The Roots | Entertainment News, Photos, and Videos

The Grammys gave us one of the most epic performances ever with 50 Years of Hip-Hop tribute!

Some of the most legendary entertainers of all time came together to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the music genre at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 5) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The moment kicked off with Dr. Dre being presented with a special award and then LL Cool J introduced the performance, which featured such artists as Busta Rhymes, Flavor Flav, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah and more.

If you didn’t recognize some of the songs, don’t worry because we have the full list of every number performed.

Head inside to see the full list… More Here! »

Malik B, a founding member of The Roots, has died.

The rapper passed away at the age of 47, his cousin Don Champion confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday (July 29).

“Mourning my beloved cousin today. He was so talented and had a huge heart. I still remember when he and The Roots were starting out. He’d give me and my dad their cassette tapes to listen to. I miss you already, Mailk,” he wrote.

“We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit. May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam and innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family in our time of mourning,” wrote The Roots on Twitter.

Malik was a founding member of the band, which was originally known as Square Roots, alongside Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter. He left in 1999 to pursue a solo career, returning to the group as a featured artist on the albums Game Theory in 2006 and Rising Down in 2008.

Our thoughts are with Malik B‘s loved ones at this difficult time.

We’ve sadly lost these stars in 2020…

It’s Jimmy Fallon‘s first Classroom Instruments jam session of the new year!

Joined by The Roots, Janet Jackson gave her 1995 track “Runaway” a fresh feeling on vocals as Jimmy and the musicians played everything from xylophones to kazoos to toy trumpets.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Janet Jackson

Jimmy also kept the time by waving a flag throughout the performance. “Runaway” was recorded and released for Janet‘s first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996.

Earlier in the week, Janet Jackson announced on The Tonight Show that along with her just revealed Black Diamond World Tour that she will also release a new album called Black Diamond.

Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson and Jason Derulo are performing “Memory” in a very unique way!

The Cats co-stars all came together to sing the song from the film (and Broadway musical) along with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots in a special classroom instruments version on Wednesday’s (December 17) episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Taylor Swift

James Corden and Francesca Hayward joined in the special remix of “Memory” with instruments they found in an alley.

Taylor played the milk bottle, Jimmy played rain gutter, and Jason used a bottle. Francesca used a paint can, James used nails in a jar, Questlove used garbage can lids, and Black Thought used tuna cans.

Watch the cool performance inside…

READ MORE: Taylor Swift’s ‘Cats’ Song Has Been Shut Out of the Oscar Race

Taylor Swift and Jimmy Fallon compete in a music face-off!

The 29-year-old “You Need To Calm Down” singer and the 45-year-old Tonight Show host went head-to-head for the “Name That Song” challenge during her appearance on Thursday (October 3).

The game consists of The Roots playing chords from a song as the players guess the tune.

Taylor guessed songs by Britney Spears, Sixpence None The Richer, and TLC, but she didn’t get her own “Shake It Off!”

“That’s my favorite thing that ever happened on the whole show ever!” Jimmy said, while Taylor joked, “That was really upsetting.”

She also dished on Lover and her upcoming tour.

Watch the videos now!

Also during her appearance: Watch Taylor ‘s post-surgery video, in which she cries over a banana, and watch as she teases the two songs she’ll perform on SNL.

FYI: Taylor Swift is wearing Each Other with Christian Louboutin shoes.

Click inside to watch the other video…More Here! »

Shawn Mendes is putting a fun spin on his hit!

The 20-year-old “Lost In Japan” singer-songwriter performed his 2016 smash “Treat You Better” using classroom instruments alongside The Roots and Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (October 8).

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Shawn Mendes

The “Classroom Instruments” segment has been performed by many acts with Jimmy and The Roots in past years, including Adele, Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello.

Ahead of Shawn‘s fun performance, E! debuted an exclusive preview. Watch it below!More Here! »

Ariana Grande joins Jimmy Fallon and The Roots to perform her hit “No Tears Left to Cry” with Nintendo Labo instruments, and it’s seriously epic.

The 24-year-old “Side to Side” crooner and the Tonight Show team showed off their musical skills in the episode that aired on Monday (May 14).

Each instrument in the video is made from only cardboard and a Nintendo Switch.

Ariana was on vocals, while Jimmy played the Guitar and Piano Studio. Other instruments included the Robot Kit, Electric Guitar Fishing Rod, Toy-Con Piano x2 (Organ), Toy-Con Piano x2, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Toy-Con Garage Drum Machine.

“It was totally bizarre and such a gamble,” Jimmy told IGN. “I didn’t know if it was going to sound good, but Ariana is always down to try something fun and different.”

Watch below!