| 30 April 2008
If your idea of major fun is a mash-up of warm bodies, cold beer, wet lawns, and live music, then the Bryan Center Plaza at Duke University was your kind of set. The Philly-based Roots crew once again came out to toast Duke's Last Day of Classes (LDOC). Wednesday, April 23, marked the 10th year for the annual end-of-semester soiree. So it was only fitting to bring The Roots back, as they tour to promote their 10th album, Rising Down (released April 29) .
According to ?uestlove, their latest album - released on the 16th anniversary of the LA Riots - is also their "most political album to date dealing with addiction, nihilism, hypocritical double standards in the prison system and overall life in Philadelphia".
Thinking back to Roots albums over the years, I would say the band's music always had a socio-political bend to it. So does that mean this album will be super-political and full of heavy, beat-you-in-the-face messages? Not so, says ?uestlove, "I'd say it's more mature and intense than all of our efforts but not a 'downer' as most people expect us to do."
If the album is anything like the concert Black Thought, ?uestlove and the rest of The Legendary Roots Crew gave, then a downer it will not be. Somehow Duke's LDOC always manages to bring 'em out, bring 'em out, and this year was no different. The spot was all the way live, with The Roots doing an hour-long session complete with all the classics. The yard was tight-knit like a family, with barely enough space to move your elbows. The FREE concert was well worth being pressed up against hot, sticky bodies, and stepping in what I wanted to believe was mud, but what an acquaintence smugly told me was probably a mixture of beer, dirt, and puke.
In a nod to the Duke - Roots tradition, Black Thought finished the set with a, "Thank you Duke for having us for like the umpteenth time", before ?uestlove began chucking signed drumsticks into the crowd.
Do You Want More?!!!??! See them again Live on tour with Erykah Badu at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, May 17th. Tickets on sale now.
Rising Down - The Roots
1. The Pow Wow (Intro)
2. Rising Down (f/ Mos Def and Styles P)
3. Get Busy (f/ Dice Raw & Peddi Crack & Jazzy Jeff)
4. @ 15
5. 75 Bars (Reconstruction) (f/ Tuba Gooding Jr.)
6. (Up Theme) Becoming Unwritten (instrumental)
7. Criminal (with Truck North & Saigon)
8. I Will Not Apologize (f/ Porn & Talib Kweli)
9. I Can't Help It (f/ Malik B & Porn)
10. Singing Man (f/ Porn, Black Thought, & Truck North)
11. (Up Theme) Unwritten (f/ Mercedes Martinez)
12. Lost Desire (f/ Malik B & Talib Kweli)
13. The Show (f/ Common)
14. Rising Up (f/ Wale & Chrissette Michelle)
15. Birthday Girl (f/ Patrick Stump)
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