The Roots Picnic has been a staple of the band’s hometown, Philadelphia since 2008, bringing guests from across the spectrum of their collaborators and friends to Penn’s Landing. For those of us on the West Coast, though, the exciting festival has been a little difficult to attend. That all changes next year, when The Roots bring The Roots Picnic to LA, thanks to the Hollywood Bowl. Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop Is The Love Of My Life will take place on Saturday, June 29, along with special guests Arrested Development, Black Sheep, Common, Digable Planets, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, and more. Tickets for the event go on sale Thursday, December 14, at 10 AM PT at hollywoodbowl.com. The full Hollywood Bowl 2024 season will be announced in February 2024.
For the most part, The Roots have been busy as the house band of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (who helped keep their friendship tight), but individual members like Questlove and Black Thought have been busy with endeavors ranging from memoirs (see Uproxx’s interview with Black Thought about The Upcycled Selfhere) to planning the Grammys’ Hip-Hop 50 tribute (which he says caused him to lose some teeth). Quest is also set to direct Disney’s live-action remake of The Aristocats.
With Black Friday behind us, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday share the week following Thanksgiving. Giving Tuesday, often described as a global day of giving or a global generosity movement, is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The amount of charities to donate to may seem overwhelming, but we have made a list for hip-hop fans who want to donate to a good cause led by some of their favorite artists.
Nas, Save the Music foundation: For over 25 years, Nas’ organization has been delivering equitable access to music education for millions of students nationwide. Find out more and donate at https://www.savethemusic.org.
Beyoncé, BeyGOOD foundation– BeyGOOD foundation: Founded by Queen Bey, BeyGOOD focuses on economic equity by supporting marginalized and under-resourced programs, committed to serving people through educational scholarships, the advocacy of internships, and access to resources for advancing entrepreneurship and small business sustainability across the country and abroad. In addition to donating, people can volunteer with various affiliated causes. Find out more at https://beygood.org/.
Chance the Rapper, SocialWorks: Since 2016, Chance the Rapper’s Chicago-based organization has been empowering youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement. In addition to making a donation, supporters can also cop some SocialWorks swag on the site at https://www.socialworkschi.org/about-us/
50 Cent,G-Unity: In addition to being a successful rapper, 50 Cent is known to be a savvy businessman and his charity is helping empower youth with a year-long course that equips students in high-need communities with business acumen so they can start their own companies and achieve generational wealth. Find out more and donate at https://gunityfoundation.org
Akon, the Borgen project: Growing up in Senegal, Akon did not always have access to electricity, a problem facing many people still today. In 2014, Akon launched the “Akon Lighting Africa” project to help Africans access low-cost yet sustainable energy through solar power. In addition to donations, fans can also volunteer to be part of the organization’s efforts. More information can be found at https://borgenproject.org/electricity-to-africa/#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20Akon%20launched%20the,to%20more%20communities%20in%20Africa.
Snoop Dogg, Snoop Youth Football League: It’s no secret that Snoop is a many of many talents- rapper, entrepreneur, gamer, and football expert. His Youth Football league, which now includes basketball and football, helps provide youth with a solid foundation through sports. Find out more and donate at https://snoopfootball.com.
Big Sean, Sean Anderson Foundation: Detroit native Big Sean’s nonprofit focuses on providing Detroit-area youth with programs designed to promote economic prosperity, education and training, physical and mental health initiatives, and more. More information can be found at https://seanandersonfoundation.org/about/
Alicia Keys, Keep a Child Alive: Alicia Keys’ charity provides HIV/AIDS service and support for 9 community organizations that serve people throughout Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and India. Find out how you can get involved or donate at https://www.keepachildalive.org
Kanye West,Donda’s House (Common has also donated): Kanye’s mother played an important role in his life and he’s honored her legacy through Donda’s house, which provides programming that combines creative arts such as music and fashion with business development, marketing skills, and event planning to young adults on the south side of Chicago. More information can be found at ) https://www.macfound.org/grantee/dondas-house-10104166/
Rihanna, Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF): the foundation was founded in 2012 by Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. CLF invests in climate justice initiatives in the Caribbean & United States and helps communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters. To find our more, visit https://claralionelfoundation.org
J Cole, Dreamville Foundation: North Carolina native J Cole’s charitable organization provides programs, events, and charitable donations that empower and inspire youth in his native Fayetteville to achieve success in reaching their dreams. Supporters can donate at https://www.thedreamvillefoundation.org
DJ Premier is an iconic producer who has really influenced many others to follow in his footsteps. His career has lasted for decades and it is pretty obvious as to why. He might go down in hip-hop history as the greatest to ever lay down an instrumental. Over the course of his time in the industry, he has not dropped too many projects of his own.
However, over the past year and change, Premier has been staying pretty active. Just last year, he teamed up with Bumpy Knuckles for a 17-song project, KoleXXXion. Then, at the end of June 2023, Premier did his thing for Teflon’s tape, 2 Sides To Every Story. Finally, the Houston native came out with his first solo LP in about 12 years. That was with the third installment of the Beats That Collected Dust series, which began in 2008.
Listen To “In Moe (Speculation)” By DJ Premier And Common
Now, one of those beats is getting some serious bars laid down on it. The rapper joining him in the booth this time is Illinois legend, Common. He tackles the slow-mo, boom-bap production on “In Moe.” The new title was revamped to “In Moe (Specuation).” Common is still showing flashes of greatness all these years later.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new single from DJ Premier and Common, “In Moe (Speculation)?” Is Common a top-five rapper of all time? Is DJ Premier a top-five producer of all time? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around DJ Premier and Common. Furthermore, stay with us for all of the best song drops.
Quotable Lyrics:
Charge into the game or give Chicago crash Chi’ n****s get dough, is that just how they bred? Carryin’ toasts like a celebration Why do they hate he, like a undeveloped nation? It’s levels to this, mines is elevation I excel, LL acceleration
Before the surprise surprise release of Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 3 in September, it had been over a decade (Vol. 2 was released in 2011) since DJ Premier released a volume of the fan-favorite series.
As is the case with every Volume, every beat has its own unique origin story; from who they initially may have been produced for, to why they ended up collecting “dust.” The beats may be dusty, but they still bang, and one of Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 3 standouts, “In Moe,” has now added another chapter to its story, as the instrumental has been graced with vocals from legendary multi-hyphenate Common.
While it’s been far too long since they last collaborated, Preem and Common demonstrate they still “play life and music in the same key,” and just like they did with “The 6th Sense” (the lead single from Common’s classic, and Grammy Nominated Like Water For Chocolate album), DJ Premier and Common catch lightning in a bottle again with “In Moe” (Speculation). “In Moe” (Speculation) is now available at all DSP’s and you can now watch the video below.
“In October, I posted a clip of me playing the “In Moe” (Instrumental) Vinyl on IG, and the comments went crazy. It’s currently at 4.4 million views. Artists like Busta Rhymes, Action Bronson, and Common said they would love to rhyme on it” DJ Premier shares.
“Common delivered a dope verse that same week. On the night of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame event, Chaka Khan went on her IG Live during her induction and brought Common onstage during her performance to do the Melle Mel verse of “I Feel For You.” I called him the next morning to see if we could do a video at my studio while he was still in NY. We only had a short window, due to me going to 45 King’s funeral, and then to another wake later that night for my co-manager’s father-in-law. The energy was very positive that day, and we accomplished the mission. “
In addition to their new single and video “In Moe” (Speculation) being released (Common’s first new single in over two years), Premier will also be performing at tonight’s 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain. Preem will perform alongside Feid, as their collaboration, “Le Pido A Dios,” is nominated for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Song.
On Monday, November 6, Jennifer Hudson stopped by Late Night With Seth Meyersand discussed becoming an EGOT winner, dressing as Missy Elliott for Halloween, and overcoming her fear of public speaking to successfully host The Jennifer Hudson Show. It was a lovely exchange, but Hudson saved the relationship talk for Gayle King and the CBS Mornings crew. Hudson’s love life is a point of interest (again) this week, as a viral Backgrid paparazzi photo of Hudson and Common — an Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar winner, for those keeping score at home — holding hands in New York City is making the rounds. So, are they dating?
Jennifer Hudson and rapper Common were spotted holding hands in New York City. https://t.co/zrIgvRiuBA
“Professional Jennifer is doing well,” King said toward the end of the five-plus-minute segment. “Personally, is Jennifer doing well? Word on the street is you’re very happy [and in] a very nice relationship.”
Hudson confirmed she is, indeed, “very happy” before King politely added the caveat that Hudson’s relationship is “with someone who shall remain nameless,” which earned a belly laugh from Hudson. That’s when co-host and former NFL wide receiver Nate Burleson cut in more directly, saying, “So, you booed up?”
“Booed up?” Hudson responded. “Hmm, I think it’s more sophisticated than ‘booed up.’” Burleson pressed on with brave investigative journalism to further clarify whether Hudson is in a “situationship” or “entanglement,” to which Hudson said, “It’s definitely not an entanglement. That’s for sure!”
Dating rumors around Common and Hudson started bubbling in August 2022, shortly after news broke that they would be starring in the action-thriller Breathe. Hudson more or less shut the rumor mill down in September 2022. She told Entertainment Tonight, “People create their narratives of it, and it’s like, OK, you know, how you feel. We shot a film together, and he played my husband. We gotta eat in between those moments.”
To Hudson’s point, they were photographed together at Nobu in Malibu, California this February (as noted by People), and then, TMZ asked Hudson about it again this August. Hudson expertly side-stepped the question by saying, “Rumors say a lot of things, but he’s a beautiful man. I will give you that. That’s for certain.” Within the same report, TMZ relayed that unnamed sources told the outlet Common and Hudson had “been together for months.”
Neither Common nor Hudson have explicitly publicly confirmed that they are dating each other, but this week’s hand-holding and talk-show giddiness are the most convincing clues in our evidence pile.
Missy Elliott is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Tonight’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony has honored a truly stacked list of musical legends for 2023. During the show, Chaka Khan received a heartfelt tribute as one of the inductees. Other musicians like HER, Sia, Common, and Jazmine Sullivan welcomed her with the award.
Sullivan led Chaka Khan’s induction speech — giving kind words to one of her biggest inspirations. “That voice, as raw as it is sweet, as sensual as it is soulful, has guided us through good times and bad, through meet-ups and breakups, through desire and despair, through hard times and higher love,” Sullivan said, according to Rolling Stone. “Chaka’s voice will never get lost among her peers or fade in the background, her tone stands alone. Everything about Chaka is fire.”
She also shared a story about how Khan was there for Sullivan’s mother when she went into remission for cancer.
From there, HER, Sia, and Common all appeared at different times to perform a blend of Khan’s songs. Common did “I Feel For You,” and HER played stuff from Khan’s time in Rufus with “Ain’t Nobody” and “Sweet Thing.” Sia closed out the medley with “I’m Every Woman,” according to the publication.
Check out a video from Chaka Khan’s induction tribute here.
No ID’s impressive resume speaks for itself, as he has produced countless hits. The legendary producer and former MC has played an important role in shaping some of the greatest voices in hip hop and R&B. Since 1992, he has produced countless classics for legendary rappers and singers. He also is responsible for crafting early hits for the big names of today. With his label ARTium Recordings, No ID also has helped develop many careers, including the likes of Jhené Aiko, Vince Staples, and Snoh Aalegra. Additionally, he was also a member of the Cocaine 80’s collective alongside James Fauntleroy and other like-minded musicians.
With a vast catalog of classic beats, No ID has maintained his legacy. Today, we will be taking a deep dive into the producer’s seven most unforgettable productions. These selections include songs solely produced by No ID and exclude his countless co-productions. Take a look at the list below.
No ID’s working relationship with Common runs deep. The two first united back in 1992 to release Can I Borrow A Dollar?, the Chicago rapper’s debut album under the name Common Sense. The album marked No ID’s first production credits and a fruitful relationship that continued further. No ID eventually produced both Common’s The Dreamer/The Believer and Nobody’s Smiling albums in their entirety, as well as the majority of One Day It’ll All Make Sense. He also produced Common’s 1994 album, Resurrection, which included “I Used to Love H.E.R.” An all-time hip hop classic, Common spits a love letter to hip hop over a jazzy boom bap beat. Out of the many songs that the two created together, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” remains their most significant collaboration and one of No ID’s most unforgettable productions.
JAY-Z – “D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)” (2009)
No ID has a track record of making beats for contentious songs within hip hop culture. Perhaps the most memorable is his 2009 collaboration with JAY-Z that declared the “Death of Auto-Tune.” The song criticized the popular use of auto-tune in modern music. “No ID on the track, let the story begin,” Jay says before starting his first verse over a saxophone-heavy beat with a hard-hitting drum break.
“D.O.A.” was quite polarizing. It garnered reactions from artists who took offense, the many rappers who remixed the track, and T-Pain, who later joined Jay on stage during a live performance of the song. Some of No ID’s later productions also started massive dialogues within hip hop, including Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Electronica’s “Control.” There was also JAY-Z’s “The Story of OJ,” which Pusha T repurposed into a lethal diss track with “The Story of Adidon.”
Rick Ross feat. Cee-Lo Green – “Tears Of Joy” (2010)
Rick Ross started “Tears of Joy” with a shout-out to No ID, just like JAY-Z did on “D.O.A.” A highlight from Teflon Don, which many consider to be his magnum opus, “Tears of Joy” sees Rick Ross at his most reflective. The soulful and slowly-building instrumental brings the best out of Rozay, resulting in one of the most emotional moments of his discography. He looks back at his journey, crying joyfully at his success. The powerful chorus from Cee-Lo Green takes the song to another level, complementing the No ID production. The gorgeous instrumental is one of the producer’s most memorable beats. It was later repurposed by Slaughterhouse for the 14-minute “Truth or Truth, Pt. 1.”
Nas – “Daughters” (2012)
While Salaam Remi handled most of the production on Nas’s Life is Good album, No ID also made sizable contributions, producing six tracks. Among the tracklist was the Grammy-nominated single “Daughters.” A mature song about watching his daughter grow up, Nas speaks to fathers with daughters and addresses his own shortcomings as a parent. The track’s soulful production evokes the emotional transparency of the lyrics, making for one of Nas’s best tracks and one of No ID’s most unforgettable productions.
Vince Staples feat. Snoh Aalegra – “Jump Off The Roof” (2015)
No ID played an integral role in Vince Staples’s early career, producing most of his Shyne Coldchain II mixtape and his single, “Hands Up.” He also handles the majority of the production on Summertime ‘06, the debut album from the Long Beach rapper and former ARTium signee. Among its 20-song tracklist is “Jump Off the Roof,” a No ID-produced banger that ponders one’s addictions. Snoh Aalegra, another ARTium signee, appears on the track as well. The hectic production of “Jump Off the Roof” brings the best out of Vince, resulting in one of his most exciting tracks.
Rihanna – “Higher” (2016)
No ID and Rihanna have worked together on multiple occasions, but their greatest and most memorable collaboration comes from 2016’s ANTI. “Higher” is one of Rihanna’s most vulnerable moments and greatest vocal performances. Thanks to No ID’s cinematic production, Rihanna delivers one of her best ballads. The minimal strings and elegant piano dance around her vocals as she belts every word. “Higher” was eventually sampled for Jay Electronica’s “Flux Capacitor” from A Written Testimony, an album on which No I.D. also produced.
JAY-Z – “4:44” (2017)
After years of prolific collaborations, JAY-Z and No ID came together for 4:44, Jay’s most personal work to date. While Jay’s emotionally transparent lyricism fueled the album’s substance, No ID’s unique approach to production clearly inspired its artistic direction. “I began to play the samples like I would play an instrument,” he told Rolling Stone about the album’s creation. A sample-heavy album, 4:44’s use of soul and jazz records helped emphasize the lyrical content.
The album’s title track is a standout moment that sees JAY-Z openly apologizing to Beyoncé for his infidelity and trying to be a better husband. The looped sample of Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’ “Late Nights & Heartbreak” accentuates Jay’s vulnerability. “I’m never gonna treat you like I should,” the sample cries as it relates to the somber tone of the verses. With an unforgettable beat from No ID, “4:44” acts as the album’s focal point and is one of JAY-Z’s most powerful songs.
On this day in 1992, Chicago Hip-Hop legend Common, who was known as “Common Sense,” released his debut LP Can I Borrow A Dollar? Common delivered a debut that can be set apart from any other album he’s released. As one of Chicago’s first mainstream Hip Hop albums, this album exhibits an unorthodox approach to conscious rap. With very little connection to the boom-bap scene thriving in New York, Common was able to forge his unique style and stand out among a sea of Afrocentric, for-the-cause MCs, subsequently putting Chi-Town on the map.
It was Common’s isolation and hunger that drove this project to be as prolific as it is. After winning the title of ‘Unsigned Hype’ from The Source Magazine, Common quickly rose to the ranks of new artists. His unique status brought him a record deal and the ability to take his out-of-pocket flow and poetic wordplay to the mainstream. The simple production from his four-headed beat machine of No ID, Twilite Tone, and The Beatnuts was the perfect alley-oop for Common to showcase his lyrical prowess. In no way could the instrumental outshine anything Common was saying, creating a full album. Along with the lack of any “big name” features, that proved that this album was the beginning of a bright and illustrious career.
Commercially and critically, the project was slept on. Only peaking at#70 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop charts and selling well under platinum standards, this album was underappreciated until Common had officially proved himself as one of the greats. The album’s singles “Take it EZ,” “Breaker 1/9”, and “Sound by the Pound” were all top 10 hits on the Rap charts but had very little crossover success. However, this album is retrospectively loved, appreciated, and recognized as a Golden Era classic. Can I Borrow A Dollar? was a peek into the future. Common’s immense success in household name stems from his ability to go against the tide without ruffling any feathers. He stands out while simultaneously fitting in, and today we celebrate his debut.
On this day in Hip Hop history Chicago legend, Common, released his sophomore LP Resurrection. Produced completely by No I.D., this album was a fitting follow up to Common’s debut Can I Borrow A Dollar.
Structurally, the album was split down the middle into two sections. The first half was the “East Side of Stony” and the second half was the “West Side of Stony”. Stony Island Avenue is a street that run’s through the South Side of Chicago, where Common grew up. Throughout the album, Common continued to relate his themes and lyrics to himself, his past, and his surroundings in Chicago creating a very introspective experience.
This album also features one of Common’s most controversial singles “I Used to Love H.E.R.”. As Resurrection‘s lead single, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” was an ode to golden era Hip Hop. The song in it’s entirety is a metaphor in which Common relates Hip Hop to a girl who loses her innocence after being enticed by the materialistic side of life. The acronym “H.E.R” actually stood for “Hip Hop in its essence is real”. In the song, Common explains how Hip Hop culture is being destroyed by gangsta rap culture (which was centered around violence, materialism, and misogyny according to him). This opinion of course upset the West Coast, especially rap legend Ice Cube, who felt it was a personal attack on his brand of music. He in turn responded with the single “Westside Slaughterhouse” featuring Westside Connection.
Commercially, the album was a marginal hit peaking at #179 on the Billboard 200. It showed a growth in sales from his debut and prompted the success of the coming album, one Day It’ll All Make Sense.
