Third Root is a Central Texas hip-hop collaborative that focuses on Black and Brown overlapping culture and identity. The group consists of Charles Peters (Easy Lee), Marco Cervantes (Mexican StepGrandfather), and DJ Chicken George (DJCG). Peters is an accomplished poet and educator, Cervantes is a producer and Ph.D. who teaches at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and DJCG is a world-renowned DJ, musicologist, designer & Jazztronica! Peddler. Their latest album, Libertad, produced entirely by Grammy Award winner Adrian Quesada (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, Echocentrics, Spanish Gold), reflects today’s current mobilization among Black and Brown communities in the face of debilitating cycles of police brutality, flawed educational systems, privately owned prisons and detainment centers, corporately owned politicians, and racist judicial systems. The album delivers a mix of social justice and jam session with each song designed to raise questions, incite discussion, and promote healing and liberation. “Reflection of the Times” and “Soul Force” are the leading singles from Libertad.

A: Reflection of the Times feat. Reggie Coby - is a powerful conversation on race that spells out the struggle in stark and unambiguous terms. It’s an outcry against injustice and a call to rise and reflects the times we’re living in. “Reflection of the Times” is an opportunity for the group to present the foundation for that dialogue to continue.

B: Soul Force feat. Da’Shade, Riders Against The Storm, Bavu Blakes & Vocab - Third Root assembles a dream team supergroup of top Central Texas emcees for this explosive “posse cut” that evokes memories of classic group tracks like Wu-Tang Clan’s “Protect Ya Neck” or Main Source’s “Live At The Barbeque.” With this many team members, there’s a chance of a too-many-cooks situation, but “Soul Force” delivers, making the song both a call-to-action and a call to start the party.