The fact that the soulful hiphop crew The Roots is coming to the North Sea Jazz Festival is sure to make many people happy. The group, whose exciting single The Seed received a lot of airplay this spring, ensures a super dynamic live show. The formation was established in ’87 by text writer/rapper Tariq Trotter (a.k.a. Black Thought) and drummer Ahmir Thompson (a.k.a. ?uestlove). Initially the hiphop public passed them by with the release of their debut Do You Want More?, which is devoid of the samples and prerecorded material customary in hiphop. The Roots made a name for themselves in the alternative guitar scene by participating in the Lollapalooza Tour ’95. In the same year the group also made a profound impression at the North Sea Jazz Festival. During that period, rapper Rahzel and keyboard player Kamal also joined the group definitely. The albums Illadelph Halflife and Things Fall Apart led to even greater fame, though it was the hit single You Got Me with singer Erykah Badu that really made the difference. Rap star Jay-Z asked the band to assist him with his MTV unplugged show and CD and the band toured with Outkast and Lauryn Hill for the Smokin’ Grooves Tour. Last November they released their newest record Phrenology, an album chock-full of funk rock and neo-soul elements and prominent guests like Jill Scott, Nelly Furtado, Talib Kweli, and others.
