July Fourth will find the Roots extended everywhere

As time goes on, the Roots - Philadelphia's finest exponent of hip- hop and all of the experimental sounds it entails - have grown to become the heads of a family that takes all comers under its paternal wings.

In June, their annual picnic welcomed old friends (Esperanza Spalding), neighbors (Man Man), and new pals (Wiz Kalifah). On Sunday, the Roots sponsor a citywide run of Independence Day-themed events at venues such as Voyeur, where DJ pals like Diplo spin, to Theatre of Living Arts, where conscious MC Kuf Knotz mouths off. The Legendary Dobbs and Johnny Brenda's also host live shows.

The Roots' reach into July Fourth's Wawa Welcome America festivities finds them not only headlining with singers such as Sara Beth Bareilles, Michael McDonald, Estelle, the gentlemen of Earth, Wind & Fire, and Philadelphia's DJ Jazzy Jeff on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (famously, the Roots opened for Sheryl Crow in 2009 and the Goo Goo Dolls in 2010 at the last Independence Day celebration). The Philly hip-hop band will back each of the singers and includes a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Gamble and Huff's world-renowned Philadelphia International Records and the Sound of Philadelphia. Along with a Global Music Stage that features headliner Anthony Colon and the AMLA Salsa Orchestra, the Roots' drummer and event curator ?uestlove has his own stage with Chin Chin, Nicos Gun, Donn T, and, last but not least, Kindred.

It is Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon's Kindred that holds the true meaning of family when it comes to its adult R&B music and the connection with ?uestlove. The full name of the married couple's band is Kindred & the Family Soul and their whole reason for being is to express their love and commitment to each other and their faith in God with a lyrical lean toward terse social commentary. The duo were part of Philly's Neo Soul explosion of the late '90s and early 2000 and even signed to Hidden Beach/Epic on the advice of Philly diva Jill Scott.

After Kindred's first album, 2003's Surrender to Love, and several follow-ups (In This Life Together, The Arrival), the band has moved from its longtime label to new pastures for the forthcoming album Love Has No Recession.

"Change is a part of life, and you have to embrace it," Graydon said of being excited about Kindred's current relationship with Purpose Music Group/Shanachie.

As for seeing and dealing with their old pal ?uestlove for this July Fourth event? "We've been apart of the Welcome America celebration in the past, so it's a good look. Having the Roots as coordinators for this particular year is really cool. The Roots and Kindred relations are good. We just don't see them that often. They are extremely busy. Truth be told, we're quite busy ourselves," Graydon said.

That's an understatement. As the parents of six children, who had time to make a record? Let alone spend time on the phone with ?uestlove? "Right now, I'm not quite sure how we do it," Graydon said. "We're very determined."

Kindred has come up with an album that speaks to the present day's ills yet is bathed in the powerfully sensual sounds of a couple in love with each other. It highlights their talents as singers, instrumentalists, and composers. They're lyrical straight shooters but aren't afraid to show off their romantic side or the culturally critical side. "Oddly enough, the initial title for the album was The Great Recession," Graydon said. "We wanted to make a record that spoke to the times we were living in, a record we could put in a time capsule. But we didn't want people to feel the record was dark."

"Above Water" is a spoken-word piece in three parts featuring talented poets Ursula Rucker, Coco Brown, and Rich Medina talking about the financial state of the weird world. "We All Will Know" was inspired by all the city's budget cuts as well as its gentrification. Mostly, though, Love Has No Recession speaks to the furthering of Kindred's commitment to all things good, their music and their family. "It's been an interesting journey thus far. We're just pressing forward. As for the kids taking on our craft, they love music, but it's not serious for any of them yet. Time will tell if there will be a Kindred Part 2."