Questlove Guesses Prince Tracks on 'Fallon'

Roots bandleader Questlove took a break from playing drums on The Tonight Show and sat down with Jimmy Fallon where the host quizzed the Prince fan and music expert on song titles from the Purple One by playing one-second, half-second and quarter-second samples of Prince songs as Questlove attempts to guess the correct tracks.

The Roots on 'Seth Meyers'

The Roots swapped studios on Wednesday night and were the musical guest on fellow NBC late night show, Late Night with Seth Meyers. Take a look at the iconic band performing "It Ain't Fair" with Bilal.

Erykah Badu Backed by The Roots Covers Fela on 'Fallon'

Erykah Badu was on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday where she performed her classic "On and On" and Fela Kuti’s “Sorrow Tears and Blood," while backed by The Roots. Take a look.

Darlene Love, Anna Kendrick, Roots, Sing 'Christmas' on 'Fallon'

Darlene Love, Anna Kendrick, Roots, and Jimmy Fallon sang "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home," on The Tonight Show using just toys. Take a look!

10-Minute Black Thought Freestyle Has Everyone Talking

Roots frontman Black Thought was on Hot 97 this week and destroyed the mic in an epic 10-minute freestyle. Take a look.

Tyler, The Creator & Guests on 'Fallon'

Watch Tyler, The Creator bring out Kali Uchis and get backed by The Roots as they play "See You Again" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The Roots and Bilal on 'Fallon'

Watch The Roots and Bilal perform "It Ain't Fair" from the Detroit soundtrack on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Dave Chappelle Freestyles with The Roots on 'Fallon'

Dave Chappelle was a surprise guest on The Tonight Show Thursday night and he freestyled with his old friends The Roots. Take a look.

Vince Staples & Guests on 'Fallon'

Vince Staples was backed by The Roots Monday night and joined by special guests Damon Albarn, Ray J, Kilo Kish, as they did "Love Can Be" on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Quick News

In September, Slipknot will release the documentary, Day of the Gusano, which chronicles the band's first ever trip to Mexico City in 2015. The film was directed by member Clown, who said in a press release: "Slipknot still has dreams for itself. Finally playing Mexico was one of them. It's been a surreal life of rock and roll for SLIPKNOT and the fact that the dreams still go on for us is simply incredible. Thank you."

After nearly 10 years away from the scene, The Black Kids will release their sophomore album, Rookie, in September.

Iron & Wine will release his new album, Beast Epic, in August. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
01 Claim Your Ghost
02 Thomas County Law
03 Bitter Truth
04 Song in Stone
05 Summer Clouds
06 Call It Dreaming
07 About a Bruise
08 Last Night
09 Right for Sky
10 The Truest Stars We Know
11 Our Light Miles

Speaking to his site, Okayplayer, Questlove has announced that producer Stro Elliot is now officially a member of The Roots.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien revealed that the band wanted Dr. Dre to produce Kid A. “I kept on saying, ‘Oh I’d love to work with Dr. Dre,’” O’Brien said. “I knew it would likely be shouted down or laughed at. Also, it might have been a little forced. But at the time, in my head, it made perfect sense.” He added that fear of creative differences would have led to the unity falling apart.

Super Troopers 2 is slated to arrive later this year, marking 16 years since the cult comedy debut and it has been confirmed that Eagles of Death Metal will be scoring the film. Director Jay Chandrasekhar shared the news on Twitter.

Super Troopers 2 Update: In studio with Eagles of Death Metal recording score. pic.twitter.com/L436375rjS

— Jay Chandrasekhar (@jaychandrasekha) June 7, 2017

Dirty Projectors & Guests on 'Fallon'

Watch The Dirty Projectors joined by D∆WN, Tyondai Braxton, and the Roots to perform “Cool Your Heart,” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Playlist

Head on over to Spotify to listen to our February Playlist of 27 random musical musings. Enjoy!

Stevie Wonder Sings to Michelle Obama on 'Fallon'

Watch Stevie Wonder serenade outgoing first lady Michelle Obama with a medley of his songs "Isn't She Lovely" and "My Cherie Amour" with help from The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

What's Coming in 2017?

via GIPHY

The new year is here and with it comes new music. 

Run the Jewels, who were supposed to dominate January, surprise released their RTJ3 record causing nearly everyone to change their Top 10 lists, thanks guys. That being said, their is other fresh music on the horizon. 

Take a look at what is projected to arrive in 2017: 

January

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Modern Ruin

Austra – Future Politics

Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound

Steel Panther – Lower the Bar

AFI – AFI (The Blood Album)

Japandroids – Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Foxygen – Hang

Bonobo – Migration

Bash & Pop – Anything Could Happen

The xx – I See You

Major Lazer – Music is the Weapon

Sepultura –  Machine Messiah 

February

The Mezingers – After the Party

Marilyn Manson – Say10

Tinariwen – Elwan

Surfer Blood – Snowdonia

Los Campesinos! – Sick Scenes

Power Trip – Nightmare Logic

Save Ferris – New Sound EP

Elbow – Little Fictions

Thievery Corporation – The Temple of I & I

Ryan Adams – Prisoner

Big Sean – I Decided

Lupe Fiasco – DROGAS Light

March

Nelly Furtado – Ride 

Tennis – Yours Conditionally

The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir

Craig Finn – We All Want The Same Things

Other Artists Expected to be Releasing Albums in 2017

Depeche Mode – Spirit

U2 – Songs of Experience

Living Colour – Shade

Paloma Faith – The Architect

The Shins – I Gleek on Your Grave

GZA – Dark Matter

Glassjaw

Brand New

Erik B & Rakim

Liam Gallagher

Gorillaz

Spiritualized

The National

Arcade Fire

Tears for Fears

Danzig

The Roots

The Black Kids

Stone Roses

Afghan Whigs

Nas

Jay Z

Phife Dawg

Justin Timberlake

The Lemon Twigs

Wu-Tang Clan

Ride

Portugal. The Man

Leon Else

Dej Loaf

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Lady Leshurr

Joey Bada$$

The Jesus and Mary Chain

At the Drive-In

Bjork

Ed O'Brein

Pearl Jam

Modest Mouse

Broken Social Scene

Schoolboy Q

Chic

Phoenix

Grizzly Bear

Neutral Milk Hotel

LCD Soundsystem

Fleet Foxes

Mastodon

Spoon

St. Vincent

Slowdive

Lana Del Rey

Queens of the Stone Age

Foo Fighters

Quasimoto

Bruce Springsteen

Slonk Donkerson

Beck

Haim

Syd

Internal Bleeding

Paul McCartney, Roots, Jimmy Fallon & Others Sing 'Wonderful Christmas Time'

Jimmy Fallon and The Roots were joined by Paul McCartney, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, Seth MacFarlane, and Tori Kelly to sing Macca's holiday classic "Wonderful Christmastime" on The Tonight Show.

Officially A Icon: Josh Homme

When we celebrated our 5th anniversary in 2011, we honored our first five years with an artist that made our time as a website worthwhile. Damon Albarn became the first recipient of this award and since then, we have picked like-minded workhorses that have influenced music and never settle for less than the best.

In the past we picked:

2011 - Damon Albarn
2012 - Questlove
2013 - Karen O. 
2014 - Danger Mouse
2015 - Ghostface Killah

Now, this year we award a rock and roller who could have come from the genres golden era but pushes music to beyond the limits of his imagination.

Whether he is fronting Queens of the Stone Age or drumming for Eagles of Death Metal, Josh Homme has spent his life making music. Starting almost 30 years ago with Kyuss, Homme has been making stoner rock for people who don't like stoner rock. From there it was the more successful Queens and Eagles of Death Metal that helped him become a household name. Also linking up with John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl for Them Crooked Vultures, Homme has become a favorite frontman. However, his work behind the decks has gained him even more acclaim.

Producing for artists like Arctic Monkeys, CRX and this year he crafted Iggy Pop's best record in decades with the fantastic Post Pop Depression. Performing, touring and producing Pop's latest, Homme solidified himself as someone who has mastered his craft. A buddy to the music community he has made guest appearances on songs from UNKLE, Death From Above 1979, Nine Inch Nails, Mondo Generator, Mastodon and others.

We applaud his work ethic and love of rock and roll which is why he became our 2016 Icon. 

Hamilton Mixtape Comes Alive on 'Fallon'

Watch Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, and the The Roots’ Black Thought perform "My Shot" from the Hamilton Mixtape on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

Alicia Keys on 'Fallon'

Watch Alicia Keys perform “Blended Family” with Young M.A and The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Jim James on 'Fallon'

Backed by The Roots, My Morning Jacket's Jim James performed "Same Old Lie” and “Here in Spirit” on The Tonight Show.

Quick News

A Tribe Called Quest will release We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, their first album in 18 years, next week. Now, the iconic hip-hop group has released the cover art to the record.

We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service. Pre-Order now and receive the digital album on release date with other items to deliver later. smarturl.it/ATCQ_D2C

A photo posted by ATCQ (@atcq) on Nov 3, 2016 at 3:12pm PDT

The Weeknd told The Wall Street Journal that his upcoming album, Starboy, is "a thousand percent" inspired by David Bowie. He said: "I just love Bowie, I think he’s the ultimate inventor.”

The soundtrack to the Broadway smash Hamilton is getting a mixtape treatment that is arriving tomorrow. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted the info:

Hello hello hello!
Been working on a mixtape for years.
It's finished.
You can pre-order it TOMORROW.#HamiltonMixtape pic.twitter.com/PcgluIUXw4

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 3, 2016

But wait there's more! #HamiltonMixtape pic.twitter.com/cguOx95N96

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 3, 2016