The Roots
14 Mar 08, Fri Concert Hall $58*, $88**, $118
USA
"... A hip-hop band that strikes a very funky balance between righteousness and humor, between headbanging grooves and truth-telling." - Rolling Stone
With none of the bling, the songs about pimpin', or the hi-shine production gloss of today's rap stars, legendary Grammy®-award-winning rap group The Roots, one of the world's best and Philadelphia's finest, always takes audiences back to what's real and truly fine in the best of hip-hop.
Grounded in ol skool freestylin' and the bone-deep funk-soul feel that gives hip-hop its groove, the group has stayed at the forefront of hip-hop reinvention for almost two decades with its progressiveness. Constantly woven into its basic hip-hop groove are elements of rock, punk, hardcore, speed metal, electronica, drum and bass... Add to this some of the smartest, sharpest narratives in the history of rap, and the result is top-notch, incisive, edgy material that works your brains and hips.
The Roots is also one of a few crews in the world to perform with a full live band. Besides founding duo Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter spitting killer rhymes and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson laying out drum funk and jungle beats, the crew includes original member Kamal Gray on keys, Kirk "Captain Kirk" Douglas murder on guitar, Owen Biddle on bass, Frank Walker on percussion, and introducing, on sousaphone, Damon "Tuba Gooding, Jr." Bryson. The group has released acclaimed albums and worked with Alicia Keys, Nelly Furtado, Dice Raw, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott and Jay-Z.
Come hear them rock the party!
Concert Hall
7.30pm (90mins, no intermission)
$58*, $88**, $118
(Concessions for students, NSF and senior citizens: $40*, $60**)
Tickets on Sale on 1 Feb 08