The Roots Liner Notes for "How I Got Over"

You can be a part of The Roots' upcoming project "How I Got Over". Questlove, the group's legendary drummer, posted a note on Twitter soliciting questions for inclusion on the liner notes for the project.

I've already sent my question:

@okayplayer Why did it take over a year for "How I Got Over" to be officially released? (@Questlove)

But I still have thoughts:

• It seems the liners notes would have been drafted by now since the project drops in less than a month.
• Liner notes are great for albums and cds, but what about mp3s? I guess there some sort of electronic/digital version ... yes, there is, but it does not seem the same.

The questions for The Roots' "How I Got Over" liner notes have been rolling in feverishly.

Get to tweeting hip hoppers. Time to get your name in ink (or digitized). kfox.

New from The Roots "Dear God 2.0"

The countdown continues as The Roots are scheduled to drop their new disc "How I Got Over" on June 22. Here's a track: Dear God.

The Roots :: Dear God 2.0

Go and get a taste of what is good hip hoppers. kfox.

VIDEO: The Roots perform at the Winter Olypmics

I know that many of you don't wish to revisit anything remotely related to this past winter, let alone the Winter Olympics. But it wasn't all bad, meaning the Winter Olympics (other than the U.S. hockey team losing to our northern friends).

For example, this video of The Roots performing in Vancouver is pretty cool. The set includes "The Fire", a new track from their upcoming "How I Got Over" project.

"How I Got Over" drops on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

The Roots play the Whistler Medals Plaza at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Winter Games from Thomas Attila Lewis on Vimeo.

It's safe to put the winter boots away hip hoppers. kfox.

VIDEO: Akala "Find No Enemy"

I found out about Akala via an article on the Independent's website about British hip hop. There were many artists who were mentioned throughout the article, but Akala stuck out for me. Here's one of his quotes from the article:

"I think rappers have found our voice within the UK to some degree, but we have to be very careful with what we label hip-hop and what we label rap music," says Akala.

He goes on to say:

"A diluted derivative of the culture can be paraded as the culture and then people lose the essence of what it really is and actually think hip-hop is about trying to sell people champagne and jewellery."

The article also included three tracks from Akala's recently released project. This is where I got pulled in.

The first was "Peace" and it caught me off guard because the article was talking about hip hop and grime music and what not. So I expected something uptempo. And you guessed it, "Peace" is not uptempo at all. As a matter of fact, it was nearly beatless. More like poetry w/a piano in the background. That's how I figured, well, this ain't your regular hip hopper.

"Yours and My Children" provides that tempo that I thought would be in "Peace". Akala comes hard on the lyrics: "Muslim, Christian ... all of our sons"; he goes on to name countries where there's war and strife and says "yours and my children".

The last track was "Find No Enemy". Incredibly cool track. It's melancholy w/the guitar as the pleasant backdrop. It's thought provoking too. It's six minutes of 'I've got something to say'. It's the kind of lyrics that's missing too often from music these days. I mean, I don't want every song to be socially conscious and political, but I also don't want every one to be that other thing either.

So check the vid hip hoppers ... and please know that fat meat is greasy. kfox.

Reflection Eternal f/Estelle "Midnight Hour"

Who doesn't like Reflection Eternal? Even if you've never heard of them, it's my bet that you'll like at least one track from their first track.

So, let me give you a bit of the back story - and I do mean just a bit. Reflection Eternal is Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek. That collabo is one for the history books. And they've done well for themselves individually too.

Now, the duo is back at it and the project will officially drop on Tuesday. The track "Midnight Hour" is already out there.

I must admit, that I was not feeling this to start, but I do like Estelle and I wanted to see how it would work out. I do like the way that Kweli adapts his flow on this song (I likes to see some versatility in an artist's style; especially since Kweli's been around. Because you know, some folks have been around and are doin the same ole, same ole). Of course, I like the tempo. I like uptempo music ... and the retro-soul sound is becoming; it gives the song a non-hip hop vibe.

I'm diggin it. You diggin it hip hoppers? Let me know. kfox.

Midnight Hour feat. Estelle CLEAN (main) by Sneakattackmedia

VIDEO: Shabazz Palaces "Belhaven Meridian"

I thought that the music video game had lost its moxie. Meaning: folks stand around yelling, riding in rented cars w/rented chicks and other fake paraphernalia. Oh, the sadness that is crap-hop. But now I've discovered that Shabazz Palaces has churned out a exceptionally crafty one - video that is (and a rather strong song too).

I could say a dozen or so things about it, but you gotta see it for yourself hip hoppers. kfox.

And here's one of the few links to info on Shabazz Palaces (from Pitchfork Media).

Questlove LIVE Chat on Thurs, May 6

Image via Wikipedia

Oh, this is good to know: you can chat w/The Roots' Questlove this Thursday, May 6 @ 2 p.m. EST via Billboard's Live Chat.

Surely, you want to ask Questo about The Roots' soon to be released (though majorly delayed) "How I Got Over" project.

More information on Questlove on Billboard's Live Chat.

Get out your calendar hip hoppers, we got a (virtual) event to attend. kfox.