The Roots have their hands full as the backing band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The Philly boys are cooking up 200 “sandwiches,” rehearsing like crazy, and trying to define Black Thought’s new role. Oh, and someone has to pay for all this. Proceed for an excerpt from their recent interview with Philly.com.
Black Thought’s initial response:
“Initially I was a little leery,” said the Roots’ MC, Tariq Trotter, or Black Thought. “I initially was thinking, `Is this just going to be ammo for some other rapper to try to dis me for?’ Like, `Your career is so over now/ You’re a house band for …’ You have to be that many steps ahead of whatever move you’re going to make.”
The Process:
They’re working long days to create 200 “sandwiches” or “beds” , the intro and outros that will buffer each segment on the show.“Right now, my whole life is this show,” said drummer Ahmir Thompson, better known as ?uestlove, in a recent interview as he lazily adjusted his fro pick in his trademark Afro, slightly exhausted in between rehearsals.
Ambition:
“We’re going to cover every genre, though I doubt we’ll do bluegrass,” said ?uestlove. “This is a chance to really show people how diverse we are.”
Economic stimulus:
But ?uestlove says the band’s new job has “enabled us to survive. “This would basically match or surpass what we would make touring 200-plus days out of the year. And, two, this allows us to be home,” he said.
[The Roots say Fallon gig `enabled us to survive']
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