Esteemed Roots conductor Questlove will release a memoir that is sure to be must-read material in June this year through Grand Central Publishing.
Relaunching after some years in the abyss, the acclaimed Okayplayer Records, home to some of the most revered acts in Hip Hop history makes its long awaited return to business. Much like the label's own rise from the ashes, South Carolina rapper Danny Swain - or Danny! - embarks on his comeback of sorts, with his new album released through the OKP label.
The spirited and animated rapper/producer has had more than his fair share of musical obstacles and industry politics to hinder his progression. But after much grafting and co-signs from The Roots' stickman Questlove and the empirical Jay-Z, Swain's Payback LP carries extra momentum upon its release.
In the sea of name-checking and auto-tuning Hip Hop and R&B acts that have graced our shores from the US recently, it’s easy to forget what the artists’ voices actually sound like. Then along comes John Legend and The Roots with their covers album - appropriately named Wake Up! - and we’re reminded what R&B and Hip Hop in it’s truest – and in my opinion best - form really sounds like.
Hammersmith Apollo was the setting for their first ever collaborative UK tour and gone were the over-produced instruments and vocal distortions that we’ve become used to [from lesser acts] and in their place the distinguishable, pure voice of John Legend fused with the powerful rap of Black Thought and the rest of the finely tuned yet unpredictable band that make up The Roots.
Questlove sat down with GoWhere Hip Hop in Chicago this weekend to share how his work with John Legend on Obama's presidential campaign in 2008 led to their new collaborative album, Wake Up! [out tomorrow], why being the house band on Late Night With...