Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh revisits the Dead repertoire with a rotating cast of musicians that he bills as Phil Lesh and Friends tonight at 10 p.m. at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard; The Roots are the only major rap act to play Summerfest’s whitewashed line-up this year, but at least they’re an uncompromising one...

As much as The Roots have undeniably revolutionized the genre, their records still sometimes succumb to hip-hop clichés. Maintaining a track-to-track flow, for example, remains an issue. However, unlike with other rap acts, the numerous guest appearances often provide their albums with a vital spark.

Here�s how The Roots� latest album could have sounded: Yes, that song, �Birthday Girl,� featuring Fall Out Boy�s Patrick Stump, was actually intended to be their latest album�s first single. Wisely, it was cut from the album all together. But here�s a song that did make Rising Down's cut: I�d love to be a fly in the wall during the marketing sessions for this album...