Video: The Roots Announce Retirement
From touring that is.
Last night in Chicago The Roots announced that they will be retiring from touring EFFECTIVE March 2009. The move is being made to accommodate their new Night Gig as the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he replaces Conan O’Brien as the host of Late Night in March of 2009. Conan will be moved to the Tonight Show.
On the one hand this sucks because, despite The Roots status as the touringest group in Hip-Hop history, and despite the numerous live shows I’ve attended, I have never seen a proper live Roots performance. How is that possible? I don’t know, but I need to make sure I hit one up before March. I know it’s a temporary retirement, but if Fallon’s ratings are good, it could be a while.
On the other hand, this is a great look for them and much deserved.
Video spotted via Straight Bangin
UPDATE: According to this post on OKP, it’s not as dire as it sounds.
This entry was posted by eskay on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 7:55 pm and is filed under Graf, Miscellaneous. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.




November 15th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Ive seen the roots perform at least 19 times.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
DAM KANYE! THAT BITCH MUST HAVE REALLY HURT YOU FOR YOU TO MAKE A CD OF SUCH BACTERIA.
>:-(
November 15th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Jimmy Fallon and The Roots? That has so much potential. I might start watching TV again.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
damn seeing a roots live performance is on my bucket list. I heard their bassist retired tho
November 15th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I doubt that includes Black Thought since he doesn’t play any instruments. SO I smell a long awaited Black Thought solo disk on Def Jam perhaps…
November 15th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
roots is definetly one of the best live performers ever. busta rhymes is up there too. dude did awhole show up here accapella. the dj had none of his music. so he ripped it plain… and killed it
November 15th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
This is fucking devastating. Do u understand what this will do to the underground hiphop tour game? I’ve been to at least 6 Roots concerts not to mention their New Years jam in Ft Lauderdale a few years back. The demographic of the crowd is insane. They attract more cultures, people, genders, and music lovers than Barack Obamas election night acceptance speech. The Roots provide hiphop lovers with more than just a rap show, it is a music experience. I’m sorry, I love Wu-Tang to death, but the Roots are the ultimate hiphop group in my opinion. Not to mention that Black Thought is tied neck and neck with Nas as far as greatest active MC in the game. What the fuck? Damn that Jay-Z and his shitty record deal offerings. Ever since the Roots jumped on Def Jam they seem to have been more and more musically depressed although you couldnt tell by just seeing them live. I’m gonna love seeing them on tv every night, but the thing I’ve appreciated is that they dont over do it. They’re not always in your face and when they are, its fucking classic. I look forward to their yearly shows in my neck of the woods like it was a stimulus package. Now i fear i might eventually have to change the channel if i get to see them 5 days a week. And what about Black Thought. WHEN THE FUCK WILL BLACK THOUGHT BE ON SOMEBODYS TOP 10 LIST. WHAT THE FUCK!?!? He’s on my top 3 list. Somebody throw this MC a freaking shout out. Somebody, anybody. If Nas is the Rakim of this era, Black Thought is undoubtedly the Big Daddy Kane. I dare you to disagree
November 15th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
yea i really dont know what kanye was trying to do . . . well i know what he was trying to do but it wasent a good attempt
*deletes 808’s and Heartbreak off comp*
November 15th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
*deletes Kanye off itunes for being soft*
November 15th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2008/11/15/nfl-week-11-predictions/
^^^OMG..this bitch drives me crazy. My bad SK.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
OK…..so what does that mean for Black Thought? is he gonna spit bars before every damn show or are we gonna finally get Masterpiece Theatre?
November 15th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Eskay
I feel you on that. I’ve never been to a Roots show either. Gotta do that before I leave this earth!!!
November 15th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
*tries to line up some pussy for tonight*
November 15th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
every hip-hop fan in america needs to see one roots show.
their show has actually changed so much over the past 15 years, it’s hard to say if you could even get what the hype was about by catching a show in 2008, but better late than never…
November 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
in the future “so and so died” in Nah lite is not a good look.
I stopped fucking with the roots like in ‘01
November 15th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
[...] at Eskay’s spot No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTMLallowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> [...]
November 15th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
911 Says:
November 15th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Just wanted to provide clarity. And somebody tell eskay new york is a shithole. ny is so overrated.
————————————————————
does anyone cosign this…. anyone at all… i’ll wait….
*waits*
November 15th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
GREATEST SHOW EVER
im glad i saw them @ the roseland ballroom in october
November 15th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
http://www.mmahacks.com/video/live-stream.html
November 15th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Los Angeles>NY
OC>Hamptons
Nuff Said
btw So-Cal Women>>>>>Anywhere USA
November 15th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
eskay did you sell your twitter status to sean p and ruste juxx??
November 15th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
haha, Curtis is on the UFC being interviewed by Joe Rogan, promoting his album. He’s apparently betting on Lesnar.
November 15th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
illpath.net new blog want that feedback music@illpath.net
November 15th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
kenny florian looks like ben stiller
November 15th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
E, you know what the name of that Jay track he came out (pause?) to was?
November 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
nah I didn’t hear it
November 15th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
LF: Dam I feel bad. I got 2 hot and readys here. but all I can think about is the chick Im tryin to wife up
November 15th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Damn, nice jiu-jitsu for Kenny. That sweep to mount was dope
November 15th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
who you got for Lesnar/Couture E?
November 15th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
cOLD Says:
November 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
in the future “so and so died” in Nah lite is not a good look.
—————–
LOL
November 15th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
…she wants me to smash…
November 15th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
who you got for Lesnar/Couture E?
^^
Lesnar, but I’m not sure about my pick
November 15th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
please advise
November 15th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
plug Says:
November 15th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
…she wants me to smash…
—————————-
Then do so…
November 15th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
What did this cunt do to Ye for him to produce this bullshit album?
I can’t.. I can’t believe this shit I’m hearing, I’m confused like buck…
*deletes 808s from desktop*
November 15th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
please advise
^^^^
go for it…
unless you’re really serious about making the other chick your wifey
November 15th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Jesus Lesnar is a freak… 81″ reach? That’s average for someone 6′9″, not 6′3″.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I added some comments about my personal experience. This really upsets me, for admittedly selfish reasons.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:05 am
cOLD Says:
November 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
in the future “so and so died” in Nah lite is not a good look.
^ ^
Yea, I saw that earlier but I didn’t want to go and point something like that out.
I saw that and was like
“Well damn. . . can a n_gga get a real post? I mean, a death should probably get a real post. . . especially since it was on a fu_kin’ stage.”
November 16th, 2008 at 12:06 am
OMG!!! the Roots are literally the epitome of what a live show should be, the energy they bring and professionalism is just insane… i’ve seen them 3 times, and everytime was a new experience worth enjoying… this saddens me, but damn good look on catching the gig… i hope they coem to montreal one last time, i’ll be there front row with my camera to capture it all
November 16th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I kinda like the album….
HeyheyHeyhey!
*runs*
November 16th, 2008 at 12:14 am
SMH @ Fiddy being on the UFC PPV reiterating his album is being released on December 9th. He won’t admit to his failures…
November 16th, 2008 at 12:21 am
top off the night you hoe ass bitch made punk nahghers….
Congrats to those cats…i know they’re charging NBC out the ass (none)….Kevin Eubanks is making stupid money with Jay Leno
November 16th, 2008 at 12:45 am
This “retirement” is just temporary though (just like everything else in hip-hop). There is no excuse for the heads who’ve never seen a Roots show before. They’ve been on the road since…forever! http://www.weyowzers.com/2008/11/roots-temporarily-retire-from-touring.html
November 16th, 2008 at 1:12 am
It’s for the best. Black Thought was getting lethargic. I saw em last month fo the fourth time, definetly their weakest perfomance. With all that said, best live hiphop act ever.
Big Pun>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
November 16th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Even if it’s the Tonight Show, I can not think of anything I’d rather do LESS than play back-up to Jimmy Fallon. It won’t be long though, I can’t imagine how compelled people’ll be to watch Jimmy Fallon’s creepy ass every night
November 16th, 2008 at 1:21 am
The Office>>>>>>>>>>
November 16th, 2008 at 1:24 am
fuck these hoes. I thought about it and why would i smash some silly hoodrat bitches when I just smashed one of the baddest hoes this side of the galaxy this morning. and one braud was actin stank toward my homie. and to add insult to injury, the bitch stole my sandwich.
November 16th, 2008 at 1:26 am
the bitch stole my sandwich.
^Unacecptable
November 16th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Pussy is a helluva drug
November 16th, 2008 at 1:47 am
speaking as a rehabilitated thief … stealing another person’s food is the sleasiest form of thievery …
November 16th, 2008 at 1:52 am
that Jax died thing under Nah Right Lite is just sad,
the man deserves a full post, especially because he died on stage, doing what he loved.
RIP
November 16th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Yooooooooo
I’m I’m. Tossed righht now…….fuck all. Ya niggas (no)
Nah ya my niggass
1
November 16th, 2008 at 2:14 am
speaking as a rehabilitated thief … stealing another person’s food is the sleasiest form of thievery …
———–
I remember workin with this dude back in the day. we chillin in the breakroom and he eatin one of the most delicious sandmiches I ever seen . Im like “yo let me get a peice of ya sandwich.” He like “sure! go ahead! Its not mine. I dont know whos it is”
November 16th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Damm rihanna got a flat ass
November 16th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Yeah
November 16th, 2008 at 4:12 am
*in kanye voice*
YOU LOSE…
November 16th, 2008 at 4:59 am
check out this ill remix of the song “Criminal” by The Roots by a producer in the DMV (DC/MD/VA):
http://www.indabamusic.com/submissions/show/3732
i think that joint sounds crazy! click the link above to check it and
if you feel it like i do, give the young scrapper Ahkil some
votes…he was 28 among all the entrants last i checked and needs to
crack the top 25 to proceed to the next level, so your vote would
really help! if i didn’t think it was banging, i wouldn’t even mention it but he’s dope and wild humble on top of that, so i’ma bang for him…
November 16th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Was this really an offer they couldnt refuse?….I mean really? Back up band for Jimmy “Laughing at the cue cards during monologue’s” Fallon’s ass? A House band for a talk show that comes at like damn near 1am?
Really Quest, I mean really?……
November 16th, 2008 at 8:32 am
1 day they will come back…like Iverson to the East
November 16th, 2008 at 8:35 am
oooh ya he’s back….but, GO RAPTORS!!! Onions baby…we miss Chuck!
November 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
sleep Says:
November 16th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Damm rihanna got a flat ass
^^
bony chicks get it too
November 16th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Cassie has the flattest ass in the “industry”
November 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Sad to see this but their paper is gonna be continuous straight!!!! Big ups!!!
November 16th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I shall…
….proceed…
and continue….
to pray….
…for a Black Thought solo album.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
[...] 17, 2008 · No Comments Talk about things falling apart: in a recent interview ?uestlove, drummer and mastermind behindthe seminal and socially conscious hip hop group The Roots, says his band is retiring to be JIMMY FALLON‘S HOUSE BAND once Fallon takes over The Conan O’ Brien Show next year. [...]
November 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
[...] Nah Right sparked internet frenzy this weekend when the blog site posted a no-longer-available video of The Roots drummer ?uestlove saying that the band will stop touring in March 2009 to take on another full time gig as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, replacement for Conan O’Brien next year. [...]
November 18th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
[...] ?uest must’ve said something that someone found objectionable: That interview has been removed from YouTube and apparently everywhere else. [...]
November 19th, 2008 at 1:17 am
[...] ?uest must’ve said something that someone found objectionable: That interview has been removed from YouTube and apparently everywhere else. [...]
November 19th, 2008 at 5:06 am
[...] ?uest must’ve said something that someone found objectionable: That interview has been removed from YouTube and apparently everywhere else. [...]
December 9th, 2008 at 10:30 am
[...] Nah Right is reporting that The Roots might sign on to be the house band on Jimmy Fallon’s new late-night talk show (he’s taking over for Conan in March). Since it’s not official yet, and since I don’t really care much about this, I’ll abstain from issuing one of my verbose tirades. But I will drop two observations that I find noteworthy: [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
This is terrible! I love the Roots and have been looking forward to seeing them here in sunny FL this year…damnit!