Shawn Gee: Last News

A.D. Amorosi With the Jay Z-curated “Made in America” festival canceled for the second year in a row, Philly natives the Roots’ annual Roots Picnic at the Mann in Fairmount Park is now the only game in town when it comes to hip-hop/ R&B in festival fashion.

The Roots bassist Leonard Hubbard and Hubbard’s estate is suing band co-founders Questlove and Black Thought for fraud.The Roots’ bandmembers Questlove and Black Thought, along with their band manager Shawn Gee and band employee Munir Nuriddin, are among those whom Stephanie Hubbard and Hubbard’s estate claim violated RICO laws and defrauded the bassist out of millions.In the complaint obtained by Rolling Stone the claimants allege that Questlove (real name Ahmir Thompson), Black Thought (real name Tariq Trotter), Gee and Nuriddin “are advancing a continuing scheme to defraud” the estate and Stephanie of money. Live Nation Entertainment, Universal Music Publishing Group, and other companies that are associated with the band’s businesses are also named in the lawsuit.The Roots bandmembers formed Grand Negaz, Inc., a corporate entity used for business dealings, in 1993.

EXCLUSIVE: After winning the Oscar for Best Documentary last year, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has found his feature film directing debut as sources tell Deadline he will helm a live-action/hybrid reimaging of The Aristocats for Walt Disney Studios. Thompson also is executive producing and overseeing music for the film, whose script is by Will Gluck and Keith Bunin. Tarik Trotter, Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman will exec produce on behalf of Two One Five Entertainment.

Onyx Collective has landed a pair of documentaries including Questlove’s upcoming Sly Stone film.

A new documentary on the legendary Detroit producer and rapper J Dilla is in the works from executive producer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, drummer for The Roots and director of the Oscar-winning Summer of Soul. The film is based on the book Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas. Questlove will team up once more alongside Joseph Patel, his co-producer on Summer of Soul, with a producing team of Zarah Zolhman, Shawn Gee, Tariq Trotter, Rodrigo Bascuñán, Darby Wheeler, and Anupa Mistry (both Patel and Mistry are former employees of The FADER).

75th annual Tony Awards, the actor teased that he was part of a «big production number,» but didn't want to spoil the performance. «I'll be singing my own single so I’m really excited to show that side of myself to the world who may not know that I do that,» he said. «If you haven’t seen me on Broadway, you may not know that I’m a singer and a dancer, so I’m excited.»As Collins noted, the event marks the first time an all-Black orchestra performs onstage in the Hollywood Bowl’s 100-year history.

Juneteenth, several entertainers of color will perform at the Hollywood Bowl on June 19, which is set to air live on all CNN platforms.Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom will include performances from Earth, Wind & Fire, Michelle Williams, Robert Glasper, Jhené Aiko, Billy Porter, Mary Mary, Lucky Daye, Anthony Hamilton, Yolanda Adams, Killer Mike, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and the Re-Collective Orchestra; marking the first time an all-Black orchestra will perform at the Hollywood Bowl stage since it opened in 1922.In addition to rocking the stage with The Roots, Questlove will also serve as the event’s musical director with Adam Blackstone, CNN reports.“It’s a moment to celebrate and reflect on Black independence and the Black experience,” Shawn Gee, President of Live Nation Urban said in a statement.  “It’s also a moment to raise awareness and shine light on the miles we still need to travel to true equity.”Juneteenth is a remembrance of the slave’s emancipation in 1865. This year will mark the second year it will be celebrated as a national holiday, after President Joe Biden signed the bill last year on June 17, just two days prior to the date.

Jhené Aiko, Questlove, and Killer Mike are among the musicians set to perform at the Hollywood Bowl as part of a Juneteethn concert event.The ‘Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom’ event will celebrate the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth and highlight the ongoing fight for equality in the Black community. Other artists set to perform include Mickey Guyton, Earth Wind & Fire and The Roots.

Mick Jagger and Questlove are exec producing a four-part docuseries about I Got You (I Feel Good) star James Brown for A&E.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFor the first time since 2019, the legendary Roots Picnic is scheduled to return in June with Mary J. Blige, Mickey Guyton — both of whom performed at the Super Bowl on Sunday — Summer Walker and Jazmine Sullivan leading a packed lineup.The festival — which is headlined, hosted, and curated by the Grammy-winning hip-hop group the Roots and co-presented by Live Nation Urban — will take place at the Mann at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia for two days of music, art, and culture on Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5, 2022. Also scheduled to perform are Wizkid, Kirk Franklin, Rick Ross, G Herbo and more — see the full confirmed lineup below.A special fan club presale goes live today at 10 a.m.