NPR: Whoa: The Roots Blow Up "Masters of War"

Whoa: The Roots Blow Up "Masters of War"

Filed under: Music

On the show this morning, ?uestlove of the Roots talked about the hip-hop group's new record, Rising Down.

Back in 2007, the Roots bulldozed a Bob Dylan tribute concert with a cover of Dylan's "Masters of War." One critic, Rob Harvilla of the Village Voice, described the scene like this:

"And then, oh my God, 'Masters of War,' performed by the Roots, consisting in this iteration of Questlove on drums, Captain Kirk on guitar and vocals (no Black Thought this eve), some dude on tuba, and the entire Thursday-night Lincoln Center crowd on jaws-dropped-to-floor percussion."

Bonus: The complete performance, with (as far as I can tell) one profanity.

Laura Conaway

10:09 AM ET | 04-29-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I have see them play 'masters of war' twice now and it is one of the best covers i have ever seen. it transforms the original with an amazing instrumental twist in between each verse, and adapts it for todays issues.

Sent by virginia hammock | 10:32 AM ET | 04-29-2008

I just don't know how to act, my favorite group on my favorite show. I can die happy now.

GIVE THEM A REGULAR SPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sent by Kristasphere | 11:07 AM ET | 04-29-2008

Classic Classic Hip Hop. Forget what you see on B.E.T. or what Hot 97 says- The Roots is where Hip Hop Lives. Word.

Sent by Hip Hopper | 6:36 PM ET | 04-29-2008

Is that "Machine Gun" in the back?

Sent by Greg | 9:15 PM ET | 05-01-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:	» List of local stations (PDF)
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Host

Alison Stewart

Welcome to 'The Bryant Park Project'

This new radio show from NPR comes to you weekdays, straight out of New York City. You can find audio and video from us here and in our podcasts. Bryant Park is not a talk show, but it is a conversation. Intrigued? Read our frequently asked questions and discussion rules.