A Roots Tour Update ...

This is sooooo crazy. ?uesto has been blogging the Roots' European Tour and right about now, I think my boyz are ready to return to familiar turf.

Is anyone else super surprised that some of the guys were in an all out brawl; an old school fisticuffs? I saw the wounded - and you can too.

You can also catch the ongoing video log on Okayplayer and here.

More about my obssesion w/the Roots: I let a former student borrow my "Game Theory" disk last week. It was a random act of kindness (I let him borrow my Dave Chappelle's Block Party cd as well - I know, I know, what was I thinking...?). So a day went by, then two and then I sent him a nice and tidy email that he should return it, and soon - maybe I gently worded that I would track him down and physically harm him if he did not return it within 12 hours ... However, I did not think he would get it back to me prior to my holiday road trip ... but he did. Whewwww, that was close. Why didn't I just offer to burn him a copy myself ...? Next time - lesson learned.

Prayers for the Roots to get healthy and be safe ... kfox

What is 'truly' my imagination ... and The Roots are coming!

I've had way too much time on my hands lately (enjoying listening to some hip hop, but mainly wasting away ...), but in that, what-could-have-been-quality-time, I've conjured up images of 'what if I were Dave Chappelle ... (complete w/50 mil to toss back @ cha, though maybe not the quaint life in a small, ohio college town - I'm there and doin that!). Anyway, my thoughts of "Being Dave Chappelle" center around his ability to throw his weight around and build a concert line-up of his dreams. Well, what if I could do that same thing ...? Yeah, hip hoppers, let your mind run free ... and think, oooooooh, the possiblities in the 'Indy Hip Hop World' ...

So here is what I came up with ... and in no way is it designed to one-up Chappelle - heck, I know that you know that I am one helluva fan of "Dave Chappelle's Block Party." Envious that I did not get an (official or otherwise) invite ... ? And yes, that is somewhat relevant.

But back to my wayward thoughts and time that I will never get back - and the assembly of the Indy Hip Hop World Block Party (many of the artists will need no explanation):

The Roots
Colossus
Murs
Zion I
P.O.S.
Rakim
Ghostface Killah
Oh No
Collective Medicine
Psyche Origami
Dead Prez

I know that it is a testoterone heavy bill, but that's the nature of the industy, right?! And just because some emcees/djs/badasses are not listed, does not mean that I dislike them more than I dislike old lady Gertrude as she slowly discovers the gas pedal @ a stop light in rush hour traffic as I rush to get to the post office before it closes for the day (yeah, I know, my fault for running late, but who knew that the local USPS closes @ 4:30p? ... work with me people).

Back to the real world ... The Roots have a scheduled tour stop in Cleveland@ the House of Blues on Saturday, August 5 - I'm countin it down, yall. You mean a real hip hop show, on the lake, on a bonafide weekend night, at a decent venue, for a reasonable price? Whhhhhaaaaad!!?? I have not seen The Roots Live since they were on the Smokin Grooves tour w/Outkast (leave it to me to take you there). Your girl will be in the house on Saturday and most likely @ the after set too! It's the b-day wknd, though that is a month long celebration - you know how Leos do it - it's all about me/us. And in honor of the fire sign legacy, keep it hot, yall - shouldn't be hard with he current heatwave enveloping the U.S., but poke your head out of your air conditioned environment for a millisec and feel me on this ...

Other happenins for the month of August, in case you forgot: The Roots' "Game Theory" project rolls out and Outkast's movie "Idlewild" will blanket theatres across the nation ... oh, and classes resume - my contribution to schoolin the next generation - yeah, teeny boppers, get your composition books out AND pay attention ...

I'm outtie ... stay true (and watch out for the imaginary game or what is truly a mind game), kfox

It's all about the hip hop, baby!

What is good, yall? I'll tell you what...I have been reading ?uestlove's blog on myspace and it is a beautiful thing. He just writes it as if he telling you in person. Good stuff about life for a musician on the road and trying to get some love from, well from whoever digs what they do. And there is mad love for The Roots crew.

So, I also had a chance to hear a hip hop show out of Akron, Ohio...Keepers of the Art are on 91.3 WAPS on Friday evenings @ 9 p.m. I was diggin the show because it reminded me of my own show. Nice and hyped w/some quality beats and rhymes. 'Cept they were bangin a few more oldies - or so it seemed. They - the hosts, Ish and Don Juan, rocked some BDP, that's Boogie Down Productions for those who don't know and that's no secret.

I'm still jammin to some stuff that is relatively new. The Murs "Murray's Revenge" has grown on me. "Barbershop" is hot, but really the entire project has some personality. Still lovin the Collective Efforts and the Coppershot is on the money - yes, it is!

Can't want for the Dave Chappelle's Block Party DVD to be released. It has a June 13th release date. If you didn't see it, you don't have to fast forward to the Fugees - really Lauryn Hill - do a bang up job on "Killing Me Softly." But you will want to watch/hear it over and over and over again. That's nearly the sole reason I am ridin this one so tough.

Next on my waiting list is The Roots next project - their first on Def Jam, that would be Shawn Carter's Def Jam. Yeah. The Roots' "Game Theory" cd will be out on August 29. Too long for me, but they would probably say, not long enough.

Still no hip hop shows for me and it doesn't look like one will get on my summer sked. And that is a dayum shame! Whatever that is about, I am not a fan of it. The thing is I like small venues but the shows rarely start on time and when they do get underway, they have all of these folkds who are okay and who I'd like to show some love to, but I really just want to see the headliner or do I want my $12 dollars worth...? You get what I'm sayin.

Can anybody tell me when they will stop producing the aggressive hip hop that mainly focuses on cars, jewels and hoochies...? I will wait for that to be over over and let that be soon because it all sounds the same and it ain't sayin nuthin...

Oh...I'm considering an mp3 player. It probably will NOT be an iPod since your girl - that's radiogirl - has gots to have some radio connectivity and at no additional cost thanyouverymuch! It will probably take me three months to make a purchase, if I do, meanwhile when traveling I will be toting the somewhat antiquated cd player with several disks. Just don't gawk at me, ah-ight?

You do realize that the Cavs are a game up and a game away from advancing to the eastern conference championship, dontcha? I am a hip hop head through and through, but I am also a fan of the NBA. So I'm out! I need to get my energy up, calm my nerves and take some time to send some words up...you should do the same.

stay true triple h's ... kfox