John Legend teams up with The Roots to pay tribute to the soulful music of the ’60s and ’70s.
In their most recent album, “Wake Up!”,  the duo explores theme of awareness, engagement in our community and consciousness.
The Roots’ passion for melding new and old together inspired them to feel the need to enter the action by adding gospel, reggae and rock inflections in addiction to their hip-hop influences. The single quickly became an 11-track masterpiece evoking hope, change and awareness to their fan-base.
With a new version of an old Marvin Gaye classic, “Wholy Holy,” Legend fuses Gaye and Aretha Franklin’s rendition in a sweet-sultry melody that excites anyone’s musical palette.
The collaboration was met with efficient time and thought-provoking individuality with each track and it shows.
“These songs sound so relevant now,” Legend said. “On most of them, you wouldn’t change a single lyric. ‘Wake Up Everybody’ (the album’s first single, featuring contributions from Melanie Fiona and Common) has four verses — the first one is a general statement, the second is about education, the third is about health care and the fourth is about making a better environment. No editing needed.”
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, The Roots’ drummer and musical director, said, “When these songs were written, people were more spiritually in tune; it was fresh from the civil rights era and there was a feeling of hope that maybe, yes, someday we will all be free. In 2010, not so much.”
Handpicking each individual song is what makes this album so incredibly special, explaining to fans globally that issues have remained for decades and art can still draw people together in a very spiritual way. John Legend includes one original track on the album called “Shine,” which he explains as a “Stevie Wonder-meets-gospel” stunner.
“Wake Up!” blends together Legend’s expressive, emotional and thought-provoking vocal interpretations with an element of funk that only the legendary Roots can add to the mix.
I can only advocate this album for what it is — a masterpiece. Something special that shouldn’t be missed or looked over, but as a concept album that allows anyone to wake up!
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