The Roots Celebrate 30 Years of ‘Do You Want More?!!!??!’ at Blue Note New York (A Gallery + Recap)
Photo Credit: Dino Perrucci
From the moment they erupted on the scene in 1992, the Roots have been alternative hip-hop’s cutting edge. In the three decades since, that innovative impulse has never dulled as founding members Black Thought and Questlove have honed their lyrical and sonic perspectives through 11 massively acclaimed albums and countless collaborations, offshoots and other creative avenues. They’ve been no strangers to New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club in that time, and last night, the iconic venue provided the perfect backdrop for a reflection on the ensemble’s legacy.
On Thursday, March 13, the Roots stormed Blue Note’s stage to set off a 30th anniversary celebration for Do You Want More?!!!??!, the group’s unforgettable 1995 major label debut. In the first pair of stagings in a three-night, six-show series, the jazz rap pioneers blazed through the project’s full tracklist, digging up several songs that haven’t been played live in decades.
Guests throughout the evening included original album features Rahzel, Ursula Rucker and longtime collaborator Dice Raw, who emerged towards the end of the show to reprise his freestyle on “The Lesson Pt. 1.” The confidence, ease and force that coursed through a set of long-dormant classics was a testament to the Roots’ continued status as hip-hop’s standard-bearers.
Get an inside look at Thursday’s show in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Dino Perrucci. For more information on the Roots’ Blue Note run, visit bluenotejazz.com.
