Chronicle Online 3/29: The Roots hip-hoppin’, beat-droppin’, smooth-rockin’ sounds play out at the House of Blues

The Roots' hip-hoppin’, beat-droppin’, smooth-rockin’ sounds play out at the House of Blues

By Benjamin Trecroci
Managing/Sports Editor

While the current state of hip-hop is being dictated by mainstream madness (My name is... or It ain’t my fault… Did I do that?) those who appreciate real hip-hop are being left out in the cold.

That need for innovative beats over flowing lyrics was finally met this past Sunday/Monday at the House of Blues as The Roots and Common of Chicago were put on display to hundreds of third shift hip-hop fans.

The Philadelphia-based organic hip-hop jazz group, The Roots, are just coming off there near platinum fourth album, things fall apart, so their sounds would still be fresh, as they highlighted most of the show from this most recent album.

The Roots debuted in ’93 with their first LP, “Organix.” “Organix” had all the elements that separate The Roots from other hip-hop groups live jazz, beat-boxing and otherwise improvisational style. The album re-released in ‘97 included the song, “Foreign Objects,” the longest posse hit in history, according to The Roots. While the album did display their budding talents, it was very raw and not as sharp as the following albums.

“Do You Want More?” released in ‘94 would be the defining step in the evolution of The Roots. The album which included their first major hit, “Proceed,” which would later be remixed four times with such artists as Bahamadia and The Pharcyde, would put The Roots on the hip-hop map forever. The albums also included such gems as “Silent Treatment,” which dealt with the tribulations of a man given the silent treatment by his girl and the title track, “Do You Want More?”

Only 1996’s “Illadelph halflife,” The Roots brought the jazz element to the forefront. The album included a sure shot jam with “Concerto of the Desperado” as well “What They Do” which detailed the fascination that rappers have with their image and style and not with the content of their music. Illadelph halflife was packed with guest spots such as D’Angelo on the smooth song, “Hypnotic,” and also brought Common into The Roots circle with “UNIverse at War.”

Common, straight from the South Side of Chicago, has been bringing his retrospective of his life into the ears of hip-hip fans for over seven years now. Common, who debuted in 1992 with “Can I Borrow a Dollar?,” has put the city of Chicago into the hip-hop hat with his rhymes that have included references to his hometown such as, “...fake like that party at McCormick Place...at times I contemplate moving to a warmer place, but the lake and skyline give me a warm embrace...”

Common’s first breakthrough of immortality into the hip-hop world would be, “I used to love her…” off his second album, 1994’s “Resurrection.” The song was not about an ex-girlfriend, but rather the current state of hip-hop. It not only brought out his skills behind the mic but also showed his creative sense, a sure classic.

As with The Roots, Common’s third album, 1997’s “One Day It’ll All Make Sense” would be filled with special appearances by such luminaries as Cee-Lo of Goodie Mob, Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest , Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill on the moving track about possible abortion, “Retrospect for Life.”

The show kicked off with DJ Ferris Thomas of WGCI 107.5 FM spun pre-show jams that included such gems as “The Choice is Yours” by Black Sheep and “They Want Efx” by Das EFX to the already eager crowd.

When the DJ suddenly stopped the turntables and the lights went down, the strange sound of cowbells began emanating from the upper annals of the House of Blues. For nearly two minutes, ?uestlove, Hub, Black Thought, Kamal and Malik of The Roots held the pulse of the crowd with every beat of the cowbells.

Once they took to the stage, they broke into “Table of Contents (Parts 1 & 2) off Things Fall Apart. The crow, that already braved the near freezing March temperatures while waiting in the never-ending line and the 1 a.m. starting time, was definitely into this show from the beginning. After highlighting other songs off their recent release, they began on “Proceed” when Common appeared in an African poncho and grabbed the mic and went to town. Common first solo song was “Resurrection” and then with The Roots serving as DeLa Soul he dropped “The Bizness” on the crowd, “I’m the C to the O double M- O- N and think how I’m gonna win. (DeLa Soul 96’s Stakes is High).

Instead of going through different sets, The Roots and Common shared the stage to perfection, including the two songs they worked together on, “UNIverse at War” and “Act Too (The Love of My Life).”

On “Act Too” one of the most gripping songs off of Things Fall Apart, Common and The Roots detail the changes and trends in hip-hop over a acid-jazz type beat. The song does have a strong familiarity to Common’s “i used to love her…”

During their last show at The House of Blues in May of last year with Goodie Mob, The Roots relied more on their improvisational style than actual music off their albums, including Rahzel “Godfather of Noyze” beat-boxing for nearly thirty minutes.

While that show was entertaining, and did show all of the talents that exist within the crew, it did become a little long and monotonous for those who wanted to hear The Roots. So this recent show was fresh to hear the sounds that have been blaring through headphones and stereos everywhere.

As the show went on, it was clear The Roots and Common had the crowd in the palms of their hands. In one instance, Malik and ?uestlove instructed the crowd into a type of military march, with most of the crowd following.

While most of the crowd had to be real hip-hop veterans, their may have been some new-comers who had heard the new hip-hop ballad, “You Got Me” with R & B queen, Erykah Badu, which has been played every few hours on WGCI or even MTV. Much to the disappointment, Badu wasn’t there, but Jill Scott (who actually wrote Badu’s hook in the song), filled in more than admirably. She nearly took over the show during her time behind the mic, practically making love to the mic not too mention burping on it.

Common spat out a surprise with, “Soul By The Pound” off his first album, but after that just hung out and interjected a few lines into The Roots songs. He only did perform six of his own songs, but actually seeing one of Chicago’s own was worth it.

Nearing the end of the show, Kamal-keyboards, ?uestlove and Hub-bass all went into solo sessions that included everything from the theme from the Pink Panther to Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” jam.

The show was definitely hip-hop at its finest, The Roots and Common showed exactly why hip-hop can be and should be a powerful source of entertainment and enlightenment. Not only did they show their talents behind the mic but also they brought hundreds of fans out of bed to see real hip-hop music.