The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The… Read Full Bio ↴The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy winning hip hop group based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, famed for a heavily jazzy sound and live instrumentation. Inspired by the "hip-hop band" concept pioneered by Stetsasonic, the Roots themselves have garnered critical acclaim and influenced later hip-hop and R&B acts.

The Roots' original lineup included Black Thought (MC vocals) and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (drums), who were classmates at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts. As they began to play at school and on the streets, they added another MC named Malik B., bassist Leonard Hubbardand keyboardist Scott Storch. Another MC, Dice Raw, frequently made album appearances with the group from 1995 to 1999 before leaving to record a solo album. Scott Storch also left to pursue career as a producer following the Do You Want More?!!!??! album, He produced songs such as Still D.R.E. by Dr Dre. The Roots filled his void with another keyboardist, Kamal who is still a member. A beatboxer named Rahzel also joined the group and contributed from 1995-1999. Alongside Rahzel was vocal turntablist, Scratch who greatly contributed to The Roots' sound, most notably in live concerts. He left the group in 2003. Malik B. left the group in 2000. A guitarist, Ben Kenney, enjoyed a short stint with the group and contributed to their Phrenology album, but left to join Incubus. A percussionist, Knuckles, was added in 2002 and guitarist, Kirk Douglas (a.k.a. "Captain Kirk") repleaced Kenney. A vocalist, Martin Luther toured with The Roots in 2003 and 2004 and contributed to their album The Tipping Point. The current members of The Roots are Black Thought (MC vocals), ?uestlove (drums), Hub (bass), Kamal (keyboard), Knuckles (percussion), and Captain Kirk (guitar).

The Roots' debut album, Organix released in 1993, was actually a live recording from a concert in Germany that the Roots sold at their shows. The album earned enough industry buzz to earn the Roots offers from major record labels, and they signed with DGC records, which at the time was better known for its grunge music releases.

The Roots' first album for DGC, Do You Want More?!!!??! (recorded live without the use of samples), was a moderate hit on alternative radio. Their 1996 release Illadelph Halflife was the group's first album to crack the Top 40 on Billboard's album chart, spurred in part by MTV's airplay of the video for "What They Do", a parody of rap video clichés such as the "beatdown shot," and "Clones" which was their first to single to reach the top five on the rap charts.

In 1999, The Roots released Things Fall Apart (named after a novel by Chinua Achebe), their breakthrough album. The track "You Got Me", duet with R'n'B singer Erykah Badu, earned them a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group.

In 2000, Dice Raw left the group to record his solo debut album, Reclaiming the Dead.

The Roots' reputation as a hip-hop live band made Jay-Z call on them for his MTV Unplugged album in 2002. The album featured good recreations of many of his great songs, played by the band with a little help from female vocalist Jaguar Wright.

2002's Phrenology introduced a more mainstream sound for the Roots, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. The album's sales were boosted by radio and TV airplay for two duets on the album, "Break You Off" (featuring Musiq Soulchild) and "The Seed 2.0" (featuring Cody ChestnuTT). The video for "The Seed 2.0" earned a nomination for the MTV2 Award at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. "The Seed" was also featured on the soundtrack to the Mandy Moore movie Chasing Liberty. Phrenology was certified gold (signifying U.S. sales of at least 500,000 units) in June 2003.

The Roots' 2004 release, The Tipping Point, took its name from a 2000 book by Malcolm Gladwell. The album earned two more Grammy nominations: one for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Star", and another for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for the track "Don't Say Nuthin'". The album was an immediate hit, debuting at #4 on the Billboard album chart and selling over 100,000 copies in its first week of release.

On November 15, 2005 The Roots released two compilation albums, Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide To Understanding The Roots, Volumes 1 & 2. These two separately sold discs are a compilation of past hits, live performances, and rare remixes compiled by ?uestlove himself. They also feature 70 pages of liner notes written by ?uestlove. These two albums marked the Roots' last releases on Geffen Records.

The Roots' album, Game Theory, was released on August 29, 2006. The album, which features a track that samples the song "You and Whose Army" by Radiohead, was released on Jay-Z's Def Jam.

The Roots next album 'Rising Down' was released on April 29th 2008. Features tracks with Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Saigon, and other greats.

The Make Me Songfacts reports that The Roots' eleventh album, undun, is their first concept album. It tells the story of a man called Redford Stephens who died in 1999 at the age of 25. We hear Redford retelling his life post-mortem and attempting to deconstruct what led to his undoing.

The Roots are also the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon airing first on March 2nd, 2009.

? vs Scratch
The Roots Lyrics

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Thank you
Thank you
Thank thank you

Thank you

Listen everybody
Listen every listen everybody

We we got the he's the man man man!

One rap drop this one t-two

One t-t one one t-two
South, sou
South-sou-South-sou
South Phil-a-a-ay!
Where you at?

North nor
North Phil-a-ay!
Where you a-a-a at?
Southwe southwe-west
Where where you at?
Nor-nor-nor-nor-North-North-North
Ph-I-il-a-ay!

Where you at?

Overall Meaning

In "Thank You" by The Roots, the lyrics seem to serve as an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment. The repetition of "thank you" at the beginning emphasizes the artist's gratefulness, possibly towards the audience, fans, or supporters.

The next set of lyrics introduces a call-and-response format, indicating the artist's desire to engage and connect with the listeners. By urging everyone to listen, the artist wants their words to resonate with every individual, emphasizing the importance of their message.

The line "We got the he's the man man man!" can be interpreted as the artist acknowledging their own expertise, talent, or superiority within the hip-hop genre. It can also be seen as a declaration of their confidence and determination to leave a mark with their art.

The subsequent verses contain a series of repetitive phrases, where the artist seems to be vocalizing different areas of Philadelphia. The call-and-response structure continues, with the artist prompting the listeners to respond with their current location. This could be seen as an attempt to create a sense of unity and pride among the city's residents.

Overall, the lyrics of "Thank You" by The Roots appear to be an expression of gratitude, a call for attention and engagement, and an homage to their hometown. The repetition and call-and-response elements create a contagious energy, encouraging listeners to participate and feel a part of the music experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Thank you
Expressing gratitude and appreciation

Listen everybody
Requesting attention and focus from everyone

We we got the he's the man man man!
Highlighting the talents and prowess of someone

One rap drop this one t-two
Introducing a rap segment or performance

South, sou
Referring to the South direction

South-sou-South-sou
Emphasizing the South direction

South Phil-a-a-ay!
Referring to the South region of Philadelphia with enthusiasm

Where you at?
Inquiring about someone's whereabouts

North nor
Referring to the North direction

North Phil-a-ay!
Referring to the North region of Philadelphia

Where you a-a-a at?
Repeating the question about someone's location