Pop stars with party-ready music might seem like the most routine concert headliners for New Year’s Eve weekend in Las Vegas, but hip-hop paragons The Roots have crept into Strip theaters a few times in recent years to shake things up—and we’re all the better for it.
The legendary Philadelphia crew and musical force behind The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon returns to start the celebratory weekend with a performance at the Palms, at the rejuvenated and still beloved Pearl Concert Theater. And founding member and all-time great emcee Black Thought (aka Tariq Trotter) predicts it will be one of the best shows of a “very concert-heavy calendar year. New Year’s Eve is always special, and we’re definitely gonna put on a show, Las Vegas-style.”
Looking back to the beginnings of the Roots, which accomplishment seems more unbelievable or unlikely to you now: playing Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve or becoming the house band on The Tonight Show?
Becoming the house band on The Tonight Show felt like a far less likely thing to take place. We’ve done Vegas for New Year’s in the past and we’re always grateful for any opportunity to connect with fans at this time, and that just feels like something more aligned with our ongoing trajectory. We were road warriors early in our career, playing many festivals and different markets and working our way up through the ranks. I think in Las Vegas, we’re on that path to possibly doing something like a residency; that’s a realistic culmination of all the effort. But yeah, The Tonight Show is different for me because I was never given to doing musical theater, or standup comedy, or for that matter becoming an author or any other endeavors I’ve risen to in recent years.
Your book The Upcycled Self just came out last month. Why did you decide to write a memoir?
I felt like it was now or never. I’m big on listening to the universe, and being at this place in my career, the reason I create the art I create at this point is to serve. I want to come from a place of gratitude in everything that I do, and in being honest with myself and with my fans, I’m leaning into a more personal body of work and being more vulnerable in my creative process. So in sharing more of my story and the pieces of the puzzle that amount to the man I am, it made perfect sense right now.
This year saw a lot of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and you have been involved in many of those events. It seems like it’s been meaningful for fans to celebrate the music and the culture this year, but how does it feel from your perspective, as an artist who’s been engaged for more than half of this 50-year lifespan?
As an artist who remains a fan, it’s been a dream come true for me. It’s been sort of a rollercoaster of celebration and reconnection and introduction to artists I’ve looked up to but never met. And to see so many artists who are still popular and relevant … to gain new relevance and have the chance to introduce themselves to a new audience, that’s been huge. Artists like Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash, they’ve been traveling all over the world and rocking out for a whole year with these huge audiences. And it’s been a huge honor to play hype man and a supporting role to so many of my heroes, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Rakim, so many artists. To say Jazzy Jeff is my DJ, everybody can’t say that.
Are you comfortable stepping into that other role, one of hip-hop hero and influential artist yourself?
I’m definitely comfortable in it but it’s not an honor I take lightly. There’s a certain amount of responsibility that comes with being labeled a legend. I’m conscious of that and I’m being very intentional in my representation, but yeah, I feel like I worked for that. Only time will tell, but the fact that I’ve been around as long as I have, the body of work speaks for itself.
THE ROOTS December 29, 8 p.m., $68-$203+. Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.
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