The Roots (feat. Joanna Newsom & S.T.S) - Right On

The Roots. Not affiliated with LeVar Burton.

The Roots are a deep band in many senses. They have an incredibly long career in which hey've collaborated with some of the great artists of our time, from John Legend to Erykah Badu to Mos Def and too many others to name. They've gotten more accolades in 1/4 of their career than most artists can claim in their whole lives. The bands content is deep as well, with smart lyrics and instrumentation. Questlove and Black Thought are two of the most respected artists in their fields, and their influence can be felt everywhere, as the band still manages to achieve a good amount of commercial success. And somehow, one of the most legendary bands ever still manages to play every night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon! Now he definitely has good taste in music. It's puzzling why The Roots aren't labeled as "America's Band". They just never seemed to achieve the success of artist like Jay-Z or Bruce Springsteen that they deserved (I'd say the Roots are where those two ends of the musical spectrum meet and make sweet love). Maybe it's their afro-centricity, or maybe they don't make super pop hits, but whatever the case, The Roots are a legendary band in every sense of the word.

Their evolution as a band is strikingly evident in the sonic progression of their albums. Each album is a large leap from the last one, and among The Roots best albums is their nearly flawless 2010 release How I Got Over. Consistently jazzy instrumentals layered over spacious beats and a slew of great guest stars make this Roots album one of their most consistent and wholly enjoyable. The Roots can easily be alienating to a mainstream audience (really anything with  Erykah Badu is probably alienating) but How I Got Over is instantly accessible without sacrificing any musical integrity. It's the In Rainbows of The Roots catalog, if you will.

Of the many standout tracks on the album, one in particular characterizes the neo-soul grooves and jazzy vibes that defines the album. That song is "Right On".

I could tell you that Joanna Newsom's vocals would be equally haunting and comforting at once and perfectly complement the distant piano arpeggios and smooth beat, but that would be pretentious and the joke format would be equally stupid. And honestly, has Black Thought ever NOT come correct on a verse? Even his Jimmy Fallon freestyles manage to be catchy and coherent. I'd say he's one of the most underrated MC's of all time, but nah, dude is mad respected. Regardless, he has a joke about midgets in one of his bars and even that is bearable, so you know his verse is cool. Sugar Tongue Slim AKA STS drops a good verse too, with talk of how he and The Roots are the last shining stars in hip-hop, and really, any verse with a Pete Rose reference is cool with me. Equally expected is the beat, which Roots drummer, Questlove, goes in on, with hard hitting snares and breaks that are equally danceable and equitable for a laid back evening with a pretty brunette and a glass of scotch. You push the locks that cover her forehead to the side of her face, tucking it neatly in the space behind her ear, much like a mother Kangaroo would do with her baby Joey... You whisper sweet nothings into her ear as she giggles and blushes much like a blooming pink flower does in the spring. The sounds of the rustling leather couch intermingle in the air with the hazy drunkenness of the night and... You wake up from your daze. It turns out you were writing a shitty blog that nobody will read about music you like... Nietzsche was right. Other than that, the track is overall great, and strangely never had rotation on the radio, even though it strikes a balance between pop appeal and intellectual integrity. The sad story of The Roots commercial success is not so sad I guess. Jimmy Fallon is a great platform for nationwide distribution, and if you don't know who The Roots are already, do yourself a favor and check out their whole discography. The stuff that legends are made of.

Credit to GQ Magazine. Do I actually have to do that? Fuck it, I'm not getting sued.

Now that you know that The Roots are an awesome band, go forth and engage in the wondrous pleasantries of their sonic delights, the jazzy hip-hop wave train awaits you! No, but really. Check out the entirety of this awesome bands work, you won't regret it.

As always, please share, enjoy, and spread the love. Peace.