Roots’ Hip-Hop: Challenging and Inclusive

Hip-hop has always been about diversity. Beyond the platinum sales and radio hits, beyond Dr. Dre and RZA, rap music has long tapped a variety of sources, finding endless grooves and wisdom from jazz, blues, soul, reggae and rock.

The Roots haven’t forgotten this, making the Philadelphia group the de facto champions of a deeper, richer vision of hip-hop. And as hosts and headliners of the 35-city Okayplayer tour, the Roots arrived at the House of Blues on Tuesday to make a dynamic, righteous case for rap music beyond gangsta cliches.

The nearly three-hour show was more like an old soul revue than a traditional concert, as a rotating roster of vocalists took turns in front of the Roots’ live band. Gang Starr’s Guru was among them, framing jazz passages in an energetic, modern hip-hop blend.

Similar textures emerged from Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek, who performed biting songs of cultural celebration, muted anger and jazzy funk culled from the duo’s new “Reflection Eternal” album. And Philadelphia rapper Dice Raw brought a tougher, confrontational, though sometimes limited punch to his muscular turns behind the microphone. The Roots themselves provided many of the night’s best moments, such as the muted beats and rapid-fire commentary of “What You Want,” which included charged backing vocals from the rapper Jaguar. But just as crucial was the group’s flair for gathering worthy new talent, particularly with Jaguar, the soulful female vocal duo Jazzfatnastees and Flo Brown, who rapped with the raw bop cadence and attitude of a young Gil Scott-Heron.

Most of it was rooted in jazz, gospel and classic soul, with lyrics that were often sharp and intellectually challenging. The individual performances could be frustratingly brief, usually just two songs at a time. But throughout the night’s Roots revue, fans could usually count on something equally memorable, and meaningful, right around the corner.

* The Okayplayer Tour, Thursday at 9 p.m., Friday at 9 p.m. and midnight, House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. $30. [323] 848-5100.