103.9 FM WDKX
Rochester, NY
Your #1 Radio for R&B
On air:
Afternoon Drive with
Atu
Listen Online
103.9 WDKX Live Stream
REQUEST A SONG!
Request A Song
The Roots have a lot to talk about on their upcoming Def Jam release "Rising Down," which is due in stores on April 29 and will be supported by a five-week North American tour this spring.
"This is probably our most political album to date dealing with addiction, nihilism, hypocritical double standards in the prison system and overall life in Philadelphia," Roots co-founder/drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson said in a statement. "I'd say it's more mature and intense than all of our efforts but not a 'downer' as most people expect us to do."
The album's title comes from William T. Vollmann's treatise on violence--"Rising Up and Rising Down"--and the release date falls on the 16th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots, which were sparked by the acquittal of police officers in the Rodney King beating.
Songs on the project include first single "Birthday Girl" featuring Fall Out Boy front man Patrick Stump. It's currently streaming at The Roots' MySpace page, which doubles as the band's official Web site. Other guests on the album include Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Saigon, Dice Raw and Chrisette Michele.
The Roots have organized a tour to promote the new CD. The schedule is listed below:
March 2008
29 - Decatur, IL - Millikin University
30 - Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus
April 2008
5 - Austin, TX - University of Texas
7 - Bloomington, IN - Indiana University
9 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
11 - Killington, VT - Pickle Barrel
12 - Boston, MA - Northeastern University
16 - West Lafayette, IN - Purdue University
17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Mellon University
18 - St. Louis, MO - Webster University
20 - Washington, DC - Green Apple Festival
23 - Durham, NC - Duke University
24 - Charleston, SC - The Music Farm
25 - Charlotte, NC - Amos
26 - Towson, MD - Tigerfest Towson University
May 2008
3 - New Orleans, LA - Jazz & Heritage Festival
4 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
August 2008
8 - Jersey City, NJ - All Points West
