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Posts Tagged “The Roots”

The Roots 150x150 Top 25 Anticipated Albums For 20101. The Roots - How I Got Over

Tentative Release Date:  Spring/2010

Producers/Collaborators: Phonte (of Little Brother), Blu, Cody Chesnutt

What We Know: The Roots are set to release their ninth studio album How I Got Over. The album title comes from a Mahalia Jackson gospel song of the same name. The band has described the new LP as upbeat, funky with political influences. The title track was first premiered on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in June 2009. According to ?uestlove, Phonte recorded three to five tracks for the album. Here’s hoping the live version of “How I Got Over” makes the final cut it because its clearly superior to the studio version. Read the rest of this entry »

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photo newyear2010 Top 25 Albums of 2000 2009It’s no secret that hip-hop is in constant motion – it changes year to year. Emerging technologies combined with the fickle needs and wants of the industry, the artists, and the fans, all play a role in shaping our musical world. Some of the changes to the hip-hop scene have been, well, less than desirable (see: the decline of radio rap). However, the past ten years, 2000-2009, still held releases of some of the most creative and unique hip-hop albums of all time, with an ever-expanding range of sub-genres. Traditional hip-hop rooted in the golden age of the ’90s was certainly alive and well, but it was sharing chart space with newer, progressive styles. That said, we have compiled a list of our 25 favorite hip-hop albums from the past ten years, as a form of celebrating the musical diversity in hip-hop from the decade that was.

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The Clipse were on the Live With Jimmy Fallon show last night in support of their latest LP Till The Casket Drops. Backed by the Roots and more notably Black Thought, they delivered two incredible performances for “Popular Demand (Popeyes)” and the classic “Grindin”. Props to Yardie

Clipse & The Roots – “Popular Demand (Popeyes)”

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Kanye West - The College Dropout Hip-hop has been around for nearly thirty years now. However, its still feels very young at its core. Whiles many emcees have graduated to have success some are just college dropouts with no plan for what’s next. In a genre of music that has no set rules it also seems to be void of maturity in the process. The idea of hip-hop and “growing up” feels like something of an oxymoron when you look at the current music landscape and its future. Very few emcees are willing to take that music past frivolous beefs/feuding, actually becoming successful as artists and making music that doesn’t compromise who they are. In hip-hop for some reason that feels unrealistic? Music is supposed to inspire, how come we ain’t getting no higher? © Lauryn Hill

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A Tribe Called QuestI’m really anticipating the new Clipse album dropping next month. After that we should have De La Soul, Reflection Eternal and The Roots all dropping in early 2010. Maybe its just me, but it seems like we have less groups in hip-hop right now that can have actual success in the underground and mainstream arena. This is a glaring trend in comparison to the last two decades. When I think of great groups like The Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest, the focus was less on who was the best emcee and more about how great the music was. Read the rest of this entry »

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J Dilla - Dillanthology3Album Review: J Dilla – Dillanthology 3 (2009)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Potholes

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rundown copy The Weekly Rundown (Sept 28   Oct 5)

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

  1. R.I.P. Mr. Magic. Radio personality and hip-hop legend passed away this week from a heart attack.  He was instrumental on getting hip-hop mix-shows on the air in the early ’80s. He also indirectly had a part in the creation of “The Bridge Is Over” by BDP.
  2. Pharoahe Monch Leaves SRC, new album in the works for 2010. We think this is a good move for the Mighty one. Sure, he might get a lil’ more exposure via SRC, but probably not much. And we’re sure he can handle it on his own. We just want that damn album already.
  3. Common reunites with Kanye West and NO I.D. for new album. Only room to go up at this point after the disaster that was UMC. Hopefully getting back with NO I.D. will invigorate Common to not just mail in the verses. Read the rest of this entry »

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bk-one radio do canibal album coverBK-One has been, and always will be, one superb DJ.  Since the days I used to watch him across the mixing board at Radio K when I was just being trained in on The Beat Box, he has always been this way.  Me and him were lip-syncing “Oh No” by Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and Nate Dogg when he played the 12″ one time.  Now, along with up-and-coming beatsmith Benzilla, they have put out Rádio Do Canibal, a project to show the worldwide influences of music when the funk, jazz and samba rhythms and tones of Brazil match up with Hip-Hop across different areas of the United States.  I was able to get BK-One to do a track-by-track of Canibal, so without further delay, HERE WE GO!

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I hate the OS media player. Regardless, here is the video premier for The Roots jam, “How I Got Over”. You have heard about the controversy surrounding this joint, and I am going to agree, the live version bangs way harder! Along with this, I am sure you have also heard the talks of the new album being pushed back into 2010, we shall see what happens though. If that means a much better sounding Roots album, then I have nothing against that. Check out the video and share your thoughts…

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rundown copy The Weekly Rundown (Sept 21 27)

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

  1. Goodie Mob reunion show. If this means the whole group is getting back together, we have to admit we’re a little excited to see what comes of this. But if it’s just a reunion show? Eh, it’s difficult to look forward to a one-off concert.
  2. VH1 Hip-hop honours Def Jam special. This year the event honoured 25 years at Def Jam, which included artists like Public Enemy, EPMD, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, etc. Black Thought and Eminem honoured LL with a special performance of “Rock The Bells”. The VH1 special will air Oct.13th.
  3. Jay-Z: “Lets be clear, no one is scared of 50 Cent.” Honestly, it’s a moot point. Kanye West would never do that to 50 Cent to because Fiddy never wins any awards. Read the rest of this entry »

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