The Roots, Black Thought, & Bilal Perform Original From ‘Detroit’ Soundtrack On NPR’s Tiny Desk

In the latest installment of NPR Music’s iconic Tiny Desk concert series, The Roots appear for a rare performance outside of their weekly gig as the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The Grammy Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop icons deliver an original tune “It Ain’t Fair”, written for the soundtrack of Detroit. Backed by The Roots, vocalist Bilal Oliver and emcee Black Thought help paint the picture of Detroit in 1967 in support of the film’s message.

“‘It Ain’t Fair’ was designed to emphasize the importance of social justice through the prism of late-sixties Detroit, which means many things culturally and politically, and also certain things musically,”explains The Roots drummer and producer Questlove in a press release. “Music has the power to express both anguish and hope.”

Watch The Roots perform their original “It Ain’t Fair” for NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series below: