The Roots back up Jimmy Fallon

Since its premiere weeks ago, the Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon has featured the talented and often underrated legendary Roots Crew as the back up band. Here's Jimmy Fallon featuring the Roots from last night's show in a segment called "Slow Jammin' the News"... The move by the group to this position as a late night backup band has received mixed criticism, including this rant from Gawker.com: “I’ve never had a group that I actually like go the late night house band route. Springsteen fans saw Max Weinberg take his act to Conan’s show; and I’m sure there were some jazz heads who were flabbergasted to see their main man Kevin Eubanks signing up with Jay Leno. But The Roots? The Illadelph generals opening up for that stuttering mop-headed ball of suck, Jimmy Fallon? It’s kind of tragic. On one hand, we’ll get to see The Roots on TV every night; on the other hand, Black Thought opening for Jimmy Fallon every night is the cultural equivalent of Miles Davis playing his horn on the subway platform to back up a semi-trained dancing spider monkey.” Last night's episode featured The Roots in a comedy sketch similar to MTV's The Hills called "7th West". Jimmy Fallon bumped into them at the office and asked their opinion on which tie he should have worn. While Jimmy Fallon is still nowhere near the level of Conan O'Brien with his comedy sketches and overall show, having The Roots backing him up doesn't hurt him. The question is whether the band is hurting themselves by taking this gig? The Roots have plenty of cred amongst hip hop and alt fans. This move could potentially thrust them more into the mainstream then some would like, but it could also help with new connections and lead to further appearances. This legendary band has the talents and they deserve to be seen. Whether or not Jimmy Fallon will sustain the late night show, increase its viewership, or just be canceled out like many other show businesses these days could be the key factor in how much exposure the Roots crew gets. For another treat check out rap pioneers Public Enemy performing "Bring the Noise" with The Roots backing them up: Daily Highlights Late Night with Jimmy Fallon video!

Rap Music Lyrics - Get Busy by The Roots

Here's the rap music lyrics for the latest Roots' single entitled "Get Busy". The song can be found on the latest album released by The Roots, Rising Down and features Dice Raw & Peedi Crakk on verses with Black Thought from the Roots. Get Busy by The Roots featuring Peedi Crakk & Dice Raw Look my squad's half mandrill half Mandela my band bout seventy strong just like fela yeah part melly mel part van halen and we represent illadel where they still rebellin a yo sicko show like mike moore’s my city aint nothing like your’s slippin into darkness like WAR, nightcrawl with the lights off, you see a lot of life loss for the white horse regardless, the charges makin us all targets all on the red carpet, guns from the black market ay who got the polititians in they back pocket ? pimp slap pump that gimmie that profit when you make contact gimmie that gossip if you break contract you'll be that hostage they getting busy in the city it's raw better deadbolt the door it aint safe no more Southside get busy ya’ll Northside get busy ya’ll Westside get busy ya’ll Worldwide get busy ya’ll Approach with caution be cautious when talking to bosses I feel I’ve been through a metamorphis I’m mutated by unknown forces the feelin of course is something thats hard to describe I’m half dead never felt more alive reborn removed the gold coins from my eyes I’ve been down but now i'm back up bout to act up boy you better back up when you see me set up shop know to pack up I crack up when a rapper gets slapped up number one reson ya’ll should give rap up Dice it's mine, I got it all wrapped up I’m kindda W.E.B. Dubois meets Heavy D and the boys smooth as a Rolls Royce built like a tank smoking on gank I’m walking through the Guggenheim Raw Life Black Ink Southside get busy ya’ll Northside get busy ya’ll Westside get busy ya’ll Worldwide get busy ya’ll Now on your mark get set go cop everything you ever heard by P.Crack Dice Raw and Black f--k the internet buy a baseball bat break a bootlegger leg all I listen to is vets, your fresh of the step I come directly at your OG neck I’m used to the one two check not the one two step um strapped I’ll leave every cat among you wet now lets GO! you know i'm politically incorrect at the show I start it with a can I get a ho and the hoes go retarded the popo tape off the stage for caution, its badlands north philly get it in! its crack man, used to backspin now I spend stacks in sack's and uncle sam tryin to tax all my hard earned raps damn! we makin yin, pesos, euros, we representin'.. Southside get busy ya’ll Northside get busy ya’ll Westside get busy ya’ll Worldwide get busy ya’ll See more rap music lyrics at MC's Music Notes. Rising Down is available at Amazon.com. Get Roots ringtones at Funtonia!

Reviews: Rising Down by The Roots

The legendary Roots crew from Philly dropped yet another musical journey this past Tuesday with their album entitled Rising Down. The album title comes from William T. Vollmann's treatise on violence entitled Rising Up and Rising Down. The release marks the 16th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots which were sparked by the Rodney King trial. Featured guests on the 14 track set include Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Styles P, Saigon and Chrisette Michele. Tracklist for Rising Down: 1. The Pow Wow 2. Rising Down featuring Mos Def & Styles P 3. Get Busy featuring Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi 4. @ 15 5. 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction) 6. Becoming Unwritten 7. Criminal featuring Truck North & Saigon 8. I Will Not Apologize featuring Porn & Dice Raw 9. I Can't Help It featuring Malik B., Porn, Mercedes Martinez & Dice Raw 10. Singing Man featuring Porn, Truck North & Dice Raw 11. Unwritten featuring Mercedes Martinez 12. Lost Desire featuring Malik B. & Talib Kweli 13. The Show featuring Common & Dice Raw 14. Rising Up featuring Wale & Chrisette Michele Here's 5 recent reviews of the new album: Entertainment Weekly's Review Pitchfork Media Review Pop Matters Review Rolling Stone Review TV MSN Review Rising Down is available at Amazon.com. Get Roots ringtones at Funtonia! Lyrics for Get Busy by The Roots

2 New Roots Songs via Mobile Phone!

Over on The Roots' Myspace profile they are letting fans send their 2 newest songs for free to mobile phone users. Here's the word from The Roots' latest Myspace bulletin: Subject: Send GET BUSY and BDAY GIRL to your friends! Body: Send The Roots' new songs "Get Busy" & "Birthday Girl" to your friends' phones, with a voicemail intro by you! IT'S FREE! (your usual carrier charges apply). Also, be the first to receive updates and more songs from The Roots - straight to your phone! Just click the orange button that says, "Get updates". We will keep your number private and never share it with 3rd parties. Help spread the word about RISING DOWN and repost! Make sure you sign-up for updates by clicking the orange button. Thank you for your support! Head over and friend the Roots at Myspace and start sending these 2 songs to friends! Here's a look at the Roots tour dates for April (more on Myspace): Apr 5 2008 8:00P University of Texas Austin, Texas Apr 9 2008 8:00P Higher Ground Burlington, Vermont Apr 16 2008 8:00P Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana Apr 17 2008 8:00P Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Apr 18 2008 8:00P Webster University St. Louis, Missouri Apr 20 2008 8:00P Green Apple Festival Washington DC, Washington DC Apr 26 2008 8:00P Tigerfest Towson University Towson, Maryland