This actually sounds like an awesome project. Having two of my current favorite musical acts drop an album full of songs I grew up listening to… someone get me a bib because I can’t stop drooling.
Musical powerhouses John Legend & The Roots are presenting fans with a fiery new offering, Wake Up! The upcoming CD, being released by Sony Music on September 21, 2010, will feature soulful music from the 60’s and 70’s all with an underlying theme of awareness, engagement and consciousness— effectively telling listeners to Wake Up!
After being inspired by the recent historical Presidential election campaign of 2008, the R&B singer Legend and hip-hop band The Roots felt a need to enter the action. What started as plans for a single quickly developed into a passionate album representing change, hope and activism— not only referencing one particular moment in time, but on a larger scale, holding true no matter what the political climate may be.
More down bottom.
The resulting album features eleven profoundly evocative songs infused with sounds of gospel, rock and reggae inflections with hip-hop influences. The album is highlighted by familiar tracks like “Wholly Holy” by Marvin Gaye and “Little Ghetto Boy” by Donny Hathaway mixed with the more obscure selections of Baby Huey and the Babysitters’ “Hard Times,” and “Hang on in There” by Mike James Kirkland.
“These songs sound so relevant now,” Legend says. “On most of them, you wouldn’t change a lyric. ‘Wake Up Everybody’ (the album’s first single, featuring contributions from Melanie Fiona and Common) has four verses—the first one is a general statement, the second is about education, third is about health care, and the fourth is about making a better environment. No editing needed.”
“When these songs were written, people were more spiritually in tune,” says Roots drummer/musical director Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson. “It was fresh from the civil rights era and there was a feeling of hope that maybe, yes, someday we will all be free. In 2010, not so much.”
The album features one original composition, Legend’s song “Shine,” which is featured in Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim’s upcoming documentary film Waiting for Superman. The song, a “Stevie-Wonder-meets-gospel” stunner, clearly demonstrates the strengths of this specific group of musicians. Wake Up! blends Legend’s expressive, thoughtful vocal interpretations with an element of funk that only The Roots can provide.
PREVIOUS: The Roots – The Fire (rmx) f. B.o.B & John Legend
My question is where is all the support for Louisiana and the Golf Coast? Haiti had an earthquake and we raised millions texting $10 donations and all this shit. Celebrities doing telethons. Wyclef going nuts. But we have billions of gallons of oil pouing into OUR water off OUR coast and no one says ANYTHING!!! We’re are the Louisiana artists? Why is this no big deal?
3 days after the Roots drop an albums they’re speaking of another one… nice.
this should be sick.
http://99problemsofjayz.wordpress.com
Man, can never get enough of the Legendary Roots Crew
Man this sounds dope as fuck. how i got over is one the best albums of this year
Carlos made a great point that I’ve been tellin people in the Panhandle for 66 days now
we all get together and cry for haiti or asia after earthquakes and tsunami’s but once an oil spill happens we jus go on with our lives and just bitch?!!?
cuz its man made and not a natural disaster?? wake up people
will be lookin forward to this album though
Personally, I think Legend has a really flat voice. Im still looking forward to this though.
Is Black Thought gonna be a part of this? if he isnt he needs to drop a solo album!
Would be better if they dropped an album with original works, especially after hearing The Fire and Doin It Again, but this should be dope as hell.
And co-sign on the Black Thought Solo CD.
they’ve been talking about this for awhile now. supposed to come out in september.
KJ said it
I just posted a review of the Roots new album on my new site
http://www.hiphopfiend.net/2010/06/the-roots-how-i-got-over-review/
if anyone is interested…
@Boomerang Slang I’m wondering the same thing, my guess is that maybe he will feature on a couple of tracks, but not every song…
fuck yes. nice to see these supergroups actually doing the music they said they would. looking at you Jay Elect & Lupe/Mos. Well, Jay Elect in general =/
I was hoping for original works too but dope nonetheless.
This is a good look. Some real soulful ishh.