THE ROOTS

The Hollywood Bowl’s Packed 2024 Summer Season Features Mitski, Beck, Roots Picnic, And Much More

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Mitski 2022
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Today (February 6), the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced the 2024 summer season for the Hollywood Bowl. The legendary venue will host performances from artists like Mitski (in her Hollywood Bowl debut) and Beck, as well as the first West Coast edition of Roots Picnic, featuring The Roots, Queen Latifah, Common, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, The Pharcyde, Black Sheep, and more.

Other highlights from the season include the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Infinity Saga Concert Experience,” a Juneteenth celebration with T-Pain and special guests, the two-day Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival featuring artists like Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper, and other performances by artists including Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit, Chaka Khan, Gary Clark Jr., and Herbie Hancock.

Check out the full list of upcoming Hollywood Bowl performances from summer onward below, and find more information at the Hollywood Bowl website.

Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival

Saturday, June 15, 3:30 p.m.
Arsenio Hall, host
Jodeci
Christian McBride
Charles Lloyd with Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier, and Brian Blade
Mulatu Astatke
Alex Isley
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA

Sunday, June 16, 3:30 p.m.
Arsenio Hall, host
Kamasi Washington
Robert Glasper with special guest Yebba
Cory Henry
Soul Rebels with special guest Seun Kuti
Baby Rose
Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band
Aneesa Strings

Juneteenth Celebration

T-Pain Plus Special Guests — Wednesday, June 19, 8 p.m.
T-Pain
Color of Noise Orchestra
Derrick Hodge, conductor

Opening Night at the Bowl

Henry Mancini 100th Celebration — Sunday, June 23, 7:30 p.m.
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Special guests to include Michael Bublé, Dave Koz, and Monica Mancini

Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life

Saturday, June 29, 8 p.m.
The Roots
Queen Latifah
Common
Digable Planets
Arrested Development
The Pharcyde
Black Sheep
And more…

July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular with Harry Connick Jr.

Tuesday, July 2, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 4, 7:30 p.m.
Harry Connick Jr.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Beck with the LA Phil

Saturday, July 6. 8 p.m.
Beck
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Steven Reineke, conductor

Patti LaBelle

Sunday, July 7, 7:30 p.m.

Scheherazade

Tuesday, July 9, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Elim Chan, conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin
Unsuk CHIN subito con forza
PROKOFIEV Violin Concerto No. 2
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

All-Gershwin

Thursday, July 11, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Lionel Bringuier, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Isabel Leonard, vocalist
GERSHWIN Cuban Overture
GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue
GERSHWIN Song Selections
GERSHWIN Variations on “I Got Rhythm”
GERSHWIN An American in Paris

Maestro of the Movies: John Williams with the LA Phil

Friday, July 12, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 13, 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 14, 7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
John Williams, conductor
David Newman, conductor

Ray Chen Plays Tchaikovsky

Tuesday, July 16, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
David Afkham, conductor
Ray Chen, violin
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

Big Band Night

Maria Schneider Orchestra • Count Basie Orchestra
Wednesday, July 17, 8 p.m.

Ballet Folklórico de Mexico with the LA Phil

Thursday, July 18, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández
Salvador López López, general director
Viviana Basanta, artistic director
CHÁVEZ Symphony No. 2, “Sinfonía India”
Juan Pablo CONTRERAS Mariachitlán
Gabriela ORTIZ Antrópolis
REVUELTAS Sensemayá
Arturo MÁRQUEZ Danzón No. 2
LARA (arr. Ferrer) Danzones de Lara
MONCAYO Huapango

Disney ’80s-’90s Celebration in Concert

Friday, July 19, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 20, 8 p.m.
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Sarah Hicks, conductor

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit • Sylvan Esso

Uwade
Sunday, July 21, 7 p.m.
KCRW Festival

Mozart Under the Stars

Tuesday, July 23, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Zubin Mehta, conductor
Pinchas Zukerman, violin
MOZART Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 3
MOZART Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”

All-Beethoven

Thursday, July 25, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
David Robertson, conductor
Sunwook Kim, piano
Clara-Jumi Kang, violin
Hayoung Choi, cello
BEETHOVEN Coriolan Overture
BEETHOVEN Triple Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5

Chaka Khan

Friday, July 26, 8 p.m.

The Music of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and More: Boublil and Schönberg’s Do You Hear the People Sing?

Sunday, July 28, 7:30 p.m.

Stravinsky & Khachaturian

Tuesday, July 30, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Kevin John Edusei, conductor
Martin Chalifour, violin
KHACHATURIAN Violin Concerto
KHACHATURIAN Spartacus Suite No. 2
STRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite (1919 version)

Schumann & Bruch

Thursday, August 1, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Xian Zhang, conductor
Karen Gomyo, violin
WAGNER Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
R. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1, “Spring”

Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks

Friday, August 2, 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 3, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Otto Tausk, conductor
Behzod Abduraimov, piano
USC Trojan Marching Band
TCHAIKOVSKY Polonaise from Eugene Onegin
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
TCHAIKOVSKY Suite from Sleeping Beauty
TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture

Reggae Night XXII

Jamrock Reggae Night at the Bowl
Sunday, August 4, 7 p.m.
KCRW Festival

Prokofiev & Shostakovich

Tuesday, August 6, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Ryan Bancroft, conductor
Denis Kozhukhin, piano
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 10

Laufey with the LA Phil

Wednesday, August 7, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Conductor to be announced

Symphonic Tango & Flamenco

Thursday, August 8, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
François López-Ferrer, conductor
Blake Pouliot, violin
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
Emilio Ochando, choreographer
FALLA The Three-Cornered Hat Suite No. 2
PIAZZOLLA Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
DEBUSSY Ibéria
RAVEL Boléro

Artist to be announced

Saturday, August 10, 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 11, 7:30 p.m.

India.Arie

Friday, August 9, 8 p.m.

All-Rachmaninoff

Tuesday, August 13, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor
Alexander Malofeev, piano
RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2

Herbie Hancock: Head Hunters 50th

Wednesday, August 14, 8 p.m.
Herbie Hancock
Harvey Mason
Bennie Maupin
Bill Summers
Marcus Miller

The Elements with Joshua Bell

Thursday, August 15, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Rodolfo Barráez, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
COPLAND El Salón México
Kevin PUTS/Edgar MEYER/Jake HEGGIE/Jennifer HIGDON/Jessie MONTGOMERY The
Elements
BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

The Gipsy Kings

Featuring Nicolas Reyes
Friday, August 16, 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 17, 8 p.m.

Smooth Summer Jazz

George Benson
Sunday, August 18, 6:30 p.m.

All-Dvořák with Midori

Tuesday, August 20, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Christian Reif, conductor
Midori, violin
DVOŘÁK Carnival Overture
DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7

Gary Clark Jr. and The War and Treaty

Wednesday, August 21, 8 p.m.

The Rite of Spring

Thursday, August 22, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Program to include:
Michael Tilson THOMAS Agnegram
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

Pink Martini Featuring China Forbes

Friday, August 23, 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 24, 8 p.m.

Mt. Joy

Sunday, August 25, 7 p.m.
KCRW Festival

Singin’ in the Rain in Concert

Tuesday, August 27, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
David Newman, conductor

Gustavo Dudamel & Yunchan Lim

Thursday, August 29, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Yunchan Lim, piano
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5

Marvel Studios Infinity Saga Concert Experience

Friday, August 30, 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 31, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Toto and Christopher Cross

Sunday, September 1, 7:30 p.m.

Carmen and Carnival with Dudamel

Tuesday, September 3, 8 p.m.
Thursday, September 5, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Sergio Tiempo, piano
Karin Lechner, piano
Rihab Chaieb, mezzo-soprano
Roberto SIERRA Fandangos
BIZET Scenes from Carmen
Roberto SIERRA Alegría
SAINT-SAËNS Carnival of the Animals

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Wednesday, September 4, 8 p.m.
Trombone Shorty
Big Boi

Natalia Lafourcade with the LA Phil

Friday, September 6, 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 7, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Vance Joy

‘dream your life away’ 10-Year Anniversary Tour
Sunday, September 8, 7 p.m.
KCRW Festival

Dudamel Leads Beethoven 9

Tuesday, September 10, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Key’mon Murrah, countertenor
Hera Hyesang Park, soprano
Samantha Hankey, mezzo-soprano
Anthony León, tenor
Dashon Burton, bass
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Grant Gershon, Artistic Director
Jenny Wong, Associate Artistic Director
BERNSTEIN Chichester Psalms
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

Sammy Davis, Jr. at 100

Wednesday, September 11, 8 p.m.

Dudamel and the Stars of Opera

Thursday, September 12, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Diana Damrau, soprano
Jonas Kaufmann, tenor
VERDI Overture to I Vespri siciliani
MASCAGNI Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana
VARIOUS Selected arias and duets
RESPIGHI Pines of Rome

Boyz II Men

Friday, September 13, 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 14, 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 15, 8 p.m.
Fireworks Finale

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wednesday, September 18, 8 p.m.

The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA

Friday, September 20, 8 p.m.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sing-along

Saturday, September 21, 6 p.m. Pre-show; 7:30 p.m. film
Melissa Peterman, host

Cumbia at the Bowl!

Sunday, September 22, 7 p.m.
KCRW Festival
Grupo Cañaveral de Humberto Pabón
La Sonora Dinamita
Los Hermanos Flores

Camilo

Thursday, September 26, 8 p.m.

Mitski

Sharon Van Etten
Saturday, September 28, 8 p.m.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Black Thought Net Worth 2024: What Is The Roots Legend Worth?

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Black Thought is acclaimed for his lyrical depth and powerful performances as the frontman of The Roots. The rapper has carved a niche for himself in the annals of hip-hop history. As of 2024, his diversified career in music, acting, and philanthropy has amassed a net worth of $5 million, according to Allfamousbirthday. His journey from the streets of Philadelphia to becoming an influential figure in the music industry and beyond is a testament to his talent, dedication, and impact on culture and social activism.

Masterful Lyrical Craftsmanship

black thought
NEW YORK, NY – July 20: ( MANDATORY CREDIT Bill Tompkins/Getty Images ). The Roots perform on July 20th, 1996 in New York City. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)

Black Thought, born Tariq Trotter, has been instrumental in shaping the sound and direction of The Roots. They are a band that seamlessly blends live instrumentation with hip-hop to create a unique and influential sound. Known for his intricate lyricism and impeccable flow, Black Thought’s ability to articulate the complexities of the human experience has earned him critical acclaim. Albums like Things Fall Apart and Phrenology not only showcase the band’s musical versatility but also highlight Black Thought’s skill in weaving narratives that resonate with listeners on a profound level.

Expanding Horizons

black thought
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: Tariq Trotter “Black Thought” speaks in conversation with. Jon Stewart for the book launch of “The Upcycled Self” at Brooklyn Academy of. Music also on November 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Manny Carabel/Getty Images for Brooklyn Academy of Music)

Beyond his accomplishments with The Roots, Black Thought has ventured into solo projects and collaboration. They further showcase his versatility as an artist. His Streams of Thought series, for instance, allows him to explore different lyrical themes and sonic landscapes. It also cemented his reputation as one of hip-hop’s most formidable talents. These projects, coupled with his work in acting and voice-over roles, reflect his multifaceted career and ability to connect with audiences across different mediums.

Influence & Advocacy

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 26: Black Thought, Questlove, Kamal Gray. Frank “Knuckles” Walker, Damon “Tuba Gooding Jr.”, Bryson, James Poyser and. Mark Kelley The Roots also attend the 2016 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Black Thought’s impact extends far beyond the music industry. He is also recognized for his activism and philanthropic efforts. Through initiatives with The Roots’ GrassROOTS Community Foundation and other endeavors, he has dedicated himself to addressing social issues and empowering underserved communities. His advocacy for education, health, and social justice underscores his commitment to leveraging his platform for positive change, making him a respected figure in both the entertainment industry and activism circles.

A Legacy Of Innovation & Activism

Overall, the legacy of Black Thought is characterized by his contributions to the evolution of hip-hop, his commitment to social activism, and his ability to transcend artistic boundaries. With a net worth reflecting his success in various endeavors, Black Thought stands as a testament to the power of art to inspire, challenge, and make a meaningful impact. His journey from Philadelphia to global recognition exemplifies how talent, when coupled with purpose, can leave an indelible mark on culture and society.

The post Black Thought Net Worth 2024: What Is The Roots Legend Worth? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Happy 53rd Birthday To The Roots’ Questlove!

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Questlove

Happy Born day to Ahmir Khalib Thompson better known as ?uestlove a.k.a Questlove! Born in 1971, he turns a half-century today. The OG is originally known as the drummer for the legendary Hip Hop band The Roots, but he has many roles.

On February 17, 2014, he became a part of the in-house band for The Tonight Show, and with The Roots, he’s played the same role during the 969-episodes of  Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. 

Let’s not forget about the many artists he has produced such as Jay Z, Common, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, the late Amy Winehouse, John Legend, and old school R&B legend Al Green. The list goes on with all the production teams he has been a part of, including Hip Hop pioneers like The Soulsonics and The Grand Wizards.

The influence of this multi-faceted musician has reached far beyond most in his life thus far, and he’s nearly only halfway thru. Happy Birthday Questlove and many more to come!

The post Happy 53rd Birthday To The Roots’ Questlove! first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy 53rd Birthday To The Roots’ Questlove! appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: The Roots Released Their Sophomore Album ‘Do You Want More?!!!??!’ 28 Years Ago

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On this date in 1995, Black Thought, Questlove, Dice Raw, Rahzel and the original Roots crew dropped the Philly Hip Hop collective’s second LP Do You Want More?!!!??! on DGC Records. Recognized as a classic fusion of Hip Hop and jazz, Do You Want More?!!!??! was the first major full-length debut from the Philly-based group.

Produced primarily by The Grand Negaz and Questlove, the singles the led the album was the catchy “You Ain’t Fly”, “The Lesson Part 1”, which introduced Black Thought’s lyrical protegé, the one, and only Dice Raw.

Commercially, the album didn’t do the number doing its era, however, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA more than two decades after the year of its release(2015).

Salute to Mr. Tariq Trotter, Questlove, the beatbox extraordinaire Rahzel, Dice Raw and the entire Roots crew for this.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Roots Released Their Sophomore Album ‘Do You Want More?!!!??!’ 28 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Roots Released Their Sophomore Album ‘Do You Want More?!!!??!’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

The Roots Picnic Unveils Epic Lineup For Hip-Hop’s 50th

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The Roots

​​The Roots have recently unveiled the much-anticipated lineup for their annual event, The Roots Picnic. Featuring Queen Latifah, Common, and other notable artists, the anticipation for this summertime gathering is palpable.

Welcome To The Stage

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, The Roots announced the lineup for their official “Hip Hop Is The Love Of My Life, The Roots Picnic.” The highly anticipated event is set to be a monumental event hosted by Live Nation Urban, Roots Picnic, and LA Phil. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0uForLODac/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The picnic aims to commemorate hip-hop’s rich history and influence over the past 50 years. The event is scheduled at The Hollywood Bowl, making it accessible to a broad audience.

Who Will Be In Attendance?

The powerhouse lineup unveiled for The Roots Picnic is nothing short of extraordinary. With iconic acts such as Common, Queen Latifah,  and The Roots, attendees can expect a captivating musical experience. 

Adding to the excitement, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, The Pharcyde, and Black Sheep will also hit the stage, bringing their unique styles and influences to the picnic. Fans all around have taken to Instagram to express their enthusiasm for the lineup. 

One user (@missmeowmix) stated, “Y’all need Beatnuts & Jeru too!” While another user (@ebkaplan) stated, “Please bring this crew back east toooooooo please please 🙏🏼 thank you ❤” The overwhelmingly positive response from fans showcases the immense anticipation and support that awaits The Roots Picnic.

The Hollywood Bowl presale began on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 10 AM PT, followed by a Bandsintown presale with the code “LOVE.” Presales ended on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 10 PM PT, and the public on-sale began on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 10 AM PT. 

The Roots Picnic 2K23

The Roots Picnic has always been the perfect way to kick off summer with a bang. The 2023 Roots Picnic held at The Mann at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia was a resounding commercial success from June 2nd to 4th. With a focus on the hottest names in R&B, the event showcased a lineup that enthralled audiences.

Rolling Loud 2K24

In other lineup news, controversy arose when Lil Uzi Vert publicly claimed he had not agreed to perform at Rolling Loud California. Future and Metro Boomin later replaced the rapper to replace him.

The post The Roots Picnic Unveils Epic Lineup For Hip-Hop’s 50th appeared first on SOHH.com.

The Roots Picnic Is Coming To Hollywood In 2024 With Common, Queen Latifah And More

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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 Self here) 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.

Allow Tariq Trotter To Introduce Himself

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Black Thought
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https://uproxx.com/music/common-molested-let-love-have-the-last-word/It’s safe to say that hip-hop is in its memoir era. Many of the genre’s most prominent figures are starting to enter the age range where they can look back with not just nostalgia, but wisdom to share. Although hip-hop is such an autobiographical musical form, it turns out that many of these figures, from Common to Fat Joe to Jeezy to Lil Kim and more, have a lot more stories to tell than the ones they’ve already shared in their music and interviews over the past 20-30 years.

That goes double for Tariq Trotter, aka Black Thought, the frontman of The Roots, and bar for bar the best rapper of all time. Though he’s been a fixture of the music business for 30-plus years at this point, the truth is, we don’t really know much about him. He’s rap’s foremost wordsmith and storyteller, but so little of his output at this point has been about himself, that as he points out over an expansive and illuminating Zoom call, even longtime fans feel he’s a bit of a mystery.

He sheds light on that mystery with his new book, The Upcycled Self: A Memoir On The Art of Becoming Who We Are, out now via Penguin Random House. Starting with a traumatic, world-changing fire he caused when he was just six years old, and encompassing his childhood in South Philly, from rock fights with friends to surprising anecdotes of dabbling with petty crime to meeting and mind-melding with Amir “Questlove” Thompson, the book unveils new facets of the titanic rap icon, humanizing him in the process.

It’s a beautiful and worthwhile read, and in a wide-ranging conversation discussing the book, he reveals the intentionality behind that sentiment, praises his co-author, Jasmine Martin, and gets as nerdy about Ken Burns as I get about The Roots.

First of all, congratulations on your Grammy nomination. I actually really quickly looked up, I believe this is the first time you’ve been nominated as yourself for the music, not executive producing. How does that feel? You’re three decades into your career, and it’s your first Grammy nomination as Black Thought the rapper, not a member of The Roots, or executive producer of the Hamilton soundtrack?

It’s dope, man. It’s a huge honor. I’m real excited. And just a pleasant surprise, man. You don’t go into these things expecting anything, right? That’s not what I do it for. It’s not for the accolades. It’s not for someone to say, “Oh, yo, that’s dope.” And it’s not for an award. I make music for someone to say, “Hey, this helped me get through a thing, or address a thing. This made me better. I’ve been made better, after experiencing this art.” Everything else is cake, man. If somebody says, “Oh, yo, I want to give you a trophy too,” that’s dope.

It’s funny that you should mention that you wanted it to be something that helped because we’re talking about the book, and we’re talking about The Upcycled Self. This book did two things. One, it recontextualized some of your art for me. But two, it also … I had never thought of Black Thought in terms of baby Black Thought. Like young, childlike Black Thought. And the descriptions you give of yourself and Amir, I realized mirrored me in a lot more ways. Now, you’ve recontextualized me for me. And also, it was meaningful because, in a roundabout way, you’re the reason I even have this job.

I’m sending you an invoice.

So for example, in your Funk Flex freestyle, the line, “Things we lost in the fire.” Double entendre. But in the book, you talk about burning your family home down playing with matches. But now I know, oh, that’s incredible. What other lines, or what other moments do you think this will be able to put into a new perspective or a new life for long-term fans who’ve been on it since Illadelph Halflife, or Do You Want More?!!!??!, or Things Fall Apart?

I think every moment. Because that’s sort of the intention. They say to be intentional about what it is that you’re doing. And in this endeavor, the intention was to grant access in that way. It’s not to abandon a new fan or a newcomer or someone who just has stumbled upon The Roots or arrived upon Black Thought. They’re welcome too, and this is for them too.

But I would meet folks who say, “Yo, I’ve been rocking with you for 30 years at this point, and I still feel like I don’t know you. How is it that I know so many of your lyrics, you know what I mean? I can quote music, I can quote your whole body of work, but there’s a disconnect in that I don’t still know who the man behind the music is. I’m not as familiar as I should be, or would be in any other dynamic with the artist.”

And I mean, after the 10th, 11th, 20th time, you hear that, you start to think, okay, maybe there’s something in there. That it’s something that I can address. It became an opportunity for me to essentially humanize myself. There are people who are such huge fans of The Roots, and of my writing, who rocked with us for such a long time.

What we do as MCs has always been about building ourselves up — sometimes to a fault. So it’s always been about bigging up ourselves, and bigging up our block, and bigging up our community. And after a point, after all of the build, you have this figure, this legend, this brand, whatever, can reach proportions where it’s larger than life. And I don’t know that that is always the best thing. I think it’s more effective and beneficial to us all to show the other nuance, to show the other side of the coin. For every Dr. King, every Malcolm X, every larger-than-life figure — they’re still people. They’re still these persons, and we’re all flawed. And I think that’s the real work.

Two chapters stood out for me: the Cassie chapter and the Luqmann chapter. How did you decide to use your family members’ third-party perspectives to come back around and give you more context on them? Because I feel like that context on them does kind of help to inform your story as well.

That tool is part of the brilliance of my co-author, Jasmine Martin. It’s so seamless, and so it comes from a really real place. This is a woman who’s never met my mother, obviously. She has had the opportunity maybe once to interact with my Uncle Luqmann. I think she may have interviewed him for something else some years ago.

But yeah, I think that was the brilliance of what she was able to bring into this process is that perspective and those glimpses. In those asides, that’s where I was moved to the most emotion. That’s when I tear up, because it’s a chance to, especially in my mother’s case, it’s a chance to hear from what feels like firsthand her take on where I am in life.

I wonder how you have the time to do all that you do. Because when I started listing the things that I know you for and that I’ve been like, oh, watching you do this, and then now you’re doing TV, now you’re doing this, I watched Brooklyn Babylon 87 times when I was 15. What’s the next thing for you? How do you keep fulfilling that creative drive?

For me at this point, it has to present a challenge. I’m most engaged when I’m rising to a challenge and having to do any job that I can’t do on autopilot. It’s something that is beyond another notch in the belt. It’s a spiritual sort of thing that happens through achievement, through the realization of a goal. Especially when it’s something that feels impossible or completely unachievable.

That’s where I live right now, and those are the projects that are most exciting for me to take on. Those are the projects that I feel benefit both me and the beholder, receiver, listener, and viewer the most. So what happens next in this journey I think is “onward and upward.” I don’t think anything is ever going to change. I’m not going to, now at 50 plus, I’m not going to start telling a different story. It’s that I think I’m just becoming wiser, more experienced, more skilled, and more efficient in telling the same story and focusing on the parts of my story that people are going to resonate with the most.

I always ask this question in all my interviews because I have to ask a lot of the same questions, biographical questions, things like that. What is something that you’ve always wanted to talk about? If you had the chance to ask yourself the question, what would you want to talk about the most? And what would you want to say?

People always ask me, how much do you read? Where do you get the … what fuels the proverbial creative fire? I mean, how are you able to cover such an expansive amount of content in such a short period of time? Where does the motivation for these bursts come from? And though I obviously read a lot, I’m an advocate for reading, a literacy advocate… people always think the inspiration comes from something more scholastic.

But honestly, it’s not that I watch a lot of TV, but I’m a big documentary buff. I’m a huge fan of the Ken Burns of the world. Anything that he touches, directs, or produces, I’m rocking with that. Right now, I’m in the middle of The American Buffalo, which I didn’t even know that joint was out. My daughter, who’s a high school senior, came home like, “We watched a super boring documentary today in school, but I knew it was something that you would be into.” I said, “What was it?” And she said, “Something about the buffalo.” And I was like, “Oh, wow. I thought it was this other Ken Burns doc called The West,” which there’s a segment that concentrates on the buffalo. I didn’t know he did a whole joint, a three-part thing that was just on the American Buffalo. So then I had to dig that joint up.

Do you still keep a written-down shitlist in an encyclopedia of all the people who get on your nerves?

Not in an encyclopedia. It’s in my phone, though. I got lots of stuff. All I got to do is go to my notes and type in “irk” and it all comes up.

LL COOL J and The Roots Reimagine “Mama Said Knock You Out” for NBA In-Season Tournament

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LL COOL J and The Roots Reimagine "Mama Said Knock You Out" for NBA In-Season Tournament

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has unveiled a thrilling collaboration between Grammy Award-winning hip-hop legend LL COOL J and the four-time Grammy Award-winning group The Roots. Together, they have reimagined the iconic song “Mama Said Knock You Out” to serve as the official anthem for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.

This bespoke anthem blends LL COOL J’s Grammy-winning hit “Mama Said Knock You Out” with the lively hook from The Roots’ popular track “Here I Come.” The result is a dynamic musical backdrop that will accompany the various stages of the In-Season Tournament, starting with Group Play involving all 30 NBA teams and culminating in the Championship.

The anthem spot pays homage to the original VMA Award-winning music video while injecting a modern twist. LL COOL J’s presence transitions from the boxing ring to the hardwood of the In-Season Tournament stage, complete with a tribute to the tournament’s coveted trophy, the NBA Cup, and a live performance by The Roots.

“I’ve been a fan of the NBA ever since I can remember, and it’s a real honor to have my record serving as the anthem for this monumental moment,” said LL COOL J. “I’m excited to see the energy of the song translate to the play on the court during the NBA In-Season Tournament.”

You can see the tournament anthem video below.

The post LL COOL J and The Roots Reimagine “Mama Said Knock You Out” for NBA In-Season Tournament first appeared on The Source.

The post LL COOL J and The Roots Reimagine “Mama Said Knock You Out” for NBA In-Season Tournament appeared first on The Source.

LL Cool J And The Roots Teamed Up To Create An Anthem For The Inaugural In-Season Tournament

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The NBA is going all-out for the newest addition to its calendar. For years, it’s been reported that Adam Silver wanted the league to adopt some sort of additional competition that took place during the regular season, and earlier this year, the announcement came that the NBA would institute the inaugural In-Season Tournament during the 2023-24 campaign.

We’ve seen some of the ways that the league wants to hype up the event already. There will be dedicated nights of the week over the next month — Tuesdays (minus Election Day) and Fridays — that will serve as tournament nights. There will be special courts and jerseys for those games, and there’s a terrific ad for the whole thing that seems ripped from the Oceans series. Once the four semifinalists are determined, those teams will head to Las Vegas for the semifinals and final.

And on Friday morning, the league unveiled the latest way it’s looking to add a little bit of excitement to the festivities. LL Cool J and The Roots teamed up to combine the song “Mama Said Knock You Out” with the melody of “Here I Come” to create the official anthem for the event.

“I’ve been a fan of the NBA ever since I can remember, and it’s a real honor to have my record serving as the anthem for this monumental moment,” LL Cool J said in a statement. “I’m excited to see the energy of the song translate to the play on the court during the NBA In-Season Tournament.”

The first slate of In-Season Tournament games begins on Friday, Nov. 3.

Questlove Shares Heartfelt Throwback To Celebrate Black Thought’s 50th Birthday

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In a heartwarming celebration of friendship and musical legacy, Questlove, the frontman of The Roots, recently marked the 50th birthday of his longtime friend and colleague, Black Thought. The iconic musician took to Instagram on Wednesday, October 4, to share a cherished moment from their past. He posted a “first-ever” photo they snapped together. Questlove’s Instagram post offered a touching glimpse into their deep bond that has endured over decades.

In the caption accompanying the nostalgic image, he shared the sentimentality of the moment. He revealed “Took forever finding this photo we took back in high school in 1988. Our first ever photo. I’m not even sure if we were Radioactivity yet. I wish I could let these two know the journey that lay ahead for them.” As Questlove commemorated Black Thought’s 50th birthday, his Instagram post resonated with fans. The photo offered a small insight into the enduring friendship and artistic journey shared by these two influential figures. The “first-ever” photo serves as a symbol of their camaraderie and their ability to inspire countless others through their music and friendship.

Read More: The Roots Got Their Big Break In A Philly Strip Club, According To Questlove

Questlove Shares Early Photo Of Himself And Black Thought

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Questlove (@questlove)

The photograph captures a significant moment from the duo’s high school days. It highlights a time before they achieved fame and recognition as musicians. It serves as a reminder of their humble beginnings and the remarkable journey they embarked on together. For those less familiar with Questlove and Black Thought’s musical careers, they are at the helm of The Roots, a renowned hip-hop band that has transcended musical boundaries. The group is celebrated not only for their groundbreaking music but also for their role as the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Black Thought, whose real name is Tariq Trotter, is renowned for his lyrical prowess and is often regarded as one of the most influential lyricists in hip-hop history. His contributions to The Roots have played an integral role in shaping the landscape of modern hip-hop. Meanwhile, Questlove, born Ahmir Khalib Thompson, is a multi-talented musician, producer, and author who has left an indelible mark on the music industry. His commitment to preserving the cultural roots of music while pushing artistic boundaries has earned him widespread acclaim. Most recently Questlove was responsible for curating the Hip-Hop 50 tribute performance for the 2023 Grammys. Stay tuned to HNHH for more music news.

Read More: Questlove Details Why Some Artists Didn’t Perform For Hip Hop 50th Grammy Tribute

The post Questlove Shares Heartfelt Throwback To Celebrate Black Thought’s 50th Birthday appeared first on HotNewHipHop.