Discover the essence

The Roots or an essential band

Activist Malcolm X with his young daughter sitting on his lap.
Malcolm X with his daughter Llyasah
Photo:
13/6/2019
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"The idea of community is no longer attractive in hip-hop. Since 2000, the selfish mentality has ruined music: from how we create it, alone at the computer without collaborating with anyone, to how we get it, by downloading it without paying"

Questlove

There are bands that are unclassifiable, bands that take risks without losing an ounce of their essence, bands that mark an era and stand the test of time. Essential bands.

From Philadelphia, the city where Benjamin Franklin was born, comes to the capital for the first time one of the most visceral and transcendental hip-hop groups: The Roots. It is (very) surprising that the American band has not yet performed in Madrid and that, at last, after many years of waiting, we are going to enjoy their live show. Above all, The Roots are a band with an unattainable rhythm section and an undeniable vitality. Under the premise of honouring the music, these artists have managed to elevate a genre as convulsive as hip-hip to the most elite and unsuspected heights of jazz, and they have done so by threatening the state from the state and filling their mouths, when necessary, in search of respect and justice, with a razor-sharp pen that cuts through and confronts the harsh realities of the streets and racism.

Next Friday, July 5th, the audience of Noches del Botánico will be able to celebrate the arrival of this group that has managed to lay the foundations of a part of African-American music based on sweat and effort: theirs is not about recording a video clip and "hitting it big" on MTV, but about getting on stage to split us in two; eclipsing us with that fusion that comes from the heart. This is the only way to become a legend. Respect, as they say in America.

The Roots have many reasons to represent The Roots, as well as the successes they have achieved during their more than thirty years on the road. To name but a few, the Philadelphia band have won three Grammy Awards, are the backing band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and have written unbeatable songs such as You Got Me and The Seed (2.0).

As I've been telling you, it's time to celebrate and to vibrate with one of the bands I most admire and which, honestly, deserves all my respect... There's still time to row, but it's in that expectation where the excitement lies; even more so knowing that Tank & The Bangas, the band that won the Tiny Desk award for best performance in 2017, will be opening for a night in which ecstasy will give way to hugs. A summer night in which we will remember those moments when we lived after hours, with the wind in our sails and the lightness of freedom.

I have no choice but to recommend that you attend.


Nicolás Fernández
Kulturtado

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