasn’t gotten a chance to grab a pair of tickets yet…

If that’s the case, let URB co-horts @BrownYoChris & @Phil_enn save the day. All you have to do is take one look at that lineup…

As always the contest is easy. Either like this post on our FB page or tweet the following:

@BrownYoChris & @Phil_enn, give me tickets to @HangoutFest on @URBMag’s dime!

Contest ends 9PM EST!!!!

For more information:

Hangout Fest | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Dujeous Profess Their Love for Libations on “The New Beer Song”

ramievenesh — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 05:23:07 +0000

With the Super Bowl weekend upon us and all the festivities that will ensue, New York’s acclaimed Hip-Hop band Dujeous get an early start as they unveil the visuals for “The New Beer Song,” as featured on their most recently released LP, Day In Day Out, which is now available on iTunes. From tapping kegs, firing up the Bar-B-Q, beer pong, and even Mojo the Cinematic’s ‘Frank the Tank’ impersonation, the video highlights some of the highs and lows of what your weekend may very well end up looking like.. designated driver’s aside. Enjoy your Super Bowl weekend and drink responsibly! Now hit the jump and let the games begin..

Top 12 Acts Of 2012 :: URB Readers Poll Winners

URB.com — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:22:11 +0000

The votes have been tallied and once again URB readers have made their voices heard. And how did 2012 flesh out in terms of your favorite artists? A rock solid mix of all-time favorites, current buzz-makers and a few veteran acts climbing their way to the top once again. Don’t call it a comeback — although it seems hip-hop dominated your world in 2012, while the rest of America was jocking EDM as the next big thing. Are MCs the new DJs, who are the new pop stars, already?

12. DOOMTREE

This seven-person collective from the Twin Cities has been on our radar for almost a decade, although it seemed like they’d forever be in the shadow of MPLS patriarchy Rhymesayers. Not that there’s anything but healthy competition between the two camps. And now, riding on win after win as a team, plus all-star performances from individual players Lazerbeak and Dessa, Doomtree has cracked our year end list for the first time. Looks like Minnesota is still the hip-hop capital of the Midwest.

Karriem Riggins Announces “Alone Together” Album On Stones Throw + “Moogy Foog It”

hurryupnbuy — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:20:02 +0000

Karriem Riggins to release solo debut “Alone Together,” instrumental hip hop album, on Stones Throw, October 23rd.

Karriem Riggins is best known as a jazz drummer and hip hop producer for artists like Common, Slum Village, Talib Kweli and The Roots, but he doesn’t categorize himself as anything but an artist. He advises younger musicians to do the same.

“You don’t have to put yourself in a box…there’s so many different ways to go,” Riggins says.

A student of late jazz bassist Ray Brown, he tours with another Brown protégé, Grammy Award winner Diana Krall. In 2011, he collaborated with former Beatle Paul McCartney in concert and on “Kisses on the Bottom,” McCartney’s first studio release in five years. Names of some of the jazz artists he’s backed reads like the genre’s hall of fame – Hank Jones, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Donald Byrd and Ron Carter.

But on his solo debut “Alone Together,” set for an October 23 release on Stones Throw Records, Riggins plants himself firmly as a hip-hop producer with a 34-track instrumental odyssey through nearly every influence on his career thus far. The project was inspired by much of the music he was creating while living in Los Angeles, and also by the love of his son and family.

Now residing in his native Detroit, Riggins is back where it all began. “I feel like I can really breath and stay inspired here, and I have room to set up my lab and be creative,” he says. This is the rationale behind the title “Alone Together,” taken from a jazz standard written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz that begin with the words, “Alone together, above the crowd.”

“Coming back to the machines, I feel like I can really express myself,” Riggins says. “This is the way that I express my rhythms.”

Machines, however, are just one way he expresses his rhythms. Midway through the album, the track “Water” is interrupted by a vocal snippet where the speaker places Riggins “right at the intersection of hip hop and jazz.” Alone Together is that intersection; it’s the jazz music he’s played professionally since the age of 19, and it’s crafting beats like “Africa” on an MPC5000 while touring throughout Eastern Europe and Russia.

“I need the balance,” Riggins says, of working with the likes of Krall and McCartney, and also being able to go back to the studio and create hip hop. “Without that, I couldn’t be who I am.”

Songs on “Alone Together” range from 14 seconds to a little over three minutes, and are the essence of man vs. machine. When Riggins channels Elvin Jones on the album’s climax and tribute to his longtime friend, “J Dilla the Greatest,” his tools are a Gretsch drum kit, the Fender Rhodes and an MPC3000. As versed as he is in jazz and pop, the machines will always be at the root – until the next thing.

“There’s always something new to figure out,” he says. “That’s the blessing in it.”

– Ronnie Reese

[audio:http://stonesthrow.com/jukebox/karriem_moogy.mp3]

Stones Throw Podcast 74: “Karriem Riggins Produced That” feat. music from Erykah Badu, Common, J. Dilla, The Roots & More!

hurryupnbuy — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:16:02 +0000

Stones Throw continues their wonderful podcast series, this time featuring Detroit’s own Karriem Riggins in support for his upcoming album “Alone Together” being released later this Fall. Karriem Riggins has produced for some of hip hop and soul’s elite, including Erykah Badu, Common, The Roots, J. Dilla, Slum Village, Madlib, Dwele, and many others. He’s also one of today’s most in demand jazz drummers, playing with jazz heroes which include Hank Jones, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Donald Byrd, etc while collaborating with Paul McCartney on his first studio release in five years. Karriem also is Diana Krall’s drummer and tours the world with her band.

Karriem Riggins’ upcoming album “Alone Together” is a 34 instrumental track voyage highlighting his various influences and jazz roots, and his podcast for Stones Throw is a great way for everyone to catch up on some of his previous work and production with Erkyah Badu, The Roots, J. Dilla, Slum Village, Common and others.

[download]

[audio:http://stonesthrowpodcast.com/stonesthrow_74_karriem.mp3]

?uestlove, Black Star, Skrillex, D’Angelo, Radiohead: Bonnaroo 2012 Review

URB.com — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:45:23 +0000

Bonnaroo 2012 did not follow the DJ craze like most fest this year are doing, having only one stage dedicated to dubstep, house, trance, etc… But they did book a few stellar acts to keep the Bonnaroovians (yes, the word exist) satisfied. Skrillex delivered his set on what looked like an outdated space ship from a ’70s Buck Rogers flick. Me personally, I would have gone Klingon Vessel.

The real highlight of this years Bonnaroo had to be the return of D’Angelo as part of ?uestlove’s super jam. Making his first U.S. appearance in over a decade, as Questo said, “I’ve been waiting 12 years to say this,’Ladies and gentlemen, D’Angelo.’”

Supported by The Roots’ Captain Kirk Douglas and keyboardist James Poyser, along with Kendra Forster (P-funk Fam), Pino Palladino (touring bassist for The Who) and The Time guitarist Jesse Johnson, ?uestloves jam session was a trip back — covering the soundtrack of his youth with a touch of soul greatness. Thing leaned heavy on classic rock, with Hendrix’s Have You Ever Been To (Electric Ladyland), Zeppelin’s “What Is And What Should Be,” and even the (relatively) obscure Beatles “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window.”

Hip-hop represented this year at Roo, mostly on Thursday night at the This Tent. Danny Brown, Yelawolf and Kendrick Lamar represented the future, while Childish Gambino and Ludacris pitched in like James Harden of The OKC Thunder (basketball talk peeps). But none representing hop-hop more than Blackstar & GZA. Mighty Mos Def & Talib Kweli bumped new singles and classics from We Are Blackstar as well as their own solo projects.G ZA played his Liquid Swords album, but with a twist. Grammy-award winning Austin-based Latino funk band Grupo Fantasma proved hip-hop has no boundaries with a dedication to Ol’ Dirty with “Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ll.”

The festival’s headliners did not disappoint. Recent Rock N Rolls Hall of Fame inductees Red Hot Chili Peppers played most of their hit’s post Mother Milk and managed to fit “Higher Ground” into the set list. Some old heads might miss the band’s punk-funk roots, but new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer brings a throwback style with his playing that recalls RHCP’s early with Hillel Slovak.

Radiohead’s set was an absolute spectacle. The two hour plus two encore-long night was, as my girlfriend would say, AMAZE-BALLS (sorry Kat). During the first encore, Thom Yorke gave a shout out to Jack White. “This song is for Jack White,” he told the crowd. “A big thank you to him, but we can’t tell you why. You’ll find out.”

Future collab in the making? With “True Love Waits” intro-ing the second encore Radiohead top closed with an astonishing “Paranoid Android.” Simply was a game clincher. Go OKC !!!

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble – Shine feat. Pharoahe Monch from 2011 UCLA JazzReggae Festival – 2012 Details Inside

hurryupnbuy — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:59:04 +0000

UCLA’s JazzReggae Festival, the largest student run music festival in the United States, hits this coming Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles. The 2 day event features The Roots, Booker T. Jones, Thundercat, Gary Clark Jr., and more on Jam Day and Collie Buddz, Shaggy, and others on Reggae Day.

In support of the upcoming festivities, check out this great video of last year’s performance from the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble featuring Pharoahe Monch, performing his song “Shine” alongside an All-Star cast of musicians including Meshell Ndegeocello on bass. This video gives fans a taste of what this year’s festival will be like, featuring legendary artists alongside a beautiful environment provided by the UCLA campus.

For tickets to this year’s festival please visit the JazzReggae Festival’s website or TicketMaster.

UCLA JazzReggae Festival

hurryupnbuy — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:32:04 +0000

The 26th Annual JazzReggae Festival at UCLA announces a lineup change for Jam Day, May 27th, as headliner Bobby Womack has canceled his performance due to health issues. Replacing Bobby Womack, we are proud to announce the addition of the illustrious soul man and musical genius, Booker T. Jones, as the new sub-headliner for this year’s Jam Day.

As one of the legends of R&B and soul music, Booker T. Jones embodies the true essence of the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA. Entering the professional music scene at the age of sixteen, Jones was later called a radical for stalling his early fame to attend college in Indiana, but it was this devoted study of music and enthusiasm to perfect his craft that has made him a more profound listener and prolific musician. Jones has had a career most young artists can only dream of, writing classic compositions for the legendary Otis Redding and playing alongside greats like Elton John and Ray Charles. He has been honored with multiple awards and Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award in 2007, and was inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. His latest album, The Road to Memphis, which was released in 2011, is a blend of authentic jazz grooves and soul infused beats of the new generation. The album features contributions from stars like ?uestlove, Lou Reed, Yim Yames, and Sharon Jones, as well as original lyrics from his daughter, Liv Jones. In this way, Booker T. Jones has succeeded in uniting generations of musical styles, creating music that is both timeless and innovative. The JazzReggae Festival is thrilled to have him perform for this year’s Jam Day, May 27th!

WATCH The Root’s ?uestlove On Morgan Spurlock’s New Show

URB.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:55:32 +0000

Hip-hop iconoclast Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson is the subject of the latest episode of Morgan Spurlock’s “A Day In The Life.” The Supersize Me director followed the drummer and bandleader throughout a full day in New York City, from his early morning workout to a late-night DJ gig at his weekly Bowl Train party. In between, Questo rehearses for Jimmy Fallon, takes on David Chang of Momofuku in a friend chicken cook off and waxes philosophical about topics such as health, his parents and Soul Train.

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John Legend & The Roots Perform Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark”

URB.com — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:12:37 +0000

There’s plenty of love for Bruce Springsteen at URB HQ (except for the time I tried to play the entire three-CD Live 1975-85 boxset in the office. That got ugly). The problem is, The Boss doesn’t exactly fit into the whole emerging underground independent techno/hip-hop/indie thing we like to slang around here. So call it a nice crossover that The Roots, fronted by John Legend, performed Springsteen’s mega-hit “Dancing In The Dark” on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. There’s really nothing these guys could cover that wouldn’t sound great.

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