The Roots Close out Highline Ballroom with One Last Epic Jam Session

The Roots performed the final show at Highline Ballroom.

Back in 2009, The Roots started a weekly residency at the Highline Ballroom. The series of shows were loose. The residency regularly featured guests — like John Legend and Common — and was packed with covers and remixes.

READ:New York City Venue Highline Ballroom Will Be Closing its Doors in February

At the time, Highline Ballroom was still a relative newcomer to the New York City nightlife scene. (The venue opened its doors in 2007.) 

On Monday, February 4th, the Highline Ballroom held its final show ever. (The landlord decided not to renew the lease after 12 years in Chelsea, New York.)Titled as The Roots: The Final Highline Show Presented By Jill Newman Productions, the performance was an homage to those legendary shows during The Roots nearly three-year residency.

READ:The Roots' Classic Concept Album Undun is Finally Available on Vinyl in the US

Of course, they performed classic album cuts, like "What They Do," "Dynamite!," "Act Too (The Love of My Life)," "Clones, and "Here I Come," with almost a computer-like efficiency. But it was the moments where things felt like an old-school jam session that felt special: like when Black thought performed Main Source' "Looking at the Front Door" or rapping Prodigy's verse on "Shook Ones (Part II)."

There were solos from guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas and beatboxer Jeremy Ellis. And an intermission where DJ Funkmaster Flex came out and did a 20-minute set. It all felt fluid and delightfully structureless.

The Roots ended up performing for nearly three hours. What a way to go out. Check out highlights below.