I have a Roots story.  My girlfriend whose birthday just happened to fall on the same as when The Roots performed at Radio City 2 years ago was beyond psyched when  I surprised her with tickets to the show and as an extra cherry on top, I managed to finagle us backstage passes after the show.  I was really excited because I was always a fan of the Roots but I never managed to see them live.  After some pre-concert drinking we managed to catch the 2^nd opening act, another one of my faves, Erykah Badu .  Dave Chappelle then did a set before The Roots came out, the Roots then played what is still one the best live performances that I’ve ever seen and I’ve been blessed to see so much live music.  Even Jay Z, Nas, Common and Big Daddy Kane made an appearance.   After the concert, the night continued with me playing the piano with Mos Def, Dave Chappelle telling me of his distaste of MTV Networks and me professing my admiration to ?uestlove then a night of dancing.  One of the best nights ever.  I’ve been to 5 Roots concerts since then.  Each experience just keeps getting better. 

So I was beyond glee and flattered when I got a preview of 4 tracks off their new CD “Rising Down” (to be released April 29).  Their last CD “Game Theory” was released to high critical acclaim about a year and a half ago but lost out to “Release Therapy” by Ludacris for the Best Rap Album at the Grammy’s.  “Rising Down” marks their 10^th album and 15^th year together.  “Rising Down” is still getting its finishing touches, which includes getting verses from Common, Kanye and Lupe Fiasco.  The 4 songs I got to preview were “Birthday Girl”, “Rising Down”, “I Can’t Help It” and “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)”.   The heavy feel of multiple keyboard textures , old synthesizer sounds and  a newly introduced horn section are very prominent on the tracks.  The sounds were still uniquely and of course perfection by The Roots. 

“Birthday Girl”-This track is rumored to be the first single to be released.  It futures future baby daddy Patrick Stump  (lead singer for Fall Out Boy), whose killer vocals and bluesy guitar along with the horns add a new flavor to the Roots traditional flavor and will be a great first single for them.   The suggestive lyrics, about young scandalous girls, are well hidden in the production and easy flow that Stump and Tariq Trotter (MC Black Thought) bring to the song.  With Stump on the track it will introduce The Roots to that whole Fall Out Boy, bandwagon.  Which will leave many Roots fans rolling their eyes but what can be better than to introduce those kids to REAL hip hop/rap rather than that Soulja Boy crap.

"Rising Down”- The title track off the album features Styles P (“Blow Ya Mind” feat. Swizz Beatz) and future baby daddy Most Def.  I’m not sure of the official track listing of the album, but if “Rising Down” was the first track, then it would be the perfect introduction of the impressive synthesizer sounds that we’re hearing from The Roots.  Mos and Styles P bring their trademark soul/bluesy and hard edged lyrical game to this track that depicts a place that is as bad as it gets.

“I Can’t Help It”-This track whose chilling synthesizer and keyboard usage, mix in delicate background vocals and Black Thoughts delivery on the song about addiction sent chills through my spine.  They way that it was all put together shows you just why The Roots are so on point with their music, because they make you look at the song as an experience and the different levels of exploration therein.

“75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)”-Black Thought’s rumored one take extended freestyle (75 bars) is something that Roots fans can’t get enough of.  It’s all about lyrics and his union with what’s breaking in the background He absolutely murders it.  KILLS IT!!  Which just keeps him on My Top 5 MC’s of all Time List.  The trippy baseline along with ?uestlove’s ridonk drum beats is quickly become my fave of the 4.
 
So put this on your list peeps.  I have a feeling this album is going to be their most universally received and its going to come up fast through the charts.  Don’t act like I never told ya. 

Also for those in NYC-?uestlove is back doing DJ gigs tonight at the the Highline Ballroom.  A must for those that have never been.   Here is a funny video of the Roots crew shooting a reaction video to the “2 Girls One Cup” video.  Umm helllll to the no I’m not posting a link to that video.  Ugh I still can’t get the image out of my mind.  Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.  Anyways their reaction video is hilarious HA just look at ?uestlove! Enjoy.