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.
It Ain't Fair
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's still a mystery, yeah
Will you hear my cry?
Won't you hear my plea, oh?
'Cause I'll never know (I'll never know)
How it feels (how it feels)
How it feels (how it feels)
Oh, how it feels (how it feels)
To be
To be
Free
People swear they won't but they're walking in their sleep
I pray the Lord their souls to keep
Because wolves disguised as sheep patrol our streets
And we all know that what you sow, you shall reap
Those who do know, you should teach
Through every loophole, we gon' leap until you reach
A common ground and become unbound
Because when your whole town becomes a battle ground
Tears weighing down
Because it ain't fair
It's hard when you're looking for love
And it ain't there
Or try to read what tomorrow holds
When it ain't clear
Because the well is running dry
Racial tensions running high
Under 21 is far too young to die
My salvation's under fire
This marks a rising of the tide
Everyday I wear a mask like an umpire
Yes, a nigga gotta laugh to keep from crying
Tonight another friend passed on the young side
It's bad 'cause a good friend's hard to come by
Justice is never color blind, never gun shy
The one crime, you may never see the sun shine
We know of one times, giving you the finger
Round hearing me, fuck you, it's not the number one sign
I hear they turning downtown to the front line
It's something like the same place but it ain't safe
They took it from the human race to a tank chase
The Devil feeding off hate so he gain weight
There's tainted waters in the well, so we can't taste
People dazed and amazed though it ain't grace
Impossible to co-exist in the same space
Enter the black saint with the war paint face
This generation, we've forsaken all that's real
What emotions do we feel?
Is your poison called a pistol or a pill?
Some people say, "Let Jesus take the wheel"
Others say, "Thou shall not kill"
But they don't tell me that you ain't gon' pay my bills
We've come so far yet here we are
Ruthless God, presumed inferior
We ain't scared of y'all
It ain't fair
It's hard when you're looking for love
And it ain't there
Or try to read what tomorrow holds
When it ain't clear
Because the well is running dry
Racial tensions running high
Under 21 is far too young to die
My salvation's under fire
Rising, and rising ride
Arab, Israeli, Native American Mexicans
Invested in wrestling with Willy Lynch's next to kin
The rising of the tide, noose around the necks again
Look at how they try to hide proof of all inexcellence
The only tag you know me as is Holy Swag
Through any glass window, we smash, and bro we back
It's coming fast, I'm unabashed, so we have
An awareness of the only flag that's growing fast
I guess I'm tryna minimize arrests, I identify with death
That don't mean it's not an uninvited guest
I'm just tryna answer all of my requests
And express in 140 characters or less
Why I'm the best educator, re-legislated, premeditated
Dedicated, heavy weight that ever paid it with blood
Not tuition without a cop's permission
I got a pot to piss in despite the opposition, listen
Oh, it ain't fair
It's hard when you're looking for love
But it ain't there
Try to read what tomorrow holds
And it ain't clear
Because the well is running dry
And it ain't fair
No, it ain't there
No, it ain't fair
Looking for justice and it's just us
It ain't fair
There's a riot going on out there
And it ain't fair
When your protector is your predator
It ain't fair
No, it ain't fair
No, it ain't fair
Y'all just gon' turn the other way
No, it ain't fair
Turn a bloody cheek on these bloody streets
It ain't fair
It ain't fair
It ain't fair
No, it ain't fair
No, no
No, no
No, no
No, no
The lyrics to The Roots feat. Bilal's song "It Ain't Fair" speaks loud and clear about the unjust state of society. The lyrics begin with a plea for help from the government, asking them to listen to the cries of the oppressed. The next line highlights the problem of people walking in their sleep, not aware of the injustices happening around them. The lyrics go on to speak about the wolves in sheep's clothing, representing those in power abusing their authority. The lyrics reflect on how this is a common problem, and that everyone knows that what goes around comes around, but sometimes, justice is hard to come by. The line "Because when your whole town becomes a battle ground, tears weighing down" speaks volume about how these injustices can take a toll on one's mental health.
The lyrics of the chorus talk about how it's hard to find love in the face of all the darkness in society. The well is running dry, and racial tensions are running high, intensifying the feeling of hopelessness. The lyrics reflect on how it's unfair that people under 21 are dying, their salvation under fire. The themes of hopelessness and injustice are prevalent throughout the song, culminating in a plea for justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh brother, hmm
The singer is addressing someone, saying 'oh brother,' and pausing, indicating that there is something important and emotional to be said
It's still a mystery, yeah
The subject they are addressing is currently an unknown or unclear issue at hand
Will you hear my cry?
The singer is asking if the addressed person, now known to be a listener, will pay attention to their cries for help or justice
Won't you hear my plea, oh?
The singer is asking for the listener to take their pleading words and actions seriously
'Cause I'll never know (I'll never know)
The singer will never know what it truly feels like to be free until certain injustices are resolved
How it feels (how it feels)
The feeling that the singer is yearning for is that of true and complete freedom
How it feels (how it feels)
The feeling that the singer is yearning for is that of true and complete freedom
Oh, how it feels (how it feels)
The singer reiterates their desire to feel true freedom, indicating desperation and yearning
To be
The singer wants to experience authentic freedom in every sense of the word
To be
The singer wants to experience authentic freedom in every sense of the word
Free
The ultimate goal for the singer is to experience true and complete freedom
People swear they won't but they're walking in their sleep
People are in denial about the ingrained biases and prejudices within themselves
I pray the Lord their souls to keep
Despite this denial, the singer wishes for these individuals to be safe and protected
Because wolves disguised as sheep patrol our streets
There are dangerous individuals posing as trustworthy figures in positions of authority
And we all know that what you sow, you shall reap
The harm that these individuals are doing will come back to them eventually
Those who do know, you should teach
Those who do realize the underlying issues and injustices should educate others instead of remaining silent
Through every loophole, we gon' leap until you reach
Despite the obstacles in place, people will do everything they can to overcome them and reach a place of equality and justice
A common ground and become unbound
The people need to come together and find a way to free themselves from the systems of oppression currently in place
Because when your whole town becomes a battle ground
When injustice becomes pervasive in a community, it can feel like a warzone
Tears weighing down
Amid the conflict, the weight of the pain and suffering can be overwhelming
Because it ain't fair
The songwriter acknowledges the injustice and unfairness of the oppressive systems and structures in place
It's hard when you're looking for love
It is difficult to find hope, compassion, and love in a world that seems to be filled with hate and suffering
And it ain't there
Despite the desire for these positive qualities, they are often lacking or not easily found
Or try to read what tomorrow holds
It is difficult to anticipate what the future holds, especially when there are many obstacles and uncertainties in the way
When it ain't clear
With no clear path or direction, it can be hard to know what actions to take
Because the well is running dry
Resources, support, and hope are becoming more and more scarce
Racial tensions running high
The negative attitudes and conflicts among people of different races are increasing and becoming more pronounced
Under 21 is far too young to die
Young people, often people of color, are dying far too young due to violence and systemic injustices
My salvation's under fire
The singer's personal sense of salvation, or well-being, is being threatened
This marks a rising of the tide
The current state of events represents an increase in momentum for a larger movement for justice and equality
Everyday I wear a mask like an umpire
The singer is forced to hide their true emotions and self, often putting on a show like a sports umpire
Yes, a nigga gotta laugh to keep from crying
The humor and laughter serve as a coping mechanism to deal with the constant pain and suffering
Tonight another friend passed on the young side
Someone close to the singer has died at a young age, likely from the same systemic issues that the songwriter is trying to address
It's bad 'cause a good friend's hard to come by
The loss of a good friend is especially painful because it is not easy to find strong, genuine relationships in a world of suffering and strife
Justice is never color blind, never gun shy
The legal system is often biased and prejudiced against certain races and is never hesitant to use violence
The one crime, you may never see the sun shine
There are crimes that go unnoticed, unnoticed by the law and thus will never be punished fairly
We know of one times, giving you the finger
There are situations where individuals feel unheard or disrespected and resort to giving the middle finger as a sign of defiance
Round hearing me, fuck you, it's not the number one sign
This vulgar response is not a sign that the individual is responding to being wronged, but rather a result of a long-standing feeling of being ignored, unheard, and oppressed
I hear they turning downtown to the front line
Shit is hitting the fan as violence and conflict are becoming more and more commonplace, essentially turning the streets into a battlefield
It's something like the same place but it ain't safe
While familiar, the current state of the world is not stable or secure, and it is not safe for individuals to simply continue living their lives
They took it from the human race to a tank chase
By turning to violence and militarization, people have lost sight of their humanity and are instead pursuing power and control through force
The Devil feeding off hate so he gain weight
Hate is a tool that is being used by darker forces to gain power, and this hateful energy is growing and strengthening as it is fed
There's tainted waters in the well, so we can't taste
The systems and structures that are supposed to support people and provide them with resources are so corrupted that the people cannot even benefit from them
People dazed and amazed though it ain't grace
Despite the overwhelming difficulties and challenges, people are still trying to make sense of the world and find some form of hope or grace
Impossible to co-exist in the same space
With so much division and hostility, it is becoming increasingly difficult for different groups to live peacefully alongside each other
Enter the black saint with the war paint face
The singer introduces themselves as a powerful figure, a black saint with a war paint face, ready to fight and make change
This generation, we've forsaken all that's real
The current generation has lost sight of what is truly important and valuable in life
What emotions do we feel?
People are struggling to connect with and identify their emotions in a world full of conflict and turmoil
Is your poison called a pistol or a pill?
People turn to dangerous and destructive elements, such as guns or drugs, to cope with the pain and trauma of their lives
Some people say, "Let Jesus take the wheel"
While some people turn to religion as a form of solace and guidance, it is not a solution to the deep-seated issues faced by people today
Others say, "Thou shall not kill"
People recognize the spiritual and moral wrongness of taking another's life
But they don't tell me that you ain't gon' pay my bills
While these morals and values are important, they do not address the immediate problems that people face in life
We've come so far yet here we are
Despite progress in some areas, true justice and equality are still elusive
Ruthless God, presumed inferior
The oppressive systems in place have treated people, particularly people of color, as being inferior or unimportant in the eyes of God
We ain't scared of y'all
Despite the overwhelming odds and danger, the people are determined and unafraid in their pursuit of justice and equality
Looking for justice and it's just us
The search for justice is falling solely on the shoulders of the people, as the systems in place are not providing it
There's a riot going on out there
The current mood and state of society is one of anger and conflict
When your protector is your predator
The very authorities and figures that are supposed to protect the people have turned into their oppressors and abusers
Y'all just gon' turn the other way
People who are not directly affected by these issues often ignore them or refuse to acknowledge them
Turn a bloody cheek on these bloody streets
Ignoring the bloodshed and trauma that is happening on the streets is equivalent to turning the other cheek in the face of violence and oppression
No, it ain't fair
The songwriter reiterates the injustice and unfairness of everything that is happening
No, no
The repetition of 'no' indicates the desperation and frustration that the songwriter feels
No, no
The repetition of 'no' indicates the desperation and frustration that the songwriter feels
No, no
The repetition of 'no' indicates the desperation and frustration that the songwriter feels
No, no
The repetition of 'no' indicates the desperation and frustration that the songwriter feels
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ahmir Thompson, Phonte Lyshod Coleman, Raymond Sebastian Angry, Tarik Trotter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheProtagonist2020
Annapurna Pictures Presents,
A Harpers Ferry Production,
A Page 1 Production,
A Film By Kathryn Bigelow,
Starring John Boyega,
Will Poulter,
Algee Smith,
Jacob Latimore,
Jason Mitchell,
Hannah Murray,
Kaitlyn Dever,
Jack Reynor,
Ben O'Toole,
Nathan Davis, Jr.,
Peyton Alex Smith,
Malcolm David Kelley,
Joseph David-Jones,
Laz Alonzo / Ephriam Skyes / Leon Thomas III,
Gbenga Akinnagbe / Chris Chalk / Jeremy Strong,
Austin Hébert / Miguel Pimentel / Khris Davis,
With John Krasinski,
And Anthony Mackie,
"Detroit (2017)"
Rated R For Restricted,
In Theaters Friday, August 4, 2017.
@hugonongbri8100
No hate on this version...but the NPR version is absolute 🔥!!!! Especially Bilal and and Black Thought !!!
@vicekillah2696
agree completaly , with the live band and everything its truly something else
@tonyhoyos7824
HELL YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!
@oldwalt4645
LOL!! It's just not the same after hearing the NPR version!
@davidcripps3011
@@oldwalt4645 Couldn't agree more!
@deezportz
Reason I'm here..
@eai1911
The pain in Bilal's voice says it all. Powerful song for such a time as this. Well done!
@moneybags5370
Marvin Gaye's What's going on Remix...
@MrMusicevolution
The Roots constantly evolve. This band is legendary.
@victoriaappiagei1482
Yes Cool Awesome Detroit movie good Cool vibe music awesome real hip-hop and soul neo matter history black music month Cool