It's the spring concert everyone's been waiting for. With talk of every band from MGMT to Girl Talk coming to perform at Notre Dame, it's finally been confirmed that The Roots will be the big band on campus this weekend.
Quoted as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's top 20 greatest live acts in the world, the Philly-based hip hop group has been around since 1993, produced 13 albums, won Grammys, played as the house band on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" since March 2009 and recently performed at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in February.
But before The Roots take the stage Saturday night, Mike Posner will open the show. An American singer, songwriter and producer, Posner is known for his high energy sold out shows, as well as the strong nationwide buzz from his mix tapes. Although the Michigan native has not yet released his debut album, he has collaborated with such artists as 3OH!3, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Bun B, One Be Lo and Eric Holljes.
He worked with Don Cannon and DJ Benzi on "A Matter of Time," a mix tape he released in early 2009 when he also hired manager Daniel Weisman of Elitaste, Inc. Record producer and DJ Don Cannon hosted the mix tape, while DJ Benzi mixed it. The tape includes guest appearances from Big Sean (a hip hop artist on Kanye West's record label G.O.O.D. Music), Jackie Chain, Donnis and Eric Holljes. Posner used several samples in the tape, including The Fray's "Over My Head" in "Still Not Over You," Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman" in his own "Evil Woman," Keziah Jones' "Pleasure is Kisses" in "Who Knows?" and Beyoncé's "Halo" in "Halo."
After signing a major label deal with J Records of RCA and Sony in July 2009, Posner chose to return to Duke University, where he is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and is currently recording his debut album and touring on the weekends. He released his second mix tape "One Foot Out The Door" on Oct. 29, 2009. Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Bun B, GLC, 3OH!3, Freddie Gibbs and XV appeared on this sophomoric effort from Posner.
He also sampled from The xx, John Mayer, Ricky Nelson, Miami Horror and Soulja Boy for the new tape. Posner is still working on his debut LP and expects to release it in the late summer after performing on all 42 dates of the 2010 Warped Tour.
Posner's well-praised show is sure to be an exciting opener for The Roots Saturday night.
Contact Alex Kilpatrick at akilpatr@nd.edu
