Questlove Drums Circles Around Music History
Circles are central to Questlove. He loves a circular connection and a sidelong glance. Circles overlap and connect in his artful book, Music Is History.
the roots
The Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2011
2011 was a year of great diversity, in which rap fans were faced with enough variety to find whatever flavor of hip-hop they wanted.
The Most Memorable Albums of 1999 (Part 1)
PopMatters is 20 this year -- until October when we are 21 -- and a 2009 special section celebrates the popular music that defined the year of our birth. Today we kick things off with albums from January through March, highlighted by Eminem's debut and stellar pop from XTC and Blur.
The Best Hip-Hop Albums/Mixtapes of 2010
Epic, sleek, weed rap, emo, sociopolitical, gangsta, or house party? In which direction will hip-hop go? 2010 was a year for all of the above.
The 70 Best Albums of 2010
2010's best albums are highlighted by the emergence of a future superstar, two veteran and virtuoso rappers, and a Dream Team of indie bands releasing career peaks.
The 60 Best Songs of 2010
Journey back to 2010 for 60 slices of musical greatness highlighted by one of the most delightful expletive-ridden hits in pop music history.
Sareem Poems’ Tuned-in Tone Poems
Hip-hop artist Sareem Poems (of LA Symphony and FKA Sharlok Poems) infuses his work with the metaphysic ideologies of Afro-spiritualism.
The Roots Pack Gramercy Theatre with Special Guests for Jam
After the National's Citi Sound Vault show, I caught one of the Root' tremendous nights of special jams.
X Ambassadors’ Cayuga Sound Fest Breaks Ground In Ithaca Saturday
The Roots, Margaret Glaspy, K. Flay and more join X Ambassadors for their inaugural Cayuga Sound Fest on September 23rd.
Surprise After Jaw-Dropping Surprise at the Roots Inaugural Picnic in New York City
It took a few days to reduce the frequency of declarations of affection towards the Roots Picnic that burst from my mouth to random passersbys.
Questlove’s ‘Somethingtofoodabout’ Is Immensely Satisfying
Questlove’s Somethingtofoodabout showcases how the performing arts necessitate a different kind of creativity.
The Roots and Friends Close Out Summerstage with a Block Party
The Legendary Roots Crew were the final act at Summerstage this year and they brought the house down with help from friends including Cee-Lo Green and Salt-N-Pepa.