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.
Datskat
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Di-bi-dis-banks, hip-flip-a-didip-didim-dow-hound
You wonder bout the sweat pon my brow, formulatin nouns
I'll get down, boogie brother rock on, right on, right on
The brown, rhymer organically grown, I've shown, while
Sip-pida-didip-styles and proceed, to flow
You know I'm flyer than G.I. so yo Joe
Black is intellectual, cat that is perpetually
Ritually catchin wreck, don't step, I cut ya
I mix the Sector 6 and now I knowledge butter words
To prop up Afrika Bambaataa, a lotta, brother is out there
Waitin on that new shit, well this is how we do kid
The levels is correct one-two, call in a blunt too
The front two, run through, good for you
Brand new styles like Kung-Fu
And rip this from the front to the back
To all my peoples where you at I know you dig it when I kick
Datskat! I know you dig it when I kick it baby!
Wadibi-dee-doo-bop-bop-bop-bop-bop
Skiggy-dang, skiggy-dang, you knows we gonna rock
And don't stop, just droppin off my bags you fags
When you define, the word behind, deserves you lags
We blast off like launchers, launchin off the rockets
If you bugs, if you act like plugs, you're gettin pulled
Out of sockets, the extra-curricular particularly this
Miraculous in lyrics they be callin me Jesus
Please just call me Malik I'm not a prophet
Pass me a topic and I'll drop it
Because it gets, hairier, never marry or flurries a throne
To hell with a boy upon the microphone
Will be convenient, I'm never bein lenient
On them folk who gonna slow-up cause they a dope
But a-bi-dee-doo-bop-bop-bop-bop-bop
We makin touchdowns, cause we knockin butts down, so
Datskat! I know you dig it when I kick it baby!
The Roots's song Datskat is a dynamic hip hop track that pays homage to African American musical traditions and culture. The song is performed by rapper Malik B and features a unique mix of jazz and funk-inspired beats. The lyrics are a showcase of Malik B's lyrical abilities and his signature brand of wordplay that blends traditional English with African American slang and unusual rhyme schemes.
The track opens with a series of syllables that Malik B turns into a rhythm, leading to a flurry of rhyming and alliteration-filled verses that touch on themes such as pride in African heritage, the struggle for success, and a desire to uplift and inspire his listeners. The chorus of the song, "Datskat! I know you dig it when I kick it baby!", emphasizes the joy and excitement that comes from being able to perform and connect with an audience.
Overall, Datskat is an exploration of the power of rhythm and language to unite people from diverse backgrounds, celebrate cultural heritage, and transcend boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Datskat! I know you dig it when I kick it baby!
I'm confident that you love it when I perform, baby!
Di-bi-dis-banks, hip-flip-a-didip-didim-dow-hound
I'm rapping with complex rhymes and catchy rhythms.
You wonder bout the sweat pon my brow, formulatin nouns
You're curious about my creative process and the effort I put into crafting lyrics.
I'll get down, boogie brother rock on, right on, right on
I'm ready to groove and entertain you with my music.
The brown, rhymer organically grown, I've shown, while
I'm a skilled and talented rapper who has developed my abilities naturally over time.
Sip-pida-didip-styles and proceed, to flow
I'm effortlessly improvising with various rap styles as I perform.
You know I'm flyer than G.I. so yo Joe
I'm more talented and impressive than a superhero like G.I. Joe.
Fuck, I run amuck, cause I'm the father of the fattest skatter
I dominate the rap scene and am the best at scatting and improvisation.
Black is intellectual, cat that is perpetually
As a black rapper, I am intelligent and constantly creating new, innovative works.
Ritually catchin wreck, don't step, I cut ya
I am dedicated to my craft and will destroy anyone who tries to compete with me.
I mix the Sector 6 and now I knowledge butter words
I blend different rap styles and techniques to create impressive lyrics.
To prop up Afrika Bambaataa, a lotta, brother is out there
I am inspired by legendary rappers like Afrika Bambaataa, and many others are too.
Waitin on that new shit, well this is how we do kid
Fans are eager for new music, and I am delivering with my unique style.
The levels is correct one-two, call in a blunt too
The audio and rap levels are good, so let's smoke some weed and enjoy the music.
The front two, run through, good for you
The front rows are the best place to enjoy the show, so enjoy!
Brand new styles like Kung-Fu
I am introducing innovative new rap styles, like the martial art of Kung Fu.
And rip this from the front to the back
I am delivering an incredible performance that everyone in the audience will remember.
To all my peoples where you at I know you dig it when I kick
I know my fans appreciate my music and are enjoying my performance.
Wadibi-dee-doo-bop-bop-bop-bop-bop
I am continuing to rap with intricate rhythms and rhymes.
Skiggy-dang, skiggy-dang, you knows we gonna rock
Get ready to rock out with my funky rhythms and smooth rhymes.
And don't stop, just droppin off my bags you fags
I am here to stay and dropping off some amazing new music for all to hear.
When you define, the word behind, deserves you lags
My lyrics have deeper meanings that require reflection and contemplation to fully appreciate.
We blast off like launchers, launchin off the rockets
My music takes you on an incredible journey, like a rocket launch.
If you bugs, if you act like plugs, you're gettin pulled
If you're not appreciating my music and vibe, you're going to be left behind.
Out of sockets, the extra-curricular particularly this
My music is special and unique, filled with creative and unconventional elements.
Miraculous in lyrics they be callin me Jesus
My lyrics are so incredible that people are comparing me to a divine being like Jesus.
Please just call me Malik I'm not a prophet
I am a talented rapper, but I'm not a religious leader or other kind of prophet.
Pass me a topic and I'll drop it
I can rap about anything and make it sound amazing with my skills.
Because it gets, hairier, never marry or flurries a throne
The rap game is tough and competitive, and I am committed to staying independent and true to my own style.
To hell with a boy upon the microphone
I'm not playing games or messing around with the mic - I'm here to deliver amazing music.
Will be convenient, I'm never bein lenient
I'm not going to make things easy or sugarcoat my music - I'm going to keep being authentic.
On them folk who gonna slow-up cause they a dope
I'm calling out other rappers who are slowing down or relying on gimmicks instead of delivering quality music.
But a-bi-dee-doo-bop-bop-bop-bop-bop
I'm still rapping with incredible rhythms and rhymes, keeping my audience engaged and entertained.
We makin touchdowns, cause we knockin butts down, so
I'm delivering an incredible performance that is scoring big points with the audience and leaving them amazed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AHMIR K. THOMPSON, LEONARD N. HUBBARD, MALIK SMART, SCOTT SPENCER STORCH, TARIK L. COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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!