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.
Bread And Butter
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah,
Through the sirens, the lights is blindin'.
Battlecry sound off, warriors dyin'.
Last call at the bar with the snakes and tyrants.
Hands up! That's a massacre, the cops kept firin'.
Run amok, keep y'all eternally cryin',
And fed up. Place red stains on global giants.
Stuck in a masterpiece, Citizen Kane's personal hell.
It's dark, and it's hot where them hustlers dwell,
And the air bears a stench of a corpse's smell.
Homie down on his luck, one foot in a jail,
And, he down to his last, with a quarter to sell.
This right here, world premiere of the last days,
The final paragraphs to the book's last page.
You can feel it comin', no runnin' away.
Let's get free, or let's get paid --
Same shit, different day.
The cornerstone to where I lay
Is shattered glass and crack bags where they play,
And, scattered ass is passed in ridiculous ways.
These cats chef like they Isaac Hayes.
Parallel to the grave.
Stuck in the game with no rules,
And, we're screaming for some water and some edible food.
Man, I'm right there, rabbit ears, nothin' to lose.
This is what you ain't learnin' in school.
I'm tryin' to tell ya, it's hard.
A loaf a bread, milk, and eggs, stick of butter, man --
Somebody mother lies dead in the gutter.
Sherrif down by them kids, talkin' that gutter,
Tell them kids, "Don't look under those covers," man.
Loaf a bread, milk, and eggs, stick of butter, man --
Somebody mother lies dead in the gutter.
Sherrif down by them kids, talkin' that gutter,
Tell them kids, "Don't look under those covers," man.
Black Thought
Check it out,
A child is born, his mother is gone,
He in the middle of it, literally, tusslin' strong
For his life. The tide high in the eye of the storm.
A mannish boy arrive, and the riot is on
With no time to try to respond, or prepare.
'Times it's hard not becomin' a headline,
Or prayin' in the night when it's bedtime,
Or, layin' ya head down,
'Cause you already know what it is, now.
You know a lot of leaders ain't honest,
And, they can't keep a promise.
And, I hate to speak about it,
But, it's all freakanomics.
Cramped and proud of it, you amped and you rowdy,
Treadin' water, tryin' lift up your head without drownin'.
This type of shit can make ya heart stop poundin',
But, you pushin' for the top, too scared to stop.
Now, it get's deep, bodies are floatin' around in the streets.
Lotta people who won't even be around in a week.
Man, get the operation gone.
What y'all waitin' on?
We been patient, y'all mu'fuckas takin' long;
The television gettin' all the information wrong.
Doin' how they do it, gettin' they miseducation on.
They already late --
Somebody been was supposed to regulate
Instead of wait, before they let the levee break.
You try runnin from the truth, but, it's givin' chase.
Got to ask myself, yo
Is any nigga safe?
A loaf a bread, milk, and eggs, stick of butter, man --
Somebody mother lies dead in the gutter.
Sherrif down by them kids, talkin' that gutter,
Tell them kids, "Don't look under those covers," man.
Loaf a bread, milk, and eggs, stick of butter, man --
Somebody mother lies dead in the gutter.
Sherrif down by them kids, talkin' that gutter,
Tell them kids, "Don't look under those covers," man.
A loaf a bread, milk, and eggs, stick of butter, man --
Somebody mother lies dead in the gutter.
Sherrif down by them kids, talkin' that gutter,
Tell them kids, "Don't look under those covers," man.
In "Bread and Butter," The Roots paint a vivid picture of the struggles and hardships faced by those residing in impoverished neighborhoods. Truck North kicks off the track with a verse that describes the chaos and violence that occur in these areas. He talks about police brutality and how those living in these neighborhoods often feel trapped, with no escape from the problems that plague them. However, despite the bleak portrayal painted in his lyrics, Truck North also highlights the resilience of these people, and how they still manage to find a way to survive in such challenging conditions.
The second verse, performed by Black Thought, continues to explore the idea of struggle and hardship. He talks about the difficulties faced by a child who is born into poverty, with no mother to guide him. Black Thought also discusses the dishonesty of politicians and the media, and how they can exacerbate problems and put people's lives at risk. However, amidst all this chaos and turmoil, Black Thought still holds out hope that change can occur, urging people to take action and not wait for someone else to come and fix their problems.
Overall, "Bread and Butter" is a powerful track that sheds light on the harsh realities of life in impoverished neighborhoods. The song uses vivid imagery and potent lyrics to address issues that are often ignored or swept under the rug.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the sirens, the lights is blindin'.
The chaos around us is disorientating and overwhelming.
Battlecry sound off, warriors dyin'.
People are fighting and dying in battle.
Last call at the bar with the snakes and tyrants.
Last chance to be with the dishonest people at the bar.
Hands up! That's a massacre, the cops kept firin'.
Police brutality resulting in a mass killing.
Run amok, keep y'all eternally cryin',
Chaos will continue, causing eternal sadness.
And fed up. Place red stains on global giants.
The people are angry and seeking change, even if it means bringing down powerful entities.
The brain of Orson Welles,
The mind of a creative and innovative individual (Orson Welles).
Stuck in a masterpiece, Citizen Kane's personal hell.
Feeling trapped in one's own creative work, like Orson Welles in his masterpiece Citizen Kane.
It's dark, and it's hot where them hustlers dwell,
The world of hustling is dangerous and inhospitable.
And the air bears a stench of a corpse's smell.
The surroundings are unpleasant and perhaps even deadly.
Homie down on his luck, one foot in a jail,
A friend in a bad situation, close to going to jail.
And, he down to his last, with a quarter to sell.
He is selling small amounts of drugs to survive.
This right here, world premiere of the last days,
This is the beginning of the end.
The final paragraphs to the book's last page.
The end of the story.
You can feel it comin', no runnin' away.
You can sense the impending doom, and there is no escape from it.
Let's get free, or let's get paid --
The only options are to either escape or to profit from the situation.
Same shit, different day.
The situation is repetitive and unchanging.
The cornerstone to where I lay
The foundation of my location.
Is shattered glass and crack bags where they play,
The people around me are involved in drug use and crime.
And, scattered ass is passed in ridiculous ways.
People are engaging in promiscuous and absurd behavior.
These cats chef like they Isaac Hayes.
These people are trying to cook up something special like Isaac Hayes.
Parallel to the grave.
The path they are on is leading to death.
Stuck in the game with no rules,
They are trapped in a situation with no clear way out.
And, we're screaming for some water and some edible food.
The basic necessities of life are scarce and in demand.
Man, I'm right there, rabbit ears, nothin' to lose.
I am fully immersed in this environment, with nothing to lose.
This is what you ain't learnin' in school.
You cannot learn this in school, it is a harsh reality.
I'm tryin' to tell ya, it's hard.
I'm trying to communicate how difficult and challenging this situation is.
A loaf a bread, milk, and eggs, stick of butter, man --
These are basic food necessities.
Somebody mother lies dead in the gutter.
Someone's mother has died in a tragic and undignified way.
Sherrif down by them kids, talkin' that gutter,
The police are present and speaking in slang, as if they are one of the criminals.
Tell them kids, "Don't look under those covers," man.
Warning the children not to investigate something dangerous.
Check it out,
Listen up.
A child is born, his mother is gone,
A baby is born, but his mother is no longer alive.
He in the middle of it, literally, tusslin' strong
The baby is in the midst of a difficult struggle.
For his life. The tide high in the eye of the storm.
The situation is life-threatening, like a storm surge.
A mannish boy arrive, and the riot is on
A young man emerges and chaos ensues.
With no time to try to respond, or prepare.
There is no time to react effectively to the situation.
'Times it's hard not becomin' a headline,
It is difficult not to end up in the news because of the harsh realities.
Or prayin' in the night when it's bedtime,
People pray for safety and protection when they go to bed at night.
Or, layin' ya head down,
Trying to rest or sleep.
'Cause you already know what it is, now.
They are aware of how the situation really is.
You know a lot of leaders ain't honest,
Many leaders cannot be trusted to tell the truth.
And, they can't keep a promise.
Leaders often make promises they cannot fulfill.
And, I hate to speak about it,
It is difficult to talk about this.
But, it's all freakanomics.
The situation is related to economics and social structures.
Cramped and proud of it, you amped and you rowdy,
Living in a small, cramped space but still feeling energized and aggressive.
Treadin' water, tryin' lift up your head without drownin'.
Trying to stay afloat and keep one's head up despite the difficult situation.
This type of shit can make ya heart stop poundin',
This situation is so stressful that it can make one's heart race and feel like it may stop.
But, you pushin' for the top, too scared to stop.
Despite the difficulty, people are still striving for success and are afraid to give up.
Now, it get's deep, bodies are floatin' around in the streets.
Things have gotten extremely serious and there are dead bodies visible in the public areas.
Lotta people who won't even be around in a week.
Many people will not survive the coming week.
Man, get the operation gone.
We need to get moving and take action.
What y'all waitin' on?
Why are we just waiting around?
We been patient, y'all mu'fuckas takin' long;
We have been waiting for a while, and people are taking too long to act.
The television gettin' all the information wrong.
The media is providing false or misleading information.
Doin' how they do it, gettin' they miseducation on.
The education system is not serving people properly and they are being misled or misinformed.
They already late --
They are already behind schedule.
Somebody been was supposed to regulate
Someone was supposed to take control of the situation.
Instead of wait, before they let the levee break.
Action should have been taken before it was too late, before the situation got out of control.
You try runnin from the truth, but, it's givin' chase.
People try to avoid the harsh reality of the situation, but it is catching up to them.
Got to ask myself, yo
I need to question and understand myself and the situation.
Is any nigga safe?
Is anyone truly safe in this environment?
Contributed by Adalyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Ball
on Proceed V (Da Beatminerz remix)
So after purchasing “Do You Want More” the day it dropped, my guy the upped me from jump (pass the popcorn obvi) found this join on a European release and pressed play…the rest is history. But there in lies my question…what IS the history, the story on how, where, when, this was created? I need to know for context. Drop a link if there is one out there PLEASE! V 5 is a masterpiece!