The Roots celebrated the opening of Guitar Center’s flagship Times Square store Thursday with a performance at Best Buy Theater. Before the headliners hit the stage, the Hot 97 Morning Show duo of Peter Rosenberg and Laura Stylez entertained fans with Stylez talking to the crowd and Rosenberg spinning a set of mostly ’90’s hip-hop with a mix of some current hits.
When onlookers saw the signature afro of percussionist Questlove and heard the voice of Black Thought, the Grammy award-winning group had taken the stage. With their classic combination of talented musicians and innovative hip hop that fans now have the pleasure of experiencing nightly as the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon weeknights on NBC, The Roots had the crowd moving from the beginning to the end of their performance.
The Legendry Roots Crew performed everything from their 1990’s hits to songs off of their 2014 release, …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, as well as playing some songs one wouldn’t expect like “Jungle Boogie” by Kool and the Gang, “Love to Love You Baby” by Donna Summers, and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns and Roses.
Black Thought took time out to speak about their manager, Richard Nichols, who passed away in July. “I had a dream that Rich Nichols came by the studio the other night,” he said. Rosenberg also paid tribute to Nichols earlier in the night by mentioning him, then playing the Pete Rock and CL Smooth classic “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”
If you are a fan of live instrumentation and hip hop, then The Roots are the ultimate musical high. Their seamless chemistry can be experienced whenever they are performing, be it at one of their signature events like The Roots Picnic or The Philly 4th of July Jam, or in concert. Luckily for all in attendance the executives at Guitar Center are well aware of that.
