Everybody is a star...

Yep, thats exactly how I felt last night as me and my friend Z stood right in front of the stage rockin' out to The Legendary Roots Crew at the House of Blues. As I said in a previous post, this was my 5th Roots concert and (certainly not my last) they raised the bar for outstanding yet again! They are the only musical artists who I would pay to see multiple times and know that each performance will be something new.

Now for instance, I love me some Prince, been to see him twice, but aside from adding the latest album at his last concert, the show was virtually the same as the first time I saw him. However, I loved it because I love him (See August Archives) and didn't mind seeing almost the same thing twice.

With The Roots, its always something a little different then the last time. Yeah they cover their same material including the their latest masterpiece, The Tipping Point, but always in a different way. They come with a rejuvenated energy that rocks you right down to the core, not to mention that the solos and the miscellaneous cover songs are always carefully selected and skillfully executed. I'm talking about, anytime you can transition from your own hip hop shit into a rendition of Snoop Dog - Drop It Like Its Hot, then Marvin Gaye - Gotta to Give Up, followed by Salt & Pepa - Push It, without losing the audiences' momentum...you're worthy of the highest hip hop praise! The Roots do it ever time.

I'm already anxiously awaiting their return to Chicago...or for that matter, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis, Gary, Iowa City, Davenport and/or any other driveable city in the midwest. I loves them and believe in supporting what I like. Until them brothas do something ill to change that, thats just how it'll be!!!!

-M


Star/Pointro

Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, be proud of yours
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay

When that adrenaline get in they system
It get 'em out on a quest for stardom, could be a motherfuckin problem
in Philly, Cincinatti, Los Angeles or Harlem
Kids call theyself killers let they hammers do the talkin
Don't even know the meaning of life, ain't seen a thing
and you dream of floodin the scenery with, llello and greenery
But for now, you stickin her with the heavy machinery
Wonder how, you lift it up, be only 17
And like e'rybody he wanna shine, young brothers on the grind
Holdin somethin in they spine, "Bowling for Columbine"
Stressin to me how it's all about a dollar sign
Dig the way you out of line, out of sight and out of mind
Up against the clock and damn near out of time
"The Tipping Point" has arrived, and that's the bottom line
To all my peoples that's stars, it's our time to shine
Let's get 'em up high, c'mon

[Chorus]

Yo, ain't it strange how the newspapers play with the language
I'm deprogrammin y'all with uncut slang shit
I know some peoples in the party armed and dangerous
Twist some cool champagne, I'm goin through changes
A grown-ass man, I done paid my dues
Learn the rules lil' homey, you could be one too
Niggaz know, ain't no tellin what he gon' do
But recognize young bruh, I'ma do it for you
You know why? We all stars and we highly evolved
Hip-Hop, it's not pop like Kylie Minogue
If it bang, them gettin-busy brothers probably involved
In the game, where e'rybody got a shottie to draw
I guess you probably a thug, you boss ballin or what?
I can't call it man, I got the ladies fallin in love
Cause handsome, intelligent, tough - I'm all the above
I know you knew it it's the movement
Groove to it while you doin it up

[Chorus]

Introducin the band you gotta see to believe
He got the mic in his hand, so keep the heat up your sleeve
It's Black Thought, he rockin sharp so the speakers'll bleed
I run a triathalon, you wouldn't see me fatigued
I'm a star, and maybe y'all should cop somethin to be
Or trade some of y'all equipment in for somethin you need
Cause it's a, lot of bullshit floodin the scene
Where e'rybody's a star, and hot shit is few and far between
We lose the grip of what, garbage mean
Shorties wanna be theyself, I know it's hard to be
Don't wanna do the Ruben Studdard and come off less threatenin
Keepin it real'll kill you if you end up lettin it
Ain't it blowin your mind how the game all in line
Now the best, to the rest, we fin' to end up settin it
I'd tell you that I was a veteran but it's evident
You act like you want it, you gon' end up gettin it

[Chorus]

"Everybody is a star.."