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.
De La Soul
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
Llena los días de luz y color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
El rey de la casa es
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
Llena los días de luz y color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
El niño de mis ojos, una bendición
Es quien nos ha llenado la vida de ilusión
es algo incomparable éste puro amor
Fue desde que mamá lo acogió en su regazo
Se paró el tiempo al verle entre sus brazos
Cuando lo estaba amamantando
Cuando se soltaba en sus primeros pasos .
El rey de la casa es
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
Llena los días de luz y color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
El rey de la casa es
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
Llena los días de luz y color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
Ha llegado
Y con su presencia todo lo ha iluminado
Tiene a la familia con su magia encantados
No cambio por nada todo lo que nos ha dado, nos ha enseñado
Hoy correteando
Se pasa las horas felizmente jugando
Poco a poco aprende siempre alegre disfrutando
Si me dice papa yo le atiendo y me deshago, enamorado porque
Es quien acelera los latidos de mi corazón
El es un regalo mi predilección
A este pequeñito le daré mi protección
Y Trataremos de guiarle con buena educación
Veremos lugares, cruzaremos mare,
A buen puerto llegan las verdades
Caminaremos montañas y valles
Le diré yo la clave de las leyes de la calle al
Rey de la casa es
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
Llena los días de luz y color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
El rey de la casa es
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
Llena los días de luz y color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
Niño de mis ojos puro amor yo siento
Yo seré su amigo para que no hayan secretos
Seré sincero, le contaré mis miedos
Para que sepa como uno tiene que luchar para vencerlos
Que no hay días grises si estoy junto a el
Si veo su sonrisa el problema se fue
Quiero ver como crece mi pequeño Daniel
Hasta que me traiga nietos y feliz envejecer.
The above lyrics are from the song "Rey de la Casa" by The Roots, featuring De La Soul. The song is a celebration of the joy and love that a child brings into a family's life. The lyrics describe the child as the "king of the house," emphasizing their importance and the happiness they bring to everyone around them.
The song talks about how the child has filled their days with light and color, stealing their hearts and becoming the center of their world. It highlights the special bond between the child and their mother, with the lyrics mentioning how time stood still when the mother held the child in her arms and breastfed him. The child's presence is described as illuminating everything and enchanting the family with their magic.
The lyrics also express the artist's deep love for the child and their desire to protect and guide them with good education and values. They pledge to show the child the world, teaching them about life's truths and the laws of the street. The artist promises to be the child's friend and confidante, sharing their fears and providing support.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt tribute to the joy, love, and transformation that a child brings to a family's life. It celebrates the precious bond between parents and their child and showcases the artist's commitment to nurturing and supporting the child through their journey of growth and discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Rey de la casa es
The king of the house is
Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien
We see him growing up, running around
Llena los días de luz y color
Fills the days with light and color
Este pequeñito nos robó el corazón
This little one stole our hearts
Es el rey de la casa desde que llegó
He's been the king of the house since he arrived
El niño de mis ojos, una bendición
The child of my eyes, a blessing
Es quien nos ha llenado la vida de ilusión
He's the one who has filled our lives with excitement
es algo incomparable éste puro amor
This pure love is something incomparable
Fue desde que mamá lo acogió en su regazo
It was since his mother embraced him in her arms
Se paró el tiempo al verle entre sus brazos
Time stood still when she saw him in her arms
Cuando lo estaba amamantando
When she was breastfeeding him
Cuando se soltaba en sus primeros pasos
When he was taking his first steps
Ha llegado
He has arrived
Y con su presencia todo lo ha iluminado
And with his presence, he has illuminated everything
Tiene a la familia con su magia encantados
He has enchanted the family with his magic
No cambio por nada todo lo que nos ha dado, nos ha enseñado
I wouldn't change anything for everything he has given us, taught us
Hoy correteando
Today, running around
Se pasa las horas felizmente jugando
He happily spends hours playing
Poco a poco aprende siempre alegre disfrutando
He learns little by little, always joyful and enjoying
Si me dice papa yo le atiendo y me deshago, enamorado porque
If he calls me dad, I attend to him and melt, in love because
Es quien acelera los latidos de mi corazón
He's the one who accelerates the beats of my heart
El es un regalo mi predilección
He is a gift, my favorite
A este pequeñito le daré mi protección
I will give this little one my protection
Y Trataremos de guiarle con buena educación
And we will try to guide him with good education
Veremos lugares, cruzaremos mare
We will see places, cross seas
A buen puerto llegan las verdades
Truths arrive at a good port
Caminaremos montañas y valles
We will walk mountains and valleys
Le diré yo la clave de las leyes de la calle al
I will tell him the key to the laws of the streets
Niño de mis ojos puro amor yo siento
My child, pure love, I feel
Yo seré su amigo para que no hayan secretos
I will be his friend so that there are no secrets
Seré sincero, le contaré mis miedos
I will be honest, I will tell him my fears
Para que sepa como uno tiene que luchar para vencerlos
So he knows how one has to fight to overcome them
Que no hay días grises si estoy junto a el
That there are no gray days if I'm with him
Si veo su sonrisa el problema se fue
If I see his smile, the problem is gone
Quiero ver como crece mi pequeño Daniel
I want to see how my little Daniel grows
Hasta que me traiga nietos y feliz envejecer.
Until he brings me grandchildren and I age happily.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Roger Santaeugènia, Miguel Arraigo
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!