Because the Roots are the house band, The Tonight Show is always going to be a safe space for graduates of the late-’90s underground-rap wave. Just by going to Roots shows in New York, I’ve seen Talib Kweli show up as an unannounced guest with the group two or three times. And last night, he was the musical guest on the show, and the Roots were his backing band. Kweli just released the free-download album Fuck The Money a couple of months ago, and he’s already got another LP ready to come out. He and the North Carolina producer 9th Wonder will release the collaborative LP Indie 500 next month, and last night, he and the Roots debuted the ills-of-society song “Every Ghetto.” A gospel choir helped out, as did the North Carolina rapper and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Rapsody, who got in a scene-stealing guest verse. Watch the performance below.

Indie 500 is out 11/6.