OPINION: Seeing The Roots live in Los Angeles over new year’s weekend gave me a new appreciation for just how much they contribute to the culture.
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more
It creates a vibe of unpredictability with the audience (at least those who are truly there to appreciate the performance and not those who are simply there to say they were in the building — and trust me, there were plenty of those types in attendance); you never know what’s coming next, but you know it’s going to be good.
When this is coupled with Black Thought’s unmatched microphone prowess, lyricism and unbelievable breathwork (seriously, the man can go for what seems like long minutes of rapping without ever pausing or taking a breath), it’s like witnessing magic or a hip-hop miracle as it were.
And they aren’t just performing hip-hop songs. They infuse some of everything in their sets. The jam band aesthetic means they can pretty much take on any artist’s composition, and the fact that they are a real band means they can make it sound good.
One of the featured guitar players had a solo where he made the guitar sing the lyrics to the song he was playing, and I’m not exaggerating. They are that good.
The Roots are carrying on a long tradition of improvisational jazz bands that do much of the same thing during performances. They may be working from a set list, but they are going to give the audience what they want, and the performance is going to be largely guided by the vibes and feelings in the room at the time.
It’s a type of call-and-response performance that leaves the audience completely satisfied and wanting for nothing at the end of the night.
The Roots got multiple standing ovations and uproarious rounds of applause throughout the show on Saturday, and it was obvious that the audience got what they came for.
I certainly got what I came for, and I came away from it wanting more – not because I felt like they left anything on the table, but because when a dish is that good, you always want to go back for seconds.
The Roots are the jam band of hip-hop. Their lead singer is a singer and a prolific emcee, and the band itself is a study in great musicianship.
All of these ingredients come together and give you a show that you will leave full and satisfied.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you go see The Roots live next time they are performing near you.
Monique Judge is a storyteller, content creator and writer living in Los Angeles. She is a word nerd who is a fan of the Oxford comma, spends way too much time on Twitter, and has more graphic t-shirts than you. Follow her on Twitter @thejournalista or check her out at moniquejudge.com.
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