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.
Duck Down!
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The game is locked we down to the eight ball
The time is now, it ain't nothin' to wait for
I'm a king by blood a soldier by nature
I'm somethin' like a threat to y'all space cadets
Cause you never met brother nothin' like me yet
So push another slice into your toast and tighten your vests
Cause it's a warrior you seein' here tonight in the flesh
Runnin' with these vultures givin' me ulcers
Which one of these hustlers bringin' the thunder
'Riq Geez not another man takin' us under
Nigga please which Philly cat doin' his own thing
Might say black my give you a code name
Round my neck see the microphone hang
Have your lady lips singin' like on soul train
The niggaz that's a problem is minimal margin
The Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant, General Sergeant
Black, one man army move in on your squadron
You sittin' still you know you a target
You heard you better duck down!
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
If you want it, you can get it baby
You know you need to get low
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
If you want it, you can get it baby
You know you need to get low
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
Yea we gettin' set to get rid of y'all that's what it's headin' for
The underdog knuckle and brawl with the bigger ball
I spit what your wig absorb sicker than sycamore
I'm creatin' a circumstance that you a victim of
The rebel or the renegade out on the quest
The super black man runnin' wit a S on his chest
And stand for the straight struggle to escape the stress
You think it's sweet tryin' to eat, you ain't taste this yet
So make y'all steps precautious into the darkness
Thoughts cold and heartless makin' me nauseous
Gettin' more remorses for what I done
If the lawyers and courts wonder what I run
You see the liberty is free but just for some
How you a gangster and you scared to bust your gun
For the call, trust your fam' and trust nobody at all
Seein' brothers gettin' struck down
You better duck down!
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
If you want it, you can get it baby
You know you need to get low
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
If you want it, you can get it baby
You know you need to get low
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
I can feel somethin' for sure, I've been up in here before
A gladiator in a colliseum ready for war
That old timer holdin' his revolver set to blow
Just like a gladiator at whoever stick his head in the door
And one who been through it all, anything go
Rather give it to you straight 'stead of speakin in codes
'Cause man, that bullshit can get you riddled with holes
If you ain't insured than the hospitals is close
You got to go up-town while ya leakin' on the ground
In cases like these, you need to duck down
You're five dollar toys, I'm a million dollar man
Esquire 'Riq Geez go according to plan
I'm thinkin' outside the box, off the blocks
An outside your concept of time, off the clocks for real
Well it's Black Thought your boss DJ
However you brothers weigh that's what ya gonna pay
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
If you want it, you can get it baby
You know you need to get low
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
If you want it, you can get it baby
You know you need to get low
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
The Roots's song "Duck Down!" is a powerful anthem about rising up against adversity and standing up for oneself. The lyrics describe an individual who is confident in their abilities and unafraid to take on any challenge, even against seemingly insurmountable odds. The song's opening lines set the stage for the rest of the track, as the singer declares that they are ready to "break y'all" and that it's "winner take all." This establishes that the singer is ready for a fight and is looking to come out on top.
As the song continues, the lyrics become increasingly aggressive and confrontational, with the singer asserting that they are a "warrior" and suggesting that their opponents should "duck down" in fear. This aggression is tempered somewhat by the singer's references to their own vulnerabilities and insecurities, such as the line "Runnin' with these vultures givin' me ulcers," which suggests that even the most confident and powerful individuals can still be affected by their surroundings.
Overall, "Duck Down!" is a powerful and inspiring track that encourages listeners to stand up for themselves and fight for their goals and ambitions, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea we gettin' ready to break y'all it's winner take all
We're about to go all out, winner takes everything.
The game is locked we down to the eight ball
We have reached a critical point in the game, where everything is hanging in the balance.
The time is now, it ain't nothin' to wait for
We cannot afford to wait any longer, it's time to take action now.
I'm a king by blood a soldier by nature
I come from a royal lineage, but I have the heart and mentality of a fighter.
I'm somethin' like a threat to y'all space cadets
I pose a challenge to those who live in their own head or fantasy world.
Cause you never met brother nothin' like me yet
I'm unique and different from anyone else you have ever met.
So push another slice into your toast and tighten your vests
Get ready and prepare yourself for what's about to come.
Cause it's a warrior you seein' here tonight in the flesh
I am a fighter, and tonight you see me in my element.
I give you somethin' high voltage double dosage
I bring an intense energy that's twice as strong as before.
Runnin' with these vultures givin' me ulcers
Being around dishonest and ruthless people is causing me emotional pain.
Which one of these hustlers bringin' the thunder
Who among these competitors is bringing the most intensity and energy?
'Riq Geez not another man takin' us under
We won't be held down and controlled by anyone else, 'Riq Geez is here to help us.
Nigga please which Philly cat doin' his own thing
Who's the independent and original artist from Philly?
Might say black my give you a code name
I might give you a nickname based on my assessment of you.
Round my neck see the microphone hang
I'm always ready to perform and lay down some vocals.
Have your lady lips singin' like on soul train
I can make your woman feel good and sing like they do on Soul Train.
The niggaz that's a problem is minimal margin
There are only a few people who truly pose a threat.
The Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant, General Sergeant
These are ranks in the military, suggesting that The Roots are a well-organized and strong unit.
Black, one man army move in on your squadron
I'm a solo act but I'm just as strong as any unit.
You sittin' still you know you a target
If you're not moving and taking action, you're an easy target.
You heard you better duck down!
You've been warned and you better take evasive action.
See me comin' better tuck those chains
Hide your valuables, cause I'm about to cause some damage.
Cause you don't wanna feel them thangs
My actions might result in physical or emotional pain.
If you want it, you can get it baby
If you're looking for trouble, I'm willing to give it to you.
You know you need to get low
You need to lower yourself or take cover to avoid my attack.
Duck Down! (Duck Down!)
Reiterating the warning to take cover.
Yea we gettin' set to get rid of y'all that's what it's headin' for
We're gearing up to defeat and eliminate our opponents.
The underdog knuckle and brawl with the bigger ball
Even though we're the underdogs, we'll fight and brawl against those who have more power.
I spit what your wig absorb sicker than sycamore
My rhymes are so potent that they will make your hair stand on end.
I'm creatin' a circumstance that you a victim of
I'm setting up a situation that you'll become a victim of.
The rebel or the renegade out on the quest
I see myself as a rebel or renegade, on a mission to achieve my goals.
The super black man runnin' wit a S on his chest
I feel like a superhero with a giant S on his chest, suggesting I have immense power.
And stand for the straight struggle to escape the stress
I'm fighting to overcome the difficulties and stresses in my life.
You think it's sweet tryin' to eat, you ain't taste this yet
Don't be fooled into thinking that success or victory will be easy.
So make y'all steps precautious into the darkness
Be careful when taking steps into unknown or dangerous situations.
Thoughts cold and heartless makin' me nauseous
My own thoughts of being cold and heartless are making me feel sick.
Gettin' more remorses for what I done
I'm feeling more and more regretful for what I've done.
If the lawyers and courts wonder what I run
I'm always looking over my shoulder, afraid that the law will catch up with me.
You see the liberty is free but just for some
Our society claims to be free, but in reality, only certain people have access to that liberty.
How you a gangster and you scared to bust your gun
If you claim to be a gangster or tough guy, why are you afraid to use your weapon?
For the call, trust your fam' and trust nobody at all
When it comes down to it, only trust your family and don't trust anyone else.
Seein' brothers gettin' struck down
Witnessing other black men being killed or harmed.
You better duck down!
Again, warning of danger and urging to take evasive action.
I can feel somethin' for sure, I've been up in here before
I have a sense of deja vu or a feeling that I've been in this exact situation before.
A gladiator in a colliseum ready for war
I feel like a gladiator, ready to do battle in an arena.
That old timer holdin' his revolver set to blow
I'm picturing an older person holding a gun that's about to go off.
Just like a gladiator at whoever stick his head in the door
I'm like a gladiator who will attack whoever steps into my domain.
And one who been through it all, anything go
I've been through a lot in my life, so anything can happen at this point.
Rather give it to you straight 'stead of speakin in codes
I'd rather be direct and blunt with you instead of hiding behind cryptic language.
'Cause man, that bullshit can get you riddled with holes
If you talk too much or try to deceive me, you might end up getting shot and killed.
If you ain't insured than the hospitals is close
If you don't have insurance, then you're out of luck when it comes to getting medical treatment.
You got to go up-town while ya leakin' on the ground
If you get shot, you'll have to travel to another area to find medical care.
In cases like these, you need to duck down
When bullets start flying, it's best to take cover and stay safe.
You're five dollar toys, I'm a million dollar man
You're insignificant and cheap, while I am powerful and wealthy.
Esquire 'Riq Geez go according to plan
'Riq Geez is my title and I always stick to my plans.
I'm thinkin' outside the box, off the blocks
I'm creative and unconventional, breaking away from tradition.
An outside your concept of time, off the clocks for real
My mindset is beyond the constraints of time or schedule.
Well it's Black Thought your boss DJ
I am Black Thought and your boss DJ.
However you brothers weigh that's what ya gonna pay
The consequences you face will be directly proportional to your actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: TARIK L. COLLINS, SCOTT SPENCER STORCH, MONTEZ ROBERTS
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!