Do Believe the Hype

When the dire economy forced the Roots to take an unglamorous nine-to-five job, I figured that the Roots Picnic would wind up being a one-off deal. No way would Mr. Fallon, their taskmaster of a boss, smile on them taking a couple of days off so early in their tenure.

Little did I know, the Roots picnic will not only be back this summer, but it's got a lineup that's even more awesome and eclectic than last year's. In addition to the Roots, there's TV on the Radio, the Black Keys, Santigold (who perhaps will have an easier time showing up than Santogold did last year) and Public Enemy. Performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. With the Roots and Antibalas as their backing band. To borrow a phrase: Yeah, boyeeeeeeee.

Puzzlingly, fratboy minstrel act Asher Roth will be there as well, presumably so Flavor Flav is spared being the most-booed performer of the day (Do you think Flav can set his giant clock so it'll count down from 15 minutes?).

While I'm on the subject of the Roots, this month's issue of Wax Poetics has a good interview with ?uestlove. Fittingly, he discusses his love of It Takes a Nation of Millions (along with Three Feet High and Rising and Paul's Boutique). Even better, though is a profile of veteran radio DJ Sonny Hopson, which is one of the most wildly entertaining things I've read in a long time. It looks like a newer issue just came out, so hurry up before it's gone.