His 2011 album, Blue Slide Park, reached No. Black Thought is truly one of the most intelligent emcees ever, and his razor-sharp lyricism was on full display. The Badder, The Better: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 1) | Louder Than A Riot | NPR It felt like the culmination of decades of academic rigor and boom-bap sessions, fittingly backed by a seven-piece horn section. November 4, 2020 The platinum-certified Chicago-born emcee performs three songs on a basketball court for his Tiny Desk quarantine concert. Did you know you can watch new Tiny Desk Concerts on npr.org ONE WEEK before they go up on YouTube? 30, 2017 | Abby O'Neill -- Can you believe it? It's the first time he's performed tracks from his new album, Swimming, in front of an audience. Thundercat)\"\"2009\"MusiciansMac Miller (Vocals), Thundercat (Bass), Justus West (Guitar), Klynik (Keys), Joe Cleveland (Bass), Kendall Lewis (Drums), Robin Fay-Massie (Violin), YaShauna Swan (2nd Violin), Lelia Walker (Viola), Melanie Hsu (Cello)CreditsProducers: Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, CJ Riculan, Beck Harlan, Khun Minn Ohn; Production Assistants: Catherine Zhang, Ta Mottolese; Photo: Eslah Attar/NPR. (Feat. Bilal play at the Tiny Desk. Bilal play at the Tiny Desk.Did you know you can watch new Tiny Desk Concerts on npr.org ONE WEEK before they go up on YouTube? Backed by a piano loop and a string quartet, he reflected on his journey's peaks and valleys thus far.I ain't asking why no moreI know I'll take it if it's mineI don't stay inside the linesIt ain't 2009 no moreYeah, I know what's behind that doorWith nearly a decade under his belt at 26 years old, these words ring like an artist twice his age.We were introduced to Mac Miller via 2011's XXL Freshman Class, which featured a special crop of MCs such as Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill and YG, all of whom are now considered in the upper echelon of hip-hop. Thundercat put on a dazzling shaker routine and played the deep centerpiece bass line on \"What's The Use?\" These Swimming iterations don't veer far away from the recorded versions, but here, his lyrics seem easier to interpret under live instrumentation.Set List\"Small Worlds\"\"What's the Use? Yes, those are The Roots packed behind the Tiny Desk. September 4, 2020 Actress and producer Lena Waithe picks her five favorite Tiny Desk concerts. (Feat. Watch Mac Miller play \"Small Worlds\", \"What's the Use? 6, 2018 | Bobby Carter -- There was a shift in Mac Miller's boisterous demeanor as he started the third of his three-song Tiny Desk set. After his big splash, he's been able to find a groove and consistently release quality rap records, ultimately keeping his name in the conversation with the other young greats. This is a song that deserves to be heard in the millions of households that watch The Roots every night.Set List\"It Ain't Fair\"MUSICIANSCurtis L. Jones Jr (Trombone), Arnetta Johnson (Trumpet), Hiruy E. Tirfe (Sax), Richard L. Tate II (Sax), Joseph Streater (Trumpet), Norman J. Bradshaw (Trombone), Damon Bryson (Sousaphone), Ahmir (Questlove) Thompson (Drums), Tarik (Black Thought) Trotter (Emcee), Bilal Oliver (Vocals)CREDITSCreative Director: Bob Boilen; Producers: Abby O'Neill, Morgan Noelle Smith; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Alyse Young; Photo: Claire Harbage/NPRFor more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast. Bilal's falsetto-laced vocals and warm resonance evoked powerful messaging reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield's \"Don't Worry,\" delivered with the eccentricity of Prince.Late last year, Common premiered \"Letter to the Free\" at the Tiny Desk and later won an Emmy for the song. Watch The Roots feat. Click here: https://www.npr.org/tinydeskFollow NPR Music:Twitter: https://twitter.com/nprmusicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nprmusicAug. Click here: https://www.npr.org/tinydeskFollow NPR Music:Twitter: https://twitter.com/nprmusicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nprmusicOct. On \"2009,\" he rubbed his chin with clinched eyes, looking like a young man who's beginning to crack the code. Questlove, a musical and cultural historian nonpareil, was both a metronomical and moral anchor. These consecutive triumphs amassed plenty of fame, fortune and insurmountable obstacles, causing a stumble here and there. And it achieves all this while covering its heart with its right hand. \"It Ain't Fair\" glares unflinchingly, takes a knee and raises a fist against the societal construct that has systematically denied equality of experience to those \"presumed inferior,\" to quote one of Bilal's verses. 1 on the Billboard 200, the first independently distributed debut album to do so since 1995's Dogg Food by Tha Dogg Pound. It wouldn't surprise me if \"It Ain't Fair\" becomes another award-winning performance when the Oscars roll around early next year. Watch Mac Miller play "Small Worlds", "What's the Use? Thundercat)\" and \"2009\" at the Tiny Desk.Did you know you can watch new Tiny Desk Concerts on npr.org ONE WEEK before they go up on YouTube? So Percussion performs a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices on Jan. 31, 2012. This reflective hymn tenderly yanks your heart strings and offers a window into the ethos of those who would like to stand for the flag but cannot in good principle, lest these same evils continue to exist.Those lucky enough to be in the Tiny Desk audience witnessed masters at work. The answer can be found in the lyrics to The Roots' new song, \"It Ain't Fair.\"Armed with the incredible vocalist Bilal, The Roots performed the signature track from Detroit, a film about the race riots in 1967. Black Thought, Questlove and the crew carved out a few hours in their hectic Tonight Show schedule to visit NPR headquarters in Washington D.C. Why travel four hours for a 12-minute concert when you own the late-night airwaves? (Feat. Watch The Roots feat. 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