The Roots‘ ?uestlove is a busy man. He’s always working and his current itinerary is most likely hectic. The man is working on a variety of projects including The Roots‘ Rising Down, and an untitled Al Green LP.
So, who will appear on the Green album?
“I know Justin (Timberlake) wants to be a part of this project…Anthony Hamilton did some honorary background vocals. Corinne Bailey Rae wrote two songs. She’s a monster songwriter. We also have been talking to Justin’s people now. Both he and Al are from Memphis. D’Angelo will be a part of this record as well,” ?uest told MTV.
According to reports, ?uest has had the album on his plate for years, but hasn’t been able to give it his full concentration until now.
“It’s been putting gray hair in my afro…I’m not producing, I’m reducing it. I’m trying to take him back to 1974 — very dry, very dirty, very grassroots sound. One of the biggest mistakes of modern technology, it doesn’t sound gritty, doesn’t sound raw. A lot of the favorite records we sample from today, those were recorded in studios that were very lackluster. Those weren’t the best studios in the world. Pretty much, I want this album to sound very cheap, very dirty … the vibe the Amy Winehouse album gave you. More than just the song, the creative aspect. I wanted the engineering to feel like it was made 30 years ago.”
?uest also spoke on the new Roots album.
“We are 55 percent finished…I will say this is an electric record, more synthy. The darks are darker and the lights are lighter. But all I know is making quality hip-hop stylistically. We tried to do something we never did before. Kamal had to be the sacrificial lamb this time. The one instrument that has defined the Roots has been the Fender Rhodes [electric piano]. This is the first year he’s had to change his instrumentation and try other sounds out. We have a bunch of keyboards and synthesizers we’re using on this record. It feels like the musical equivalent of ‘Blade Runner’ sometimes. We’ve also added a horn section.”
He’s not done. He’s got an album by Common and Q-Tip in the works. He’s going on the Hip-Hop Honors tour and he’s going to work on D’Angelo‘s next project.
