volume seems kind of muted but the song (seems to need to be "fuller")

good song


(vevo link in the link)

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-the-roots-explosive-new-song-for-detroit-soundtrack-w494030

Hear the Roots' Explosive 'It Ain't Fair' for 'Detroit' Soundtrack
Hip-hop outfit crafts fiery Motown homage alongside singer Bilal

By Jon Blistein

The Roots and singer Bilal unveiled a ferocious new song, "It Ain't Fair." The track will appear on the soundtrack for Kathryn Bigelow's new film Detroit, about the 1967 12th Street riot.


Oscar-winning filmmaker turns the Motor City's 1967 riot into devastating case study of police brutality, misjustice and need for healing

The Detroit soundtrack is full of Sixties soul, doo-wop and R&B and boasts several classic Motown acts including Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Brenda Holloway and the Elgins. On "It Ain't Fair," the Roots craft a faithful homage to the Motown sound with an orchestral pop melange of horns, strings, guitar and drums. Bilal opens the track with an a cappella dirge and brings the song to a searing and soulful conclusion while Roots MC Black Thought tears through the middle with relentless righteousness: "Justice is never color blind, never gun shy," he spits. "For one crime, you may never see the sunshine."

"This song is the slow burning fire inside all of our souls," Roots drummer Questlove tells Rolling Stone. "Watching the movie clearly shows that life in 1967 isn't that much different in 2017 or 1897 for that matter. We wanted to hit many a bird with one stone: Humanize the pain, confusion and sadness. But also express the overdue anger. Not only to the powers that be but also to those on the sideline that can afford to turn the other way because it doesn't effect them at the moment."

Detroit chronicles the 1967 12th Street riot with an eye towards both its historical context and continued relevance in the age of Black Lives Matter. While the movie tracks the riot from its beginning – a police raid of a black-owned business hosting an illegal bar – it focuses specifically on the events at the Algiers Motel. There, three black men were killed after a stand-off with police, while seven black men and two white women were severely beaten. Three officers were charged in the incident and all were found not guilty.

The film stars John Boyega, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore, Jason Mitchell, Hannah Murray, Kaitlyn Dever and Will Poulter. Detroit marks Bigelow's first feature-length film since 2012's Zero Dark Thirty and finds her reuniting with screenwriter Mark Boal, who wrote both Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker.

The film opens August 4th, while the soundtrack arrives July 28th via Motown.

if there's a better verse this year than the 2nd jawn on here

I need to hear it.

BT = GOAT.

---------------------------------------------------------------

If you can't understand it without an explanation

you can't understand it with an explanation

whole song is very good

Not sure why nobody in the crew won't check that dude.

2 hooks tops. And that's me being generous.

The thing is, I don't even dislike Dice. I mean, I hate his hooks and singing but I don't hold shit against him.

He's doing his thing.

He's just better at rapping and should do what he's best at.

With that said, this is all about QUALITY.

and Bilal on the hooks is 100x the QUALITY than what Dice has been doing.

I'm actually surprised ?uesto is cool with the shit considering how on top of the product he is.

I get Bilal may cost more or maybe there are some label politics etc with him doing everything but come on...you have access the vocalists that will take your songs and concepts over the top and you continue to just rock with some super average shit.

Nah man...this track is just more proof.

The OtherSide on Undun stuck out like crazy!

>The OtherSide on Undun stuck out like crazy!

I mean...but you didn't like Lighthouse tho? Or Make My? Those two were perfect to me. Tip the Scale was dope too...on undun, I can only see the anti-Dice argument on One Time...and that hook's not bad either, but it would sound better sung by someone else...and produced differently (the vocals)

On the low, the only hook on undun that bothers me is "I Remember"...I'm down with repetition, but the lyrics on that one are a little too circular for me

EDIT: This new song FIE tho

The songs you mentioned would have a different texture to them if they had a singer with a classic voice.

Dice's voice gives off a sense of vulnerability. Not necessarily because of the vocal tone, but the lack of polish to his voice fits the songs on undun. As if Redford also wouldn't have a sense of greatness to him.

As far as the folks who don't like Dice, is your issue with the fact that his voice doesn't have a classic sound or that the style of singing - almost like a rock singer whose voice breaks or doesn't have great range - doesn't fit with the songs?

>
>As far as the folks who don't like Dice, is your issue with
>the fact that his voice doesn't have a classic sound or that
>the style of singing - almost like a rock singer whose voice
>breaks or doesn't have great range - doesn't fit with the
>songs?

I like Dice, hate his hooks (for the most part).

And its not even his voice as much as how corny those hooks are.

Dude up top mentioned Lighthouse. I've said before that sh!t sounds like a jingle to an anti-depressant commercial or some sh!t.

I find Make My pretty grating too.


Only Dice hook on Undun I liked (that I can think of off the top) is Tip The Scale. And his voice fits it perfect. So, that's why I say I am okay with 1 or 2.


I'd bet money Dice wrote the repetitive a$$ simpleton I Remember hook too.


Anyway, new track is dope.

>Dude up top mentioned Lighthouse. I've said before that sh!t
>sounds like a jingle to an anti-depressant commercial or some
>sh!t.
>

So you don't think a singer like Bilal could give you vulnerability?

I get the "his voice works for the song" angle but I would be willing to bet Bilal would do those songs much better.

Even of those songs are good as is with Dice, when you here OtherSide you think "damn Bilal killed this hook". You can't say that about any Dice feature.

>So you don't think a singer like Bilal could give you
>vulnerability?
>

>I get the "his voice works for the song" angle but I would be
>willing to bet Bilal would do those songs much better.
>
>Even of those songs are good as is with Dice, when you here
>OtherSide you think "damn Bilal killed this hook". You can't
>say that about any Dice feature.

Okay, after re-listening to undu, especially Make My and Lighthouse your point seems clearer. The songs are alright to me, but listening with a close ear to the vocals of the hooks and imagining someone like Bilal or even Phonte, it's clear that Dice's voice isn't as versatile as it seemed. I still like the hooks well enough, but you do have a point.

You are definitely right about The OtherSide. Bilal fit that hook well because the song is one of the few optimistic songs on the album and the energy of Bilal's voice matches the theme of the song. But the other, more somber songs were okay with Dice's voice to me.

But then again Dice was responsible for a lot of the writing of the album so he probably thought his voice fit the themes of the songs better than a singer with a better voice.

>Even of those songs are good as is with Dice, when you here
>OtherSide you think "damn Bilal killed this hook". You can't
>say that about any Dice feature.

While I can hear what you're all saying (Now or Never), for the most part I've appreciated the subtlety of Dice's hooks and what he brought to the table. I love Bilal's hook on The Other Side, and many others, but I don't want that on every hook.

As for a time Dice killed a feature, How I Got Over was always a standout to me.

there comes a time in every mans life when he's gotta handle shit up on his own Can't depend on friends to help you in a squeeze, please they got problems of their own---slim kid3

I love Bilal's hook on The
>Other Side, and many others, but I don't want that on every
>hook.
>

I find it hilarious that people don't think Bilal has the range to give you any style you want...while sounding perfect. He's only proven that on the endless features he's killed.

And the only reason I said Bilal on everything is because Dice does everything. My point is that The Roots have access and have worked with many quality singers throughout their career and I just find it odd they have went this direction.

>And the only reason I said Bilal on everything is because Dice
>does everything. My point is that The Roots have access and
>have worked with many quality singers throughout their career
>and I just find it odd they have went this direction.

Maybe because they, I don't know... feel that direction best represents their artistic intent at this point in their work???

Really, it's not rocket science. The dead horse that is the Dice Raw component of their more recent output has been beaten to such a pulp that it is hard to remember it was ever a horse in the first place. It's silly and tired. If folks don't like it, fine, no one is forcing it upon you --- but at some point, get over it, realize it's the direction the artists themselves want to take, and maybe they're not speaking to you in the same way anymore. Find another band or something, get a hobby, make some new life goals...


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

but....

fans are known not to do that.

You could say that is lame

but....

we live in a world where people get all worked up over sports and athletes

so...

lameness about stuff people should "let go" seems common

so...

Music fans will keep giving bands/artists feedback instead of moving on

and....

a band like Van Halen for some reason was influenced to go back to someone the fans had "never gotten over leaving" David Lee Roth

so...

fans know bands/artists can be eventually "influenced" by fans who just keep up their gripes.

Eddie Van Halen really didn't want to go back to David Lee Roth but he said the fans really connect with Dave

Immature? maybe but music fans keep it up just like sports fans

I also find I funny that you equate me speaking on the situation to men or having anything else on my mind.

The topic came up after the band proved me, and many others, right again with this new track.

They can go in whatever direction they want and I can give my opinion on it. Since when do fans just shut up and not comment on their favorite band?

This always happens with the Roots btw.

I love the Roots, they are actually my favorite group of all time.


But...whenever something less than positive is said about their output, someone rushes to say some stupid sh!t...no doubt hoping that 15 sees you rushing to their defense.


It isn't about needing life goals...and it isn't even really comparable to sports fans who take things too far.


Its just simply "oh snap, this track dope...I hope there is less Dice hooks this time"

Simple as that. Definitely not Rocket Science as you said.


And not worth coming in to defend the Roots honor. We all still love em.

I have no problem w/folks criticizing any artist, whether they are a fav of mine or not -- I think my post history attests to that. I actually wrote that post way too quickly on a crummy day, so I acknowledge the unnecessary snark. (I had almost forgotten I wrote it all together.)

My perspective is this: I think the easiest and *least* productive form of music discussion/music criticism is one that proceeds from a question of lack in the track (i.e. "what this really needs is...") or basic preference ("ugh, i hate dice raw on the hook!"). This sort of criticism is based primarily in what a listener/audience believes could or should be there, focusing on what would make the piece better in relation to their everyday preferences. This sort of criticism isn't bad -- but it engages very little with the work itself and more with one's own particular musical ideals/preferences. It sheds less light on the work than on the person making the criticism.

I think the hardest and most productive form of music discussion and criticism is one that takes what an artist has given us and attempts to make sense of it not from a place of immediate preference, but with a mind toward what the piece is doing, how it operates, why it feels the way it does, etc. In this case we deal with what is there, rather than what we want to be there or what we think should be there. This is all the more important if we are dealing with something that comes from an artist we respect, someone who we believe makes or is trying to make art.

Sometimes this involves thinking about artist intent, sometimes it doesn't.

In the case of The Roots, I just think the complaints about Dice really are a dead horse. More often than not, major Roots threads over the past few years devolve into "too little BT" and handwringing over Dice's role and voice. Combined with the fact that from a purely preferential standpoint, the general consensus here is that the Roots haven't rocked it well since at least Undun, the result is that there is very little substantial discussion about the music that's there -- which I think is a shame, as it's pretty clear from a number of framing devices that quest and crew at least *wanted* them to have musical and artistic and intellectual heft, whether or not that came off in the end. So instead of asking "why are they hanging tough w/Dice on the hooks?" - which is actually a really interesting question to me - it becomes a game to see who would do "better" on the hooks. Instead of asking what the music is doing, it becomes a groan-fest over why BT only has a few verses (even though we would never rate a Miles album based on the number of notes he played...).

But I'm not naive: positive criticism has and always will be the underdog. It's our default position, all the more so with the true deluge of accessible music now open to us. Quantity isn't going to make it any easier to keep at least a bit of space in our listening habits for different types of music engagement, spaces that ask us to appreciate what's there rather than A&R it from the get go.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I'll be back later but in the end, you said a lot just to say "be nice to artists".

Lol @ discussing "why did The Roots go in this direction with Dice" and "what do they want me to feel".

Those questions are already answered. We are past that point.

You are trying too hard to be deep about this.

The end result is that the music isn't as good period.

Criticism comes from the standpoint of "what could improve this"

People get caught up in their feelings.

I'll be back after work...but I think you really need to step down from the ledge.

>I'll be back later but in the end, you said a lot just to say
>"be nice to artists".

If that's really what you took away from it, then we're not going to have a conversation that will go anywhere -- so don't waste time.

Peace. Listen and discuss in the ways that give you what you need.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I have made more than one "I hate dice on the hook" posts over the years. It's just ridiculous.

GamerTag and PSN: PokeEmAll

But after the first listen it's pretty good.

i wonder if the brass band will play on the next album.

It's available now.

I swear 'fo God I couldn't find it online until this afternoon, and I checked last night and this AM.

It's on Google Play (my preferred digital music retailer), thankfully.

Does anyone know if this is a digital-only release? Curious to see what the liner notes are like if it's out on CD. Might want to get that instead.

I don't see it on Motown's website. "Detroit Rock City: Music From The Motion Picture" by Kiss keeps popping up when I search for it on Amazon...

--
"Music is not to be possessed; it's to be shared.” - James Mtume

"Just stay loose, keep it raw, and bang ya drums out sometimes." - Madlib

is knowing there's a red vinyl version of the single for this song that apparently isn't available for purchase directly. I believe ?uest posted a photo of it on his instagram and according to one of the comments on the photo, it was only pressed as a promotional item of some sort by Jack White record label.

Meh.

"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.

dope seeing how those horns turned out

Great song. Can't wait for this next Roots album.

there comes a time in every mans life when he's gotta handle shit up on his own Can't depend on friends to help you in a squeeze, please they got problems of their own---slim kid3

It's almost always a good thing when Bilal gets to go Full Bilal on a track.

---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------

They can easily make the most soulful original
records AND the dopest Hip Hop records or a mix
thereof in 2017 IF they want to. You have alotta
people trying their best to do both when the roots
could show them all how it's done at will, so
thank the heavens for this record.

I was pretty surprised by the ?uest quote in the
article too about 1967 and 1897. Real talk.

~
~
~
~
~
Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

https://youtu.be/3vJDBVJ2HeE

~
~
~
~
~
Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

yes

puts a smile on my face to see BT and The Roots 20+ years in, and still WINNING LARGE.

************************************************************

of any rapper ever.
dude is always crystal and never sloppy.

how about best LIVE performance altogether

It ain't like he's spitting fire (literally actual fire) and swinging from the rafters circa the old David Banner live shows. He's standing still, rapping. And the music was drowning him out a little bit at points.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

This is one of those songs I'd love to see live in a club/concert.

Crowd was shook, lol

how Bilal gets swept up in the emotions of the song, storms off stage, yet no one else misses a beat with the performing the song. I'm not clowning anyone because it's a great performance and a top level song as well, but the juxtaposition of the two emotional states is funny to observe.

"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.

when I was back in Philly for the early years of the Black Lily showcases..I remember walking up into the Five Spot while Bilal was performing only to find him screaming the croon lying ON HIS BACK....

it was like walking into a Pentecostal church

When Bilal lets his singing get him in the feels....the performance just hits another level.

He's exactly like a soloist at a Black Pentacostal church.
---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------

Like The Roots are the musical guest the whole week and we get 5 performances. It would be dope since they prolly won't be doing very much touring and singles and all that.

Plus knowing them they would prolly have different music than the album versions you could sell it as the "The Fallon Sessions" later on.

phemom's the name, all-star writer/
searching 4 journalistic fame, mindframe igniter....www.twitter.com/hayabusaage

.

************************************************************

because I'd love for them to be able to have that chance. It always makes me laugh when ?uest starts waxing poetic about his own stuff though ("This song is the fire that burns in our souls").

__________________________________________
CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
------------------------------------
Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this

after Black Thought's second verse are a thing of beauty. Nice, simple, calm licks to complement the emotional build of what Bilal and Black Thought were saying.

"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.

They didn't perform It Ain't Fair. Don't know if they felt it would've been a buzzkill or if it's because Bilal wasn't there to perform. Honestly, I can't see anyone else stepping into his footsteps, so that might have been the right decision.

So, good choice there. My guy from DC said that he thought a large part of the audience leave when Essence left. Did that happen?

>So, good choice there. My guy from DC said that he thought a
>large part of the audience leave when Essence left. Did that
>happen?

But, I was sitting near the front and didn't really look back. Most of the people I saw get up after Rare Essence were just getting drinks. Saw Quest digging their show in the background. Hopefully, he used it to schedule some interviews for a Go-Go themed show on Questlove Supreme.

Michael Che handled the mic situation well.

Now I did see alot of people leaving two songs early. My old ass should've done the same because I paid the price at work the next day. Glad I stayed though. Black Thought is still one of the best to do it and the band sounded great.