Hip Hop was alive and well on Sunday, June 29th, as June came to a close. The Roots Crew returned to the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia. I was fortunate enough to attend the group's "Hip Hop Is The Love of My Life Tour" last year at the same venue, which featured support acts Digable Planets and Arrested Development.
While last year's show had a mixtape style, juggling the performances of various acts, The Roots were the main event this time. Australian musician Nai Palm served as the opening act. As we made our way to our seats, my colleague and I were both hopeful that the humidity would break, watching numerous concert-goers fan themselves to cool down. Thankfully, Wolf Trap had a great playlist going as background music.
Nai Palm took the stage promptly at 8:05, while I wasn't aware of the opening act's music. Still, vocally, she sounded great and won me over when she was able to go a cappella with a version of the Donny Hathaway classic "For All We Know" after experiencing some problems with her guitar. Following a 5-minute intermission, it was time for the men of the hour.
As they always do, The Roots came out swinging, opening their set with "ECK/Respond/React." This performance set the stage for a journey through the group's thirty-plus-year career, featuring classics such as "What They Do," "Lookin' at the Front Door," "The Next Movement," and "Dynamite." Throughout the night, Black Thought displayed effortless breath control as he dropped bar after bar, solidifying his place as one of the best MCs in the game.
Naturally, Questlove and the rest of the band showcased their musicianship, seamlessly incorporating cover songs into the performance. Donald Byrd's "Change (Makes You Want to Hustle)" transitioned flawlessly into "Web/Dance Girl." While The J.B.'s "Gimme Some More" blended into "You Got Me" smooth as aged cognac. The crew closed out the show with "The Seed 2.0".
My only gripe with the show, which affects my final grade, is the omission of the bops "What You Want", "Rising Up", and "Break You Off". Nevertheless, with an energetic wordsmith and pristine musicianship, The Roots crew continues to be legendary.
Final Grade: A-