Nelly Furtado

Are we serious about this pick? Totally. If you can recall, Nelly Furtado was actually featured on a Roots album before, handling the hook on Phrenology‘s “Sacrifice”. Admittedly, it wasn’t our favorite cut off the album, but it does make us realize Nelly has knocked out other hip-hop songs with artists like Jurassic 5, Swollen Members, k-os, N.E.R.D., K’naan and more. That leads us to believe a properly produced album between Nelly Furtado and the Roots might actually end up sounding pretty sweet. Also,  how about some vicious Black Thought spitting to contrast with the -back chords of Ms. Furtado?

Michael Kiwanuka

Watch Michael Kiwanuka perform “Tell Me A Tale” on Fallon and this collaboration will make perfect sense. We have continued to lobby for throwback releases from the Roots and Questlove, but perhaps this one is our most desirable. Kiwanuka’s voice is rich and hypnotic, and we think all he needs to take things to the next level is a producer with the appropriate credentials. Paul Butler did wonders on Kiwanuka’s Home Again debut, but we see the British soul musician progressing even further backed by the Roots.