Questlove

The Roots, McDowell Mountain Music Festival, 3/23/13

The Roots @ McDowell Mountain Music Festival at Margret T. Hance Park|3/23/13About an hour into their dominating set, the legendary Roots crew pulled out a trick few other bands could get away with: Drummer Questlove and percussionist Frank Knuckles did a drum solo. An extended one. It's always been ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Shows in Phoenix This Weekend

Who's excited for the Instagram pictures Questlove is going to post of Phoenix this weekend? I sure am. The Roots will be in town on Saturday, March 23, to play as part of McDowell Mountain Music Festival, plus, Questo will be dropping a DJ set at Bar Smith afterward. That's sure to yield some good ... More >>

Roots Drummer Questlove's Instagram Feed Is the Internet's Best

Heartless Bastards: Songwriter Erika Wennerstorm Aims for "Clint Eastwood-meets-Nancy Sinatra" Sounds

Timberlake-style audacity aside, it takes some serious stones to open an album with a six-minute-plus slow burning anthem. But that's what Erika Wennerstrom does with "Marathon," the opening track of her band Texas-via-Ohio band Heartless Bastards' 2012 opus, Arrow. See also: -Questlove of The Ro ... More >>

Questlove of The Roots Is So Much Better at Instagram Than You

Of all the stupid things we do with our phones, Instagram might be the worst. Not only has the app falsely convinced us all we're professional photographers, but it's done something even worse: It's encouraged our worst vainglorious tendencies. No one is Amaro-toning his or her real life. There are ... More >>

Musiq Soulchild @ Celebrity Theatre

Top Five Must-See Shows This Week

Yeah, yeah, yeah...we get it. Mondays suck (we've read Garfield). But it means the start of a new week, which means a bunch of killer shows in and around Phoenix. And here are a few of the coolest -- our top five must-see shows this week.

Watch This: David Chang and Anthony Bourdain's New Show 'Mind of A Chef'

Here is a reason to keep PBS on the air. Professional pithy sourpuss Anthony Bourdain is narrating a new show called "The Mind of A Chef." The first season, which premieres November 9, will center around Momofuku's David Chang. See Also: --Lucky Peach Looks Good Enough to Eat: See What's Inside Iss ... More >>

Miniature Tigers Cover The Beatles, Play With The Roots, and Uh, Do the Theme From Friends On New Mixtape

See also: Miniature Tigers Paint a Sensual Scene With Mia Pharaoh See also: Miniature Tigers' Charlie Brand: "We Wanted To Have This Warm, Beautiful Feeling To The Album" If you're anything like me, you've been sitting around going, "Man, when is Miniature Tigers going to follow up Mia Pharaoh, the ... More >>

Behold! The Epic David Chang Vs. Questlove Fried Chicken Showdown

Last month we noted that celebrated Momofuku chef David Chang would be squaring off in a fried chicken competition against musician and neophyte food entrepreneur Questlove. Good natured smack talk was traded via twitter and terms were agreed upon. In the event of Chang's loss, Chang would put Que ... More >>

It's Easter: Here Are Five Musicians Whose Careers We Would Resurrect

Easter Weekend is upon us my friends. Yes, the charming time of year when we hide plastic eggs filled with jelly beans and chocolate underneath rocks and behind trees. When children will spend hours devouring choco-bunnies and woofing down Starbursts while you get sauced on lite beer in folding dec ... More >>

Momofuku Chef Throws Down the Fried Chicken Gauntlet To Questlove

In an ongoing Twitter exchange, celebrated Momofuku chef David Chang (whose pastry chef visited our fair city recently), has challenged Roots drummer Questlove to a fried chicken showdown on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon's. Chang has already stated his terms. If Questlove wins, Chang will both serve ... More >>

Raphael Saadiq Keeps Riding The Soul Train

Wait a Minute Mr. Postman: 10 Songs About the Mail

​By now it's news to no one that the United States Postal Service is in trouble. As detailed by Nick Greene earlier this month at Village Voice's Running Scared, this means print media is in for a punch (you know, while it's down and everything), your bills are going to show up later than they ... More >>

Michele Bachmann to Appear at The Mint in Scottsdale: Five Dance Tracks For Her Visit

Gotta holla when you up in da club.Despite the fact he's gotten heavy-duty shit for doing so, Questlove's now-infamous serenading of whackadoodle presidential candidate Michele Bachmann with Fishbone's "Lyin' Ass Bitch" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon recently was inspired snarkiness (albeit a bit s ... More >>

Beats, Rhymes, & Life: Michael Rapaport Observes a Tribe Called Quest Vibe and Checks Out the Scenario

The Roots Featured in Project Next Movement: A Collaboration Between Sol Exposure and Dumperfoo Sponsored by OKAYPLAYER

​ Music photography can often be a static thing. You've no doubt seen the promo shots: bands scowling, arms crossed in front of a brick wall, that one guy staring away from the camera in a real meaningful way. But occasionally something happens in the middle between the visual and the audible that ... More >>

What's Behind Post Breakup/Death Music Appreciation?

The peppermint duo known as the White Stripes will be forever in our hearts.​Why is it that bands -- and people in general -- seem to be appreciated so much more once they're gone?After they're out of reach, suddenly a person somehow becomes even more important than before. You've seen it when som ... More >>

Lil Wayne Releases Green Bay Packers Anthem

Lil Wayne's not shy about rooting for green and yellow in the Super Bowl this year.​Lil Wayne will be rooting for the Green Bay Packers in this year's Super Bowl, according to SPIN.Weezy's all about reppin' the green and yellow, stating in his newly released Wiz Khalifa rip-off "Green and Y ... More >>

The Roots Drummer Questlove Talks Soundclash and the Miniature Tigers

Questlove​ In terms of pitting two bands to face off against each other in a battle of the bands it seems like a pretty uneven match up between the well established funk hip-hop group The Roots and Brooklyn's Miniature Tigers.Of course, both groups have their advantages and disadvantages. Miniat ... More >>

The Roots, Miniature Tigers, Johnny Rawls, Djentrification, and Other Weekend Events

The Roots are scheduled to perform at American Junkie in Scottsdale on Saturday during the Red Bull Soundclash.​Who'd win in a fight between local legends Miniature Tigers and the hip-hop icons of The Roots? Although its feels like we're making a Sophie's Choice between our two favorite children ... More >>

New Michael Jackson Album: Completely MJ?

​Lots of people are eagerly awaiting Michael Jackson's posthumous record Michael, which will be released December 14.So am I.But after listening to a pre-released single, "Breaking News," I have my doubts that the recording was untouched after Michael passed away. It sure doesn't sound like the so ... More >>

Miniature Tigers Finally Face The Roots in Red Bull-Sponsored Rock Battle

​In a case of "why?" and "how did this even come about?," (editors note: to sell energy drinks) once Phoenix-based indie rockers Miniature Tigers will face Philadelphia legends The Roots in a turn-based, Red Bull-sponsored rock battle November 20 in Scottsdale.The whole thing is going down at Amer ... More >>

John Legend and the Roots: Wake Up!

​The joyous craziness that was September 14 has, regretfully, passed us by. Worry not, however, as the albums that were released just a week ago will live forever so as long they are still being listened to somewhere.September 21, then, has a tough act to follow, but that's not to say that it does ... More >>

Bruno Mars Arrested in Vegas for Drug Possession

​Hotel security found narcotics in Bruno Mars' bathroom Sunday, according to SPIN. He was arrested at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Apparently he's discovered that it's not so easy being in the spotlight all the time.The breakout hitmaker is scheduled to release his new album Doo-Wo ... More >>

The Roots: How I Got Over

​There may not be a track released the rest of the year that has an ounce of the substance and effortless polish of "Dear God 2.0" off of How I got Over -- the long-awaited new album from The Roots.The song employs a genius guest vocal from Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk fame ... More >>

Phoenix Chorale: Grammy Winners Turn to Facebook for Survival

Phoenix Chorale

Grammy Winners Turn to Facebook for Survival

Phoenix Chorale

Grammy Winners Turn to Facebook for Survival

Is Parks and Recreation the Wu-Tang Clan of Comedy?

Parks and Recreation is a pure ensemble comedy, just as the Wu-Tang Clan is the pinnacle of ensemble hip hop groups​What happens when a brilliant, critically acclaimed ensemble comedy comes along and enters our lives? The Wu-Tang Clan has to spoof the hell out of said comedy, that's what. NBC's Pa ... More >>

The Roots' Things Fall Apart: 10 Years Later

10 years later and this album cover still gives me chillsToday marks an important day in the vibrant history of hip-hop music. 10 years ago, Philadelphia hip-hop pioneers The Roots released their breakthrough album, Things Fall Apart. Bolstered by the strength of the irresistible single "You Got Me, ... More >>

Soul Man

Wonder Bread musician keeping up appearances

Mariah Carey, Death Cab for Cutie, and a few other buzzworthy CDs from 2008’s first half

Will the Roots’ new album Rising Down help the masses rise up?

Prince

Planet Earth
(Sony/BMG)

Get Down With Dave

Chappelle returns with a raucous Party

?uestlove

Babies Making Babies 2: Misery Strikes Back . . . No More Babies
(BBE)

Vision ?uest

Six degrees of ?uestlove

The Roots

The Tipping Point
(Geffen)

Kanye West

Takes a lick and keeps on rollin'

Musiq

Soulstar (Def Soul)

Avant
Private Room (Geffen)

The Roots

Step into their realm

Blackstreet

Level II (DreamWorks)

The Roots

Phrenology (MCA)

Top 10 Live Shows of 2001

If you missed these star turns, you really missed something

Sax Relief

Gumbo rewrites the tax code with the latest batch of jazz, blues and heritage releases

The Next Movement

The Roots return to the Valley, fresh off an effort helping to bridge the gap between electronica and hip-hop

Common

Like Water for Chocolate
(MCA)

Molten Wax

Illadelphia Freedom

The Roots threaten to make their big move with Things Fall Apart