From the moment the self-proclaimed “legendary” Roots crew took the stage at the Kool Haus in Toronto, there was a wonderful sensation in the air, and it wasn’t just the scent of recreational substance abuse. This was the smell of something fresh, and something Toronto hip-hop fans haven’t experienced in a very long time.

With the presence of camouflaged Yankee hats and unnecessary salutations of the words “Yeaaahhhhh” and “Okayyyyy” dominating rap music today, there has been a major void left in the hip-hop game. On this night, The Roots filled that void with zest.

The majority of large concerts these days consist of a headliner and a couple opening acts. Most fans present at these shows either arrive late (in time for the ‘important’ band), or they simply ignore the opening act. The Roots are critically praised veterans of the music bizz, and are well aware of this custom. As headlining act for the very first reprisal since 2000’s inaugural “Okayplayer Tour,” they took on the role of headliner like real professionals.

With underground champs like emcee’s Skillz and Jean Grae being part of the tour this time around, Roots drummer/producer/entrepreneur ?uestlove was quick to point out on the bands’ community website okayplayer.com that this was an ensemble tour and not a one act show. To prove this to the fans, in one of the most unconventional methods known to music, The Roots opened the show. Rapper Black Thought a.k.a. Tariq Trotter, bass player Hub a.k.a. Leonard Hubbard, Maldog a.k.a. Kamal Gray on the keys, and drummer ?uestlove a.k.a. Ahmir Thompson on the drums, took the stage and introduced Toronto’s elite hip-hop fans to some of their newest material off their upcoming album, “The Tipping Point,” due out July 13.

After performing “Web,” the banging “BOOM” and the Dave the Dude-produced “I Don’t Care,” the artist formally known as Mad Skillz, now known simply as Skillz, got on the mic. Skillz warmed the crowd to his “In Love With the Mic,” with the Roots still on the stage as the background band. He also played his crowd favourite “Nod Factor,” the Okayplayer Tour anthem “Take It Back,” and the annual pop-music spoof “Wrap Up 2003,” in which he pokes fun at Top 40’s most elite mishaps of the year.

Next it was female emcee Jean Grae’s turn. Regarded as the next big thing for women’s rap, Jean wowed the already ecstatic crowd with some of her finest ‘fight music’ rhymes.

After her set, Black Thought once again popped up, and the show was finally ready to really explode. The band performed some of their finest material, spanning seven albums, from the cult “Organix” to the Grammy Award winning “Things Fall Apart” and the 2003 Gold-certified “Phrenology.” Halfway through the set, former Roots alum Dice Raw got on the mic as a surprise guest. He did 2 songs, and reappeared occasionally at other points in the show.

The highlight of the show was the grand finale featuring all the members of the Okayplayer Tour, not to mention a surprise guest appearance from Toronto native K-OS. The band left the stage for what seemed like an hour, and then reappeared for a stunning multi track encore. The nearly 45 minute encore was a highlight of some of their biggest hits (”The Seed 2.0,” and the Grammy winning “You Got Me), not to mention some of the greatest solo pieces from the band. The solos featured a five minute soul revival from new member, singer/guitarist Martin Luther, a near ten minute psychedelic phenomenon from another new member, guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas, and a fine drumming rendition from ?uestlove and back-up percussionist Knuckles. But the most crowd pleasing solo of the night came from Kamal on the keyboards. Kamal presented covers of recent hits in hip-hop like Nas’ “I Can,” Talib Kweli’s “Get By”, and Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love.”

The Roots left the stunned Toronto crowd with their jaws-dropped and their left ears ringing. If the fans could have asked for one thing from the band, it would have been a guaranteed promise to keep coming back to Toronto for more Roots concerts.

Set list:
Roots- Web
Roots- Boom
Roots and Skillz- I Don’t Care
Skillz- In Love With The Mic
Skillz- Nod Factor
Skillz- Take it Back
Skillz- Wrap Up 2003
Jean Grae- Can I Kick It
Jean Grae- What Would I Do
Jean Grae- Keep Livin’
Jean Grae- Hater’s Anthem
Roots- Proceed
Roots- Stay Cool
Roots- Act Too…The Love of My Life
Roots- Lesson
Dice Raw- Do What I Like
Dice Raw- Hip Hop Died a Long Time Ago
Martin Luther- Daily Bread
Martin Luther- Rise/Cherish the Day
Roots- Break You Off
Roots- Don’t Say Nothin’
Roots- Next Movement
Roots- Clones
Finale- featuring all performers, and surprise guest K-OS

Encore- The Seed; You Got Me; Cover of Rick James “Superfreak”; Solos

5*






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