On June 8th, the beloved Philadelphia based hip-hop group known as The Roots put on a phenomenal show at REAL Watersports, located in Waves, NC. This classic hip-hop group was formed back in 1987 by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and consists of nine members in total. While hip-hop is the primary genre of choice for The Roots, they also are known for incorporating jazz into their music, making them a truly unique rap group with a distinct sound. In early 2009, The Roots stuck a deal with very credible late-night host Jimmy Fallon. From that day forward, they perform as the house band on Fallon’s late-night show. For the past 31 years, The Roots have been putting on highly energetic and awe-inspiring shows for the masses.
When word went around that The Roots were visiting the small outer region of North Carolina, I was honestly shocked. Never have I heard of a group with such high caliber gracing the Outer Banks, but then again, I have only lived here for six years. The day of the show had finally arrived, and the venue was decently packed. After the first live act had finished, people began flocking over to the main stage. After the usual few minutes of waiting, the band finally arrived. The crowd started to burst with excitement as each of the band members quickly took their places.
As soon as the first words came out of Tariq “Black Thought” Trotters mouth, I knew I was in for a very vivacious show. They started off by performing the classic hip-hop song, “I Know You Got Soul” by legendary rappers Eric B. & Rakim. After covering a few other songs, the band began performing their hits such as “The Seed (2.0)” and “The Fire.” The band’s high pace performances lit up the crowd. Everyone began swaying back and forth to the rhythm of the music in hopes that the moment would never end. Throughout the show, each band member gave a riveting solo performance. Damon “Tuba Gooding Jr.” Bryson was the first to go and for five minutes or so he was jamming out hard. He was blowing so hard you could see his veins popping out of his forehead. These one-man acts continued one by one over the course of the two-hour show, each member giving it their all. “Captain” Kirk Douglas stole though show though as he captivated the audience while shredding songs like “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses on his guitar.
The Roots are master performers. They are experts when it comes to knowing how to make the audience groove to the sounds of their music. There was not a moment in the entirety of the concert where I felt disinterested and wanting to go home. At the end of the show, I was honestly saddened that it was over. Overall, the concert was terrific and well worth the long drive to Waves. If you missed The Roots this time around, check out their Facebook page for more info on their upcoming tour dates.