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Posted in music | pictures on August 16, 2006
The Roots & Talib Kweli @ Webster Hall, NYC | pics & review
Writer: Wes
Photographer: Eric M. Townsend
The most surprising fact of The Roots' show at Webster Hall last night (August 14, 2006) wasn't that Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley/Goodie Mob fame came out to sing Crazy with them, but that the sound at the club was roughly 4.3 times better than it was for the Roots at Radio City Music Hall. (the sound during Talib Kweli's set was still traditionally awful though).
The Roots are known as the best (and really only) band in Hip Hop. Close to the release of their upcoming Game Theory album - their first on Def Jam Left and best in years - they once more showed us why they can claim that title. Aside from a little variety, the show nearly mirrored the Radio City show. They brought all that they are known for. Black Thought's impeccable breath control and clarity - *coughTalibwatchandlearncough* - combined with a majestic flow makes up for his somewhat anonymous stage presence. Drummer ?uestlove commands the stage and directs the band through a slew of the group's hits - some fantastic new ones, and snippets of non-Roots classics. My favorite part of the show was when they paid homage by segwaying through a slew of songs by Ol' Dirty Bastard, the Notorious B.I.G., Salt 'N Peppa, Grandmaster Flash, Wu Tang Clan and many more... Still the best show in Hip Hop after all those years.
Talib Kweli is blessed with a catalogue of amazing songs, yet cursed with the inability to do them justice live. He's improved from the last time I saw him at Radio City (also with the Roots), but the non-traditional rhyme schemes, and high number of words crammed into each sentence, still take their toll on stage. Many words are dropped while others are just rapped under his breath. Where Black Thought manages to make a similarly complex and crammed flow completely understandable live, Talib Kweli mostly fails. As always, his amazing song Get By, produced by Kanye West and based around a Nina Simone sample, got the biggest audience reaction of the night - bigger even than Cee-lo's appearance. I'm looking forward to Kweli's upcoming new release (Ear Drum) and watching him progress as a performer. He is one of Hip Hop's brightest hopes.
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More photos below....
Game Theory hits the streets on August 29th.
Previously
new Roots songs as videos on YouTube
On Sale: Roots & Talib Kweli @ Webster Hall PLUS Talib is playing the Apple Store
Roots + Talib Kweli + Pharcyde | Summer 2006 Tour Dates
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Posted on August 16, 2006 11:15 AM
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Comments (12)
I do believe that the Roots have been doing the exact same "throwback hip hop" set for 10 years. Literally.
Posted by Anonymous | August 16, 2006 11:31 AM
I have to say that if it wasn't for Kweli's completely energizing mid-set performance, the show would have been a complete dud. The first half of The Roots show was verging on boring, but Kweli swept in and the crowd went off. When The Roots re-emerged, they seemed to realize from the crowd response to Kweli's set that they needed to step it and they did. But that's just one man's opinion.....
Posted by Rob | August 16, 2006 11:56 AM
Kweli sucks. he's garbage. post-reflection-eternal: frat boy college hype.
Posted by Anonymous | August 16, 2006 12:53 PM
calling kweli garbage is not only mean spirited, it's also not true. he has a wide audience and is rooted in his brooklyn community, not just with frat boys. Just because he can still improve his performance a decent amount, doesn't mean he's garbage. He's a young and improving artist. Time will tell
Posted by wes | August 16, 2006 1:01 PM
i'm not sure if "rob" was at the same show i was at...to say that kweli's set energized the crowd and that the first half of the roots show was boring, is clearly coming from someone with no musical taste or knowledge what so ever...not to mention the fact that the sound during kweli's set was complete bass, the roots were non stop action, proceeding with impeccable group chemistry and immaculate musical precision. please, if you are going to comment on a show, make it sound as though you were actually there.
Posted by bob sura | August 16, 2006 1:03 PM
dujeous (http://www.dujeous.net/) is one of new york's best underground acts, and a full band at that. the roots are definately not the "only band in hip-hop."
Posted by topomodesto | August 16, 2006 1:29 PM
Besides Bob Sura being one heck of a hooper the boy has some musical knowledge as well. I also attended the show, and to say Kweli energized the show is like saying Questlove's hair wasn't picked out. Once Kweli came on cats began to clear out. I was shocked because I am a Kweli fan, but after seeing him numerous times live his shows are sometimes suspect so cats departuring wasn't that surprising. Rob probably is that frat boy who wears flip-flops. He accidently stumbled upon Kweli on Napster while searching for Kelis in hopes to find that Milkshake song so and his pledge brothers could make all the boys come to the yard. Bottom line is if see the Roots live hip-hop still has a chance.
Posted by the black scott storch | August 16, 2006 1:41 PM
Besides Bob Sura being one heck of a hooper the boy has some musical knowledge as well. I also attended the show, and to say Kweli energized the show is like saying Questlove's hair wasn't picked out. Once Kweli came on cats began to clear out. I was shocked because I am a Kweli fan, but after seeing him numerous times live his shows are sometimes suspect so cats departuring wasn't that surprising. Rob probably is that frat boy who wears flip-flops. He accidently stumbled upon Kweli on Napster while searching for Kelis in hopes to find that Milkshake song so and his pledge brothers could make all the boys come to the yard. Bottom line is if see the Roots live hip-hop still has a chance.
Posted by the black scott storch | August 16, 2006 1:41 PM
still garbage. he may be young but that doesn't mean he's improving. in fact, after reflection eternal, i'd say he's consistently getting worse. dumb boring. he can't decide whether he wants to be serious or fun ($$$) and isn't cool enough to find the medium. furthermore, he's terrible live. i'd prefer listening to Shoulda Lean on repeat than any of kweli's post-r.e. stuff. Son
Posted by H-man (i stay reppin queens) | August 16, 2006 3:58 PM
But let's face the truth, the reflection eternal kweli and this so called just to get by are just totally defferent. When i was a reflection eternal and blackstar fanatic juring the hype of the black august, and when i heard that "Quality" was comming out, i went crazy, only to be utterly disappointed by the horrible lack of flow. Kweli did not have to change his voice to sound something like chingy in order to grown a fan base. At one time him and mos def were actually bigger than Jay-Z or 50, every coner in soweto bumped tracks like Fortified Live and 4 woman. I don't really know much about what's happening to hip hop in america, but the term raw is just no more and rappers like 50cents are considerd hardcore. What about carnibal ox, planet asia, Rasco, words worth, Rugged man and kool g rap. I am sorry but i would have been one of the ppl working out when he came on stage coz hip hop is also about the metaphors not just the chorus. Uhuru (South Africa)
Posted by Uhuru | August 19, 2006 2:49 PM
WOW... WHAT A GROUP!!! I CANT WAIT TILL THE CHI SHOW!!!
Posted by Sean From Da CHI | December 14, 2006 8:36 PM
not too bad
nice!! i can't express how much I love IT, oh yeah, the nation are pretty good too.
Posted by WOW GOLD | December 3, 2008 12:43 AM