http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110604/music_nm/us_theroots

NEW YORK (Billboard) – For the follow-up to the Roots' 2010 album, "How I Got Over," drummer ?uestlove says the veteran hip-hop band is planning a "concept album" with orchestral arrangements.

"This is going to be our first full-fledged narrative concept album," ?uestlove told Billboard.com at New York's Buddakan, where he and frontman Black Thought hosted an event Wednesday to promote two upcoming events in their hometown of Philadelphia: this Saturday's Roots Picnic festival, and Philly's Fourth of July Jam. "It's going to be a challenge to figure out how to get from point A to B -- or in this case, point B to point A," he hinted, "and have it seem natural."

Black Thought added that conceptually, the album will stem from the "same idea" as "How I Got Over," but "kind of flipped. Instead of from dark to light, it's an album that goes from light to dark," he explained.

Two song sketches have been composed thus far, ?uestlove said, and just this week the group had its first official meeting about the "unusual spelling" of the album's title, which they're keeping under wraps for now. "It's a one-word title that's spelled incorrectly ... what a way to tease you, right?" he laughed.

As for the sound of the album, ?uestlove said, "It's going to be heavy on sort of orchestral chamber music with harder beats in it," inspired by a recent collaborative performance that the drummer did in April for the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts.

"I did this project called the Philly-Paris Lockown, which was sort of a period of French music from Debussy to Satie and Stravinsky ... it was almost like the dawning of jazz in the early 1900s," he said of the performance, which also featured 18 classical musicians and French singer/songwriter Keren Ann.

While Black Thought said the Roots hope to have their new album out by this fall, he acknowledged that a 2012 release is more likely. "In a perfect world it would come out in November, but in this world that we live in, maybe January? Maybe February?" he laughed. "I don't know, but hopefully it's gonna be in a timely fashion."

In the meantime, the Roots have plenty to keep them busy.

The group lined up a genre-spanning list of acts for its fourth annual Roots Picnic, including Nas, Esperanza Spalding, Wiz Khalifa, Yelawolf, Mac Miller, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and more. ?uestlove is especially excited for his sister, Donn T, to make her debut on the festival's second stage, as well as Little Dragon, whom he calls an "extreme favorite of mine," and the Dismemberment Plan. "They set on fire when they reunited for the show, and I hope they put that same energetic performance on for us," he said.

"It's something we always wanted to do," Black Thought said of the Picnic, which is now in its fourth year. "Having been a part of so many festival tours like Lollapalooza and Smokin' Grooves -- with the Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill, and the whole genre mixing thing that used to go on back in the '90s and early '00s -- we always wanted to bring that element to Philly, to bring it home."

And although the Roots will be performing at Philly's 4th of July Jam for the third time, the MC added that they're particularly looking forward to this year's event because "it's our first time as the official curators." Among the acts they've picked to perform: Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle and Sara Bareilles.

"It's become a festival now," he said. "It's super exciting."

Im always excited for their albums. I always know what to expect from them, the unexpected

j/k

touchy subject.

**********
the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

Sounds like a cool concept.

Either that or a full on ska or rock album which I'm quite sure Kirk would love to lead since thats where his "roots" are. I hope we'll hear some Led Zeppelin like numbers from The Roots with this new album.

i think concept albums are the way to go for rappers in or pushing their 40s. that way they can recreate a new character, delve into something a little different than what weve herad the past 15 years, and it gives them more freedom with storytelling.

and im excited for a new sound.

Jay, Common, and Nas should all take note.

ol' Victory Lady Fitness ass nigga

This made me laugh SO hard for some reason.

That said it'll take a lot to pull this off right. Unfortunately I suspect just executing it will be enough for most *cough* but my ears just don't work that way. If you gon do dat dere... besta do it till it done did.
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Mo'Nium - http://monium.tumblr.com/

but another free form jam session with no real songs, is a waste of studio time and ear space.

they just need strong writing in there.

please stick to r. kelly posts.

where's ericka?

Lol @ "only bullying maxxx." You're his bodyguard now? As if im the only one who disagrees with him. Funny you don't reply to anyone else here who disagreed with him.

turn your computer off you fucking jackass
leave okp and do not come back you idiot

Did I miss a album recently. When did The Roots ever do a free form jam session with no real songs on it for an album.

'Water' is probably their longest running song recently besides the session from organix, and water is not exactly a jam.

Granted, the studio work for the tipping point was basically Jam sessions, but they did mold all of those into individual songs.

Scratching my head here.

I always felt the roots had some souless music, or maybe it's just black thought.

Yes really, you cocky fuck. lol. I dont mean it ina bad way. The roots music just had a very emotionally attached vibe to em

>Yes really, you cocky fuck. lol. I dont mean it ina bad way.
>The roots music just had a very emotionally attached vibe to
>em

cuz you typed soulless which is why he replied that way.

then hit us with this new album in 2012...

(no point bumping "that" thread to ask)

i think damn a whole album of stuff in that direction would be amazing

and i'm sure they'll pull it off -

i really do hear you.

I like the Roots but the problem with Philly groups is the "weont give a fuck what you like" we make music for us approach.

Don't get me wrong, they are at a point in their career where they can do whatever they like but I would love to see them get the recognition they deserve.

Strong hooks, a couple Malik B. features and a decent run time.

A strong boom bap album from a band would break through all the oontz oontz noise that's out right now.

if they really wanted to.

Is that still happening?

he'd rather do an album with wack-to-mediocre rappers than great ones

i still havent heard the last one. love the roots but ive not really been so into their change of direction post-phrenology. good luck to them though.

I think it's many people who were fans of The Roots who have stopped listening to them cause they don't do hip-hop anymore but more mature rap tunes and sometimes alternative rap music which is good when you're performing live but as far as studio works go I do miss just some straight up rap jams from them.

I've been hoping they would try something "bigger" for the last two albums...

At this point the format needs to change...

I like everything said in this article. However, I liked every piece of news about How I Got Over too...then that dropped and its just a cure for insomnia.

But I remain strangely optimistic...hopefully they stay on this path.

for a pretty dope album concept if you ask me.

okayplayer. go figure.

par for the course with these arseholes.

.

daddy come back! you can blame it all on him! he was wrong, and we just can't live without you! *sniff*

.

Did he hit the ignore button on us first...or the hate and (kinda?) disrespect? Either way...the lights are still on so someone still cares.

As for the new LP...I'm all for it. Kinda tired of the doom gloom of the last 3 (I love all 3 but still) some more "light" would be nice.

>okayplayer. go figure.


__
I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!

Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno

Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)

>for a pretty dope album concept if you ask me.
>
>okayplayer. go figure.

Honest feedback from the consumer/fans isn't hate...

>Honest feedback from the consumer/fans isn't hate...
>
>

After hearing Suite For Ma Dukes with the orchestral arrangement lead by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson I like this direction sonically for The Roots. If Black Thought is still planning on dropping that Talented Mr. Trotter solo EP with Bink! this year my guess is the new Roots album is released in 2012, as opposed to this November.

______________________________________________________________
Blog: http://potholesinmyblog.com/
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"This is your world. Shape it or someone else will." - Gary Lew

.............................................nobody?

me neither.

Daddy went to the store for a pack of cigarettes 3 years ago...but the rent check still comes in on the 1st so I shouldn't care, huh?

D

...oh wait.

and im excited for what it could be.

and is it just or me, or have the last 3 or 4 roots albums been concept albums? also, I think it was Slug that said it, "all albums are concept albums, some of yall just have shitty concepts"

Y'all niggas stuck in '96 are going to HATE this shit. I say bring on the orchestra.

if they make a whole album of concerto-type shit, i'm all for it.
chamber music is perfect for thought. i am very intrigued.

the key is for them to let the orchestra play and then go back and sample it.
the roots are masters at re-sampling live music.

it will prob be more like 'the roots do indie/wes anderson soundtrack sounding orchestral hip-hop'.

THIS^^^^

I want to hear some strings.

*bumps "Reunited"*

.

that is awesome.

As novel as this orchestral concept is. I have wanted just the band (no guest musicians) to do an album They remind me of EW&F in their later days when Maurice White hired 50 kats to play on their albums.

The Roots, as we know them, are just a touring/performing band. It is nice hearing the bumpers and performances on Fallon. Wonder why Thought don't sing on a whole track as well?

Haven't really felt the legendary since Game Theory. I think Rising Down was their worst. How I Got Over was a little better. Still disgusted hearing the uptempo version of that track at the picnic. They used that arrangement on Fallon as well. I was so disappointed with the cd version. I will assume it is a music clearance issue why that arrangement is not on the cd.

Oh well...they do what they do (Raphael voice). Mos def glad they are getting paid doing Fallon.

.

Consider I done went Baatin on the hip hop shit as of late.

after hearing you act too, an orchestral direction was the logical progression IMO

glad it's finally coming

there is an endless amount of straightfoward by-the-numbers hip hop out there.

The Roots are like, the one known great hip hop band, and you would rather hear black thought rhyme on "beats"?

I understand you like Thought but seriously you can listen to one of like a thousand other things for a similar experience

I want to hear the Roots try new things musically as a band, always. I don't need another Illadelph Halflife, the first one already exists

If it's the same guy that did the Suite for Ma Dukes, I'll def be checking for it...


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

wrong hits when someone goes to an iTunes search bar or requests it at a record store and they say "hmm it doesn't seem to be at the system"?

>wrong hits when someone goes to an iTunes search bar or
>requests it at a record store and they say "hmm it doesn't
>seem to be at the system"?

so even if you spell something wrong, it tries to guess what you could have meant.
secondly mis-spelling regular words makes them easier to find in google and costs less to buy the top spot. if you type weekend you get a billion hits, if you type weeknd you got much less and most of them will be related to the r&b artist and not the days saturday and sunday.

so it might not be as dumb as you think.

I'm still salty Monch wasn't on How I Got Over

*mills around with the other ants*

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2578047&mesg_id=2578047&page=

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2715693&mesg_id=2715693&page=

http://www.twitvid.com/HH79C

sounds good to me.... anyone recognize who that was rapping at the end? did not sound like black thought.

but it didnt sound like him to me... sounded more like Saigon.

I know they usually have Dice and his like record on the demos, then guests come in and record over their spot later... so who knows.

i don't know if classical is how I would describe it tho, but it definitely has a strong melody.

So I go to another hip hop site on a whim and there is an article talking about UNDUN. AND, its a link to ?uest's twitpic of them in the studio last night.

Looking forward to the album later on this year :)

Ugh.

i was just thinking things were getting a little stale, this sounds like a bold step in the right direction

They completely remake the Organix album...head to toe...

when he stops by to post fallon topics

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2612340&mesg_id=2612340&page=

its either blind love or hate here.

Hoping we'll hear more soon.

1. Sleep
2. Make My Ft. Big K.R.I.T.
3. One Time
4. Kool On
5. The Jump
6. Stomp
7. Lighthouse
8. I Remember
9. Tip The Scale
10. Redford

Where'd you hear this?

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17262/title.the-roots-reveal-tracklist-concept-for-undun-features-big-krit/

is they always put new emcees on.

Beans, Jean Grae, Wale, Blu, STS, etc.

They tried with Jay Elecontrica too if I remember right.

Good look on KRIT.


I'm hyped, the concept thing is a dope way to go. . .

http://soundcloud.com/okayplayer/the-roots-make-my-featuring#new-timed-comment-at-250478


Dope

Musically more interesting than anything I've heard from them in awhile.

...in the early press. This new release makes it seem more interesting and makes me want to listen despite my opinions of the first song. Looks like this picks up right from where Black left off with the concept on Rising Down with "Unwritten" in fact it would seem undun is the 'writing' of "Unwritten". New press:

undun is an existential re-telling of the short life of one Redford Stephens (1974-1999). Through the use of emotives and Redford’s internal dialogues the album seeks to illustrate the intersection of free will and prescribed destiny as it plays out ‘on the corner’. Utilizing a reverse narrative arc, the album begins as the listener finds Redford disoriented--postmortem--and attempting to make sense of his former life. As he moves through its pivotal moments he begins to deconstruct all that has led to his (and our own) coming undun.

I have a feeling this going to be a great album.