The Roots: Still Pushing Hip-Hop Music and Staying Up 'Late' With Jimmy Fallon

The Roots Things Fall Apart

The Roots, Philadelphia's greatest hip-hop group, has been known to make an unorthodox career move – or two.

So, when group members decided to take a full-time gig as the house band for 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,' a resounding 'WTF?' came from their loyal fans. People wondered whether they would sell out and play catchy show tunes or hold true to the renegade joints that music lovers came to expect.

Although this nightly mainstream gig is giving the guys an opportunity to spend more time with their families, it turns out that this has been their most labor-intensive undertaking. In addition to backing some of their hip-hop friends, such as Ludacris and Rick Ross, the group has crafted 200 new songs to serve as bumpers and intros.

Drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson said that although Fallon initially didn't believe the band wanted the gig, the new job has been a gift and really "enabled the group to survive."

What group member are most grateful for are the upcoming dark weeks – five weeks when they'll return to their normal touring schedule. This summer, they'll hit the road with Nas and Common on the "Rock the Bells" tour. The group also has a monthly residency at New York City's Highline Ballroom and is gearing up for a Friday residency at the Borgata in Atlantic City, along with a summer residency at Sub-Mercer Lounge at the Mercer Hotel in New York City.

FOLLOW The Newswire On TWITTER

YOU LIKE CELEBRITY PICTURES? Check Out 'Hot Shots'

But one fact group members are quick to clear up is that they are not the same backup band performing with soul singer Etta James.

"Etta James performs with the Roots band, but it has nothing to do with us," confided Roots' MC Tariq Trotter, who is better known as Black Thought. "It makes for a lot of confusion. I don't know that we can do anything about it, but they sell a lot of tickets off the strength of. They're on tour now, and whenever they are coming to a city, I get a lot of calls like, 'I hear y'all are comin' to town.'"

The group's next Def Jam release 'How I Got Over,' according to Black Thought and ?uestlove, is the closest they've gotten to recording a spiritual album. "Its title is a nod to the famous Mahalia Jackson song and representative of our political transition with the election of President Barack Obama," Thought added.

One thing's for sure, the Roots are crafting their own path and doing what makes them happy. Just look at how ?uestlove was the mastermind behind getting some of his music friends, like Solange Knowles, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli and one other very big name, on Twitter. "I got Diddy on it," he noted. "I was mad when he was on 'Larry King' and didn't mention me, but he gave me a shout out on 'Ellen.' So even before Twitter, I was that ubiquitous artist doing diaries in '97 and '98 online before it was called a blog."

On June 6, the group will hold its second annual "Roots Picnic," a music festival concept fashioned after the Police's annual Toronto weekend in the '80s. Public Enemy, Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, Santigold, the Black Keys and TV on the Radio are a few of the acts handpicked to take the stage in Philadelphia. "We want to establish a fun festival weekend and make it real diverse, [and] it's our version of what we've learned in the past 17 years," ?uestlove added.

With the Roots latest resurgence, it's evident that the group has a long future in and beyond the music business.

Black Music Notes June 1

6/1/09: Minnie Riperton
A very fitting homage will be paid to late, great songbird Minnie Riperton when a new batch of the acclaimed TV One docu-series 'Unsung' hits the small screen this month. Best known for her signature ballad 'Lovin' You,' the Chicago-born singer/songwriter's career and life were cut short after a three-year battle with breast cancer in the late 1970s. After Riperton's cancer diagnosis, she went public instead of retreating, serving as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. . She was only 31 years old when she died at the prime of her career. 'Unsung' premieres June 7 at 8 PM ET, repeating at 11 PM, as well as Thursday, June 11 at 10 PM and Friday, June 12 at noon and midnight.

Wire Image

6/1/09: Grace Jones
The one and only Grace Jones has been tapped to perform live at the 'We Love' festival in Ibiza on Aug. 9. For the first time ever, the 'Pull Up To The Bumper' singer will grace the Spanish island's celebrated summer concert series, as part of the Wall Of Sound recording company's 15th anniversary. Last year, festival organizers bought The Chemical Brothers back to the Ibiza after a ten-year hiatus. This year, they are ready for Amazing Grace, who recently released a new music project titled 'Hurricane' on the United Kingdom based label. "We are putting on a line-up to inspire and one that will take all lucky enough to be there on a journey they will never ever forget," Wall of Sound founder Mark Jones said.

Getty Images

5/28/09: Chaka Khan
Fresh from a headlining gig at the 2009 St Lucia Jazz Festival, Chaka Khan is ready to take on the nation's capital. The 10-time Grammy Award winning diva will fill in for previously announce headliner Natalie Cole, who is recovering from a live saving kidney transplant surgery, at 'The 18th Annual Capital Jazz Fest' running June 5 - June 7. The 'I Feel For You' chanteuse will join a slew of noted musical acts at the lovely wooded setting of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. According to a spokesperson for the event, the line-up includes performances by Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Lalah Hathaway, Fourplay, Norman Brown, Roy Ayers, Will Downing, Kirk Whalum, Pieces of a Dream with special guest Phil Perry, Guitars & Saxes (f/ Jeff Lorber, Euge Groove, Jeff Golub and lady saxophone newcomer Jessy J) , Regina Belle, Marion Meadows and trumpeter Joey Sommerville.

AFP/Getty Images

5/28/09: Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash will be honored with the Living Legend award at the Urban Music Awards USA 2009, set to be held at New York City's Highline Ballroom on July 17. According to a spokesperson for the event, more than 175,000 music fans across the world have voted online for the hip hop veteran to receive the honor. "Flash is an absolute legend and he remains an inspiration to the hip hop culture all together by flying the flag from its inception to the success it has become today," said Jordan Kensington, who is the C.E.O of Invincible Group & Founder of the Urban Music Awards. Nominees for the inaugural awards show include Amy Winehouse, Rihanna, Bobby Valentino, M.I.A, Day 26, The Dream, Estelle, Kat de Luna, Akon, Kanye West, Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo and Eminem.

Getty Images

5/21/09: Jay-Z
Despite stepping down from his Def Jam presidency in late 2007, hip hop mogul Jay-Z has finally left the label as an artist. Rumors started surfacing online that the platinum-selling lyricist, who owed the label one last album, brought himself out of his contract for $5 million. "I can honestly say, working with Doug Morris and LA Reid has been a unique and fulfilling experience and I respect them immensely," he revealed to hip hop site Rap Radar. "I've been in the family for almost my entire career. Doug and I spoke directly and had one of the most unique 'negotiations' ever...I thank him for allowing me to be a completely independent artist. Not every artist can say they own or are given the opportunity to own all of their music."

Frank Micelott, Getty Images

5/19/09: Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige recently expanded her brand by signing with The William Morris Agency. According to Variety, the diversified entertainment agency, which also represents Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Prince (to name a few), will assist the Queen of Hip Hop Soul in all areas of her career including the expansion of her entertainment company, Matriarch Entertainment. This fall the Queen of Hip Hop Soul will make her feature film debut in Tyler Perry's 'I Can Do Bad All by Myself,' scheduled to hit theaters September 11. She can be heard in the trailers for the Oprah Winfrey-presented drama 'Precious,' due out in November.

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

5/19/09: The Dream
Following in the veins of fellow hip hop stars DMX and Tupac Shakur, singer-songwriter The Dream is planning on releasing his second album of 2009 entitled, 'Love King.' The R&B crooner, who recently released his certified gold album 'Love vs. Money' in March, revealed to Billboard magazine that he already has seven songs in the can and expects the album to hit stores in December. "I have to pace myself 'cause there's so much time between here and then," he said, "but the seven records I do have are timeless records. Whether they come out now or later it's not really going to matter what kind of records they are." In between recording sessions for 'Love King,' fans can now catch The Dream on tour with Keyshia Cole.

Getty Images

5/19/09: The Whispers
After releasing classic hits such as 'In The Mood' and 'Rock Steady,'R&B stalwarts The Whispers are set to release their first gospel album on Kingdom Records. Grammy Award-winning gospel star Fred Hammond is expected to produce a bulk of the tracks. "We've been wanting to do this for ten years," explained founding member Nick Caldwell. "God has been really, really good to the Whispers. He was looking out for us even when we were ignoring Him. He allowed us to live long enough to do this inspirational CD that we want to use to inspire people to get closer to God." The as-yet-untitled anticipated album is tentatively scheduled for release later this year.

5/19/09: Mariah Carey
On May 23, Mariah Carey is set to perform a one-hour set at the opening of the most expensive resort in Europe, The Mardan. Carey alongside legendary British soul singer Tom Jones will reportedly be paid £1 million each to perform at the exclusive £926 million Turkey development, which features five acres of fresh water swimming pools and a sunken aquarium. Actress Sharon Stone and Paul McCartney are among the many guests invited to the 560 room hotel opening.

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

5/19/09: Will Downing
Overcoming his bout with the muscle disorder Polymyositis, Will Downing has set the stage to release is latest musical offering, 'Classique.' The balladeer's 14th album and second Peak Records project features his signature baritone vocals over 10 smooth-sensual tracks. Vocalist Phil Perry joins the 'After Tonight' singer for Marvin Gaye penned 'Baby I'm for Real.' Other album highlights include 'Love Suggestions,' 'More Time,' 'Something Special' and Barry White's classic hit 'I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby.' 'Classique' hit stores June 16.

Verve