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.
Ital
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the Illadelph side
To the New York side
To the the universal side
(Everybody reppin' from the Illadelph side)
From the Illadelph side
To the New York side
To the the universal side
I wanna be able to reach an MC
And reach a little child in the same degree
And my elders excel
I mean what the hell
We might as well bridge these gaps
In all before we fall in the fire
It's a million MCs upon a plan they call real tryin' to set it
Profess mic techniques illegit
Inaccurate perceptions of reality embedded
In they minds thus they rhymes are discredit (check it out)
I use my music implemented with jewels and sport tools
To inspire all these too cool fools who say screw school
Cause they don't see the conspiracy
That's put here to trap you and me
Y'all know the battle lieutenant be on some whole 'nother other finesse genetic
They say I get it from my mother so its' inheredit-
Tary and very necessary to shine
Legendarily, heavily refined
Contemporaries like the Roots is so rad it's like dag
Which bag did they come out of, and how can I get in it to win it?
Like a raffle ticket pickin'
If you feelin' something, guess who get the sticking
I got this Ital style up close and personal
The first I find to violate, I shall retal-
Iate with realism for they whole local
To relate, we on point like decimal Abstract now
MCin' while I'm breathin' MCin' is believing
That you can host a ceremony and the dose is never phony
In fact, it's quite therapeutic
Like a B12 hypodermic needle so shoot it
Lyrically elicit upsteps the explicit
Most wicked seven digit mic wizard
My tongue lash out and strike with it
Just slightly might miss it
When I blast through your section or district
(Everybody reppin' from the Illadelph side)
From the Illadelph side
To the New York side
To the the universal side
(Everybody reppin' from the Illadelph side)
From the Illadelph side
To the New York side
To the the universal side
In my formative years by my peers I was influenced
Until the instruments of time killed the congruence
I peeped the blue prints on how to make true sense
Of MC's which are a nuisance I know just what to do since I'm on another lev
Brothers is fakin' jacks and think they ready for the rev
But they got a lot to learn, to make their thoughts long term
Cause on their short-cuts they made a wrong turn
Probably, timelessly I construct the fearsome
To rip your eardrum for many years to come
Professional style thinkin' rational to move wise
So hard it's a wonder y'all alive
And still breathin', niggas is dead and not even
Perpetuatin' real life the shit kicked is real trife ayo they fake bleedin'
It's obvious that they needin' attention feedin'
They cold actin' like heathens
When mics is picked up MC's scenes is kicked up
Like women with the gripper drinking Moet 'till they hiccup
Fellas hustlin' picking bricks up
Fantasizin' about the illest stick up
But rip up the jam and we be truly impressed
On stage you won't need your tef. vest
Only a mic with and a mic test
And at your best you get blessed by the fans who profess
That they can relate
With the trials you tribulate
Or the pains you endure
Cause some cats is pure
Tell horors that are true but see cats like you
Y'all fake joints just tyo get a woo-woo
The tear jerker
You be that miracle worker
Whose miracle just ran out
I think it's time you pan out
Or just plain fade, cause yo you played
We 'bout to drop on you like the Everglades
The Roots's song "Ital" speaks of reaching out to different groups of people, from MCs to children and elders. The singer wants to bridge the gaps between these groups before they "fall in the fire." The lyrics criticize fake MCs who use inaccurate perceptions of reality in their rhymes and encourage listeners to stay in school and be aware of the conspiracy that tries to trap them. The song also highlights the artist's unique lyrical style, with their tongue lashing out and striking with precision like a seven-digit mic wizard.
The song's chorus emphasizes the connection between different regions and people, with "Everybody reppin' from the Illadelph side, to the New York side, to the universal side." The use of "reppin'" highlights the idea of representing one's region or community, and the universal side connects all of these groups together. The song encourages listeners to find their unique style and be true to themselves, rather than faking it to get attention. The use of the term "Ital" refers to Rastafari culture, specifically the idea of natural and organic living.
Line by Line Meaning
From the Illadelph side
Representing from Philadelphia
To the New York side
Spreading across New York
To the the universal side
Going global
I wanna be able to reach an MC
I want my music to connect with both rappers and children
And reach a little child in the same degree
I want my music to be accessible to everyone
And my elders excel
My predecessors have set a high bar
I mean what the hell
I want to step up to the challenge
We might as well bridge these gaps
Let's come together and overcome our differences
In all before we fall in the fire
Before we destroy ourselves
It's a million MCs upon a plan they call real tryin' to set it
Many rappers are trying to succeed in the game
Profess mic techniques illegit
They use fake techniques to impress
Inaccurate perceptions of reality embedded
They have a distorted view of the world
In they minds thus they rhymes are discredit (check it out)
Their lyrics are not credible
I use my music implemented with jewels and sport tools
I use my music as a tool for education and inspiration
To inspire all these too cool fools who say screw school
To motivate those who don't value education
Cause they don't see the conspiracy
Because they are unaware of the forces trying to trap them
That's put here to trap you and me
The system is designed to keep us down
Y'all know the battle lieutenant be on some whole 'nother other finesse genetic
My style is unique and original
They say I get it from my mother so its' inherit- tary and very necessary to shine
My talent runs in the family and I must make the most of it
Legendarily, heavily refined
My skill is polished to perfection
Contemporaries like the Roots is so rad it's like dag
My fellow artists like the Roots are amazing
Which bag did they come out of, and how can I get in it to win it?
How can I achieve success like they did?
Like a raffle ticket pickin'
Pursuing success feels like a lottery
If you feelin' something, guess who get the sticking
If you are inspired, I'm the one to follow
I got this Ital style up close and personal
I have a unique style that is authentic to me
The first I find to violate, I shall retal-
I won't back down from a fight
Iate with realism for they whole local
I'll respond with authentic and meaningful lyrics
To relate, we on point like decimal Abstract now
We are precise and focused like decimal points
MCin' while I'm breathin' MCin' is believing
Rapping is my passion and my belief
That you can host a ceremony and the dose is never phony
My music is authentic and genuine
In fact, it's quite therapeutic
My music can have a healing effect
Like a B12 hypodermic needle so shoot it
My music can give you a boost like a vitamin injection
Lyrically elicit upsteps the explicit
My lyrics are provocative and controversial
Most wicked seven digit mic wizard
I am a skilled rapper with a unique style
My tongue lash out and strike with it
My words are powerful and impactful
Just slightly might miss it
You might not fully catch the message
When I blast through your section or district
My music will be heard everywhere
In my formative years by my peers I was influenced
I was inspired by other rappers when I was young
Until the instruments of time killed the congruence
As time went by, we grew apart
I peeped the blue prints on how to make true sense
I learned how to make meaningful music
Of MC's which are a nuisance I know just what to do since I'm on another lev
I know how to deal with rappers who disrespect the art
Brothers is fakin' jacks and think they ready for the rev
Some rappers are pretending to be something they're not
But they got a lot to learn, to make their thoughts long term
They need to focus on long-term success, not just immediate gratification
Cause on their short-cuts they made a wrong turn
Trying to take shortcuts will lead to failure
Probably, timelessly I construct the fearsome
I create powerful music that will stand the test of time
To rip your eardrum for many years to come
My music will be impactful and memorable
Professional style thinkin' rational to move wise
I approach my music career in a smart and professional manner
So hard it's a wonder y'all alive
My music is intense and powerful
And still breathin', niggas is dead and not even
Some rappers are failing to make an impact
Perpetuatin' real life the shit kicked is real trife ayo they fake bleedin'
Some rappers try to act tough but they're not living the life they rap about
It's obvious that they needin' attention feedin'
They're seeking attention and approval
They cold actin' like heathens
Their behavior is reckless and disrespectful
When mics is picked up MC's scenes is kicked up
When the music starts, rappers become more animated
Like women with the gripper drinking Moet 'till they hiccup
Like women partying hard and getting drunk
Fellas hustlin' picking bricks up
Guys working hard and making money
Fantasizin' about the illest stick up
Daydreaming about committing the perfect heist
But rip up the jam and we be truly impressed
When the music is good, we are impressed
On stage you won't need your tef. vest
Performing live is safe
Only a mic with and a mic test
All you need is a microphone and a chance to prove yourself
And at your best you get blessed by the fans who profess
When you perform well, fans will admire you and support you
That they can relate
People connect with good music
With the trials you tribulate
They understand and appreciate your struggles
Or the pains you endure
They sympathize with your hardships
Cause some cats is pure
Some rappers are authentic and sincere
Tell horors that are true but see cats like you
Rappers like you need to be honest about their experiences
Y'all fake joints just tyo get a woo-woo
Some rappers try too hard to be popular
The tear jerker
Emotional and powerful lyrics
You be that miracle worker
You are that special artist who can captivate an audience
Whose miracle just ran out
Your luck has finally run out
I think it's time you pan out
It's time to move on from your music career
Or just plain fade, cause yo you played
Or just slowly disappear from the spotlight
We 'bout to drop on you like the Everglades
We're going to come at you hard and fast
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AHMIR K. THOMPSON, JIMMY GRAY, KAMAAL IBN JOHN FAREED, LEONARD N. HUBBARD, 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!