Miley Cyrus, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, and the Roots teamed up for an excellent tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor during SNL50: The Anniversary Specialon Sunday. Aubrey Plaza, who made her first public appearance following the death of her husband Jeff Baena, introduced the performance. Backed by the Roots, Cyrus …
Read More »How Did Questlove Make His New 'SNL' Doc? Step One: Watch 900 Episodes
Questlove can still remember seeing Billy Preston perform on the first Saturday Night Live on Oct. 11, 1975. Technically, he wasn’t allowed to watch TV, but his parents were Soul Train devotees who wanted their son, then four, to absorb “anything musical,” he says. To get him ready for its …
Read More »The Roots Will Celebrate 'Do You Want More' 30th Anniversary With Blue Note Residency
Thirty years ago today, the Roots went big with Do You Want More?!!!??!, their first album release on a major label. The DGC Records LP featured over an hour of music, with rap and jazz colliding through production from The Grand Negaz, Questlove, Kelo, A.J. Shine, Black Thought, and Rahzel. …
Read More »Pearl Jam, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Wayne (With the Roots!) Set for New Orleans Jazz Fest
Pearl Jam, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Wayne with the Roots, Luke Combs, and Dave Matthews Band are among the headliners for the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Haim, Lenny Kravitz, Santana, John Fogerty, Burna Boy, Cage the Elephant, and My Morning Jacket will also take the Big Easy stage …
Read More »The Roots Announce L.A. Picnic for 'The Class of '95': Lil' Kim, DJ Quik, E-40, More
In addition to their annual Philadelphia music festival the Roots Picnic, the iconic hip-hop and Tonight Show house band the Roots will throw a show in Los Angeles on June 8. Named “A Roots Picnic Experience: The Class of ’95,” it will feature 1990s rap all-stars such as Lil’ Kim, …
Read More »Gwen Stefani Goes Bananas Performing 'Hollaback Girl' on 'Tonight Show'
Gwen Stefani stepped into a time machine with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots on The Tonight Show to perform her 2005 hit “Hollaback Girl.” Using a banana as a microphone, The Voice host sang the foot-stomping track as Fallon and the house band shook tinsel-colored pom poms and performed with …
Read More »Watch David Gilmour Showcase 'Dark and Velvet Nights' on 'Fallon'
David Gilmour stopped by The Tonight Show to perform his recent song, “Dark and Velvet Nights.” The musician was joined by house band the Roots, as well as four backup singers, for the dynamic performance. “Dark and Velvet Nights” comes off the Pink Floyd member’s new LP, Luck and Strange,which …
Read More »Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey Set for Kamala Harris' Election Eve Pennsylvania Rallies
Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Roots, Jazmine Sullivan, and more will take part in Kamala Harris election-eve rallies in Pennsylvania, the Harris-Walz campaign announced Sunday. Oprah Winfrey will also make an appearance at the Philadelphia rally on Monday, which will also include performances or remarks by artists like Gaga, Sullivan, …
Read More »Phish Bring 'Evolve,' and a Goofy Aerosmith Parody Cover to 'Tonight Show'
Phish swam over to The Tonight Show Thursday to perform the title track from their new album Evolve, and even cover a bit of Aerosmith. The band helped craft the show’s cold open with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought. The bit saw Phish getting into an …
Read More »Questlove Has a Few More Thoughts on Modern Hip-Hop
When a publisher suggested that Questlove write a book about the history of hip-hop, he was reticent at first. Not because of any fear of writing — the Roots drummer is an accomplished author, with a back catalog that includes an acclaimed 2013 memoir, along with volumes like 2021’s Music …
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