The Roots were on the scene in The Studio in Philly yesterday for the first day of a five-day series of rehearsals and jam sessions. Not only will The Roots be working out new songs from Rising Down for their live show, but they will also likely be, well, jamming… feeling that creative vibe that’s inspired all of their albums to date, working out new ideas in the studio, and playing with some special guests along the way. OKP writer Candace L. was in the studio. Read her exclusive in-house reporting from Day 1 after the jump. We’ve also got an exclusive photo gallery, courtesy of Sol-Exposure, who will be snapping away each day so check back for more coverage real soon.
The countdown to “Rising Down” continues tonight with the listening party in Philly, but Monday night felt like a cozy ramp up to the big night at The Roots rehearsal session. In the booth of course was The Roots sans Black Thought, who spent most of the night chilling in the studio with the peanut gallery, Roots manager Rich Nichols, his money-making jam compadre Dice Raw, Khari Ferrari and a roomful of other supporters.
After comparing the pristine, orderly Okayplayer outpost with the view of rehearsal from the electronics and smoke-filled studio, I realized the studio was the place to be. It’s the musician’s equivalent of the barber shop where opinions on everything fly freely (really, everything - from Obama’s martyrdom and the impossibility of progress, to “She told the wife!?”). Considering women are a rare sight in both locations, I felt obligated to play fly on the wall.
First, was the track-by-track listen of the new album. I came in on “I Will Not Apologize” and stayed through the end. This album’s definitely moodier, but the art that is inspired from a dark place tends to be heaps more interesting than the happy-go-lucky alternative. Wallowing in the darkness to show you the light is not a bad thing. “Rising Down” is such a head-nod album you don’t even realize it’s heavy, so at least the balance is there. The seemingly long list of guests is hardly noticeable because they so seamlessly weave into the flow of the album. The easy favorite on first listen is Wale and Chrisette Michelle’s guest spots on “Rising Up,” but “Criminal,” “I Will Not Apologize” and “Lost Desire” are right there behind it in quality if not energy.
I see now the studio will be my home away from home for the Philly portion of this week of rehearsals. Where else are people saying, “If Biggie was alive, he’d be wack” or “Progress doesn’t exist’?
Amidst the randomness, there was actually a rehearsal taking place. Focus on the booth as ?uest, Tuba, Kirk and Owen run through “Baby” and some other material, but spent so much time on “Criminal” (and its 18 guitar parts), a kick in the pants was needed to actually start rehearsing the new show. The kick went unheeded and it was time for pizza. Around 6:30 p.m., heads started to trickle out.
But besides the behind-the-scenes look into the rehearsal process, Day 1 taught me how to be a better person. It was good to learn as one of the two women in the room that the way to keep a man is to slut it out. Words of wisdom (thanks Dice). Dice is the official P.I. of the crew. No casual statement can be made around him without a slew of relentless, analytical questions to get to the bottom of nothing in his ongoing quest to furl Rich’s brow as often as humanly possible. An overall cut-up, every crew needs one.
The countdown to “Rising Down” continues tonight with the listening party in Philly, but Monday night felt like a cozy ramp up to the big night at The Roots rehearsal session. In the booth of course was The Roots sans Black Thought, who spent most of the night chilling in the studio with the peanut gallery, Roots manager Rich Nichols, his money-making jam compadre Dice Raw, Khari Ferrari and a roomful of other supporters.
After comparing the pristine, orderly Okayplayer outpost with the view of rehearsal from the electronics and smoke-filled studio, I realized the studio was the place to be. It’s the musician’s equivalent of the barber shop where opinions on everything fly freely (really, everything - from Obama’s martyrdom and the impossibility of progress, to “She told the wife!?”). Considering women are a rare sight in both locations, I felt obligated to play fly on the wall.
First, was the track-by-track listen of the new album. I came in on “I Will Not Apologize” and stayed through the end. This album’s definitely moodier, but the art that is inspired from a dark place tends to be heaps more interesting than the happy-go-lucky alternative. Wallowing in the darkness to show you the light is not a bad thing. “Rising Down” is such a head-nod album you don’t even realize it’s heavy, so at least the balance is there. The seemingly long list of guests is hardly noticeable because they so seamlessly weave into the flow of the album. The easy favorite on first listen is Wale and Chrisette Michelle’s guest spots on “Rising Up,” but “Criminal,” “I Will Not Apologize” and “Lost Desire” are right there behind it in quality if not energy.
I see now the studio will be my home away from home for the Philly portion of this week of rehearsals. Where else are people saying, “If Biggie was alive, he’d be wack” or “Progress doesn’t exist’?
Amidst the randomness, there was actually a rehearsal taking place. Focus on the booth as ?uest, Tuba, Kirk and Owen run through “Baby” and some other material, but spent so much time on “Criminal” (and its 18 guitar parts), a kick in the pants was needed to actually start rehearsing the new show. The kick went unheeded and it was time for pizza. Around 6:30 p.m., heads started to trickle out.
But besides the behind-the-scenes look into the rehearsal process, Day 1 taught me how to be a better person. It was good to learn as one of the two women in the room that the way to keep a man is to slut it out. Words of wisdom (thanks Dice). Dice is the official P.I. of the crew. No casual statement can be made around him without a slew of relentless, analytical questions to get to the bottom of nothing in his ongoing quest to furl Rich’s brow as often as humanly possible. An overall cut-up, every crew needs one.
So imagine my surprise after all this liberating, mind-expanding conversation to flip to “The Bachelor” later that night to see Carri, the Oklahoman opera singer, serenading her intended British boy toy with “Summertime.” I thought the memo went out a while ago, but it’s not okay to sing a song that uses ‘mammy’ that un-ironically in its lyrics. Then, cut to the only Black girl out of 15 love contestants booty-shaking her way into The Bachelor’s heart. But television, and it seems the people they choose to be on it, is so disconnected from reality, I’m sure no one even noticed. Back to the lab for Day 2, which brings the listening party of at least 300 guests and more rehearsal.
*For more from Candace L. visit The Reviews
http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews
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