The Roots releasing new concept LP (streams), celebrating with two benefit shows at Public Theatre

With their gig as Jimmy Fallon’s musical accompaniment, you might forget The Roots are an actual band that make their own music and release records. And continue to do so. In fact The Roots will release their new album on May 19. Titled …and then you shoot your cousin, it’s a concept album. Black thought said in HipHopDX:

It’s satire, but in that satire it’s an analysis of some of the stereotypes perpetuated in not only the Hip Hop community, but in the community. I don’t know if that makes any sense.

Or for a headier description there’s this promotional copy:

a satirical look at the Dionysian impulse in contemporary hip-hop as told through a series of characters who have found themselves trapped in the permanent underclass. Lost in history’s shuffle, broken, yet self-aware, they see their lives both from within and from without. Self-possessed, they’re ever ready to scale the fourth wall

You can stream two tracks from the album below.

Folks in NYC can experience …and then you shoot your cousin live at two special events at The Public Theatre’s 260 seat Anspacher Theater on May 13 & 14. The record release shows double as a fundraiser for Public Theatre and tickets ($200) are 100% tax-deductible. There are a few left.

The Roots last album was Wise Up Ghost, a collaboration with Elvis Costello. Tracklist and artwork for the new album, plus video for “When the People Cheer” and stream of “Tomorrow,” below…

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The Roots – “When the People Cheer”

The Roots – “Tomorrow”

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The Roots – …and then you shoot your cousin artwork

tracklist:
1. Theme From The Middle Of The Night
2. Never
3. When The People Cheer
4. The Devil
5. Black Rock
6. Understand
7. Dies Irae
8. The Coming
9. The Dark (Trinity)
10. The Unraveling
11. Tomorrow
12. Nothing