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.
Sacrafice
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drastic, it ain't plastic, it's just pro blackness
Grown man tactics no pediatrics
The kind of track that make the comeback miraculous
The catalyst. Thought with the knack of splashin'
I'm dashin', I mastered the craft of mashin'
The level-headed thoroughbred the females passion
Magnetic attraction be keeping em askin'
The crews in the Cadillac, the Pendergrassin'
Swerve half-naked won't come near crashin'
But if I go to Heaven would ya'll know my name
Or would it be the same for you like I was Eric Clapton, huh?
Clap for your freedom dog, that's what's happenin'
My spit take critical political action
The hustle is a puzzle, each piece is a fraction
And every word that's understood is a transaction
I'm an S.P. soldier, microphone holder
Rep Philly set
From Bolivia to Boulder
Paris, France to Tip and Thai Yoga
How we gon' make it through the dark?
I'll show ya.
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
Listen,
If you want to be high
Yo kick off ya shoes, jump off the jock
I fly higher than them dudes from off ya block
My name Black, the style is unorthodox
It tap chins wit ya men's who you thought could box
A couple people wanted thought to stop
But guess what?
My man grab the missile, plug for the gut
Now next time greedy stop being such a glut
I'm precise with it like Faheim with haircuts
We up close on 'em with toast but no crust
It's fructose on 'em they froze and won't bust
Choke on your face you jewels is lackluster
Gotta put it to ya straight
Y'all fools is jacked up
Came close to the utmost but no cogar
Nose to the grindstone, head to the stars
The number one runner with the number one drummer
Grammy award-winning it's the world's eighth wonder
Come on!
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
Yo, your first impression might be I'm a asshole
Or say I'm sometimey and give people a hassle
Or try to suntouch and put the heat in a capsule
Dog I'm far deeper than that though,
I get in the zone, recognize I'm a rolling stone
No time to lollygag or lounge with scallywags
Gimme the disc or I'll put it where your body at
Old school spit flow laid over Trotter tracks
With no apology, fraud or tricknology
Just trust what I see and I say and follow me
My way, I be the open book, look inside me
The star of the story that the grooveteller guide me
Through all the dark times part of the business
The light be contingent on small forensics
My microphone'll make a man a newborn infant
It's true so the true gon' sense it
I get in the zone
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
The Roots' song "Sacrifice" is a powerful message about the importance of hard work and dedication in achieving one's goals. The lyrics are full of clever wordplay and metaphors that highlight the struggles and sacrifices that people make on their journey to success. The first verse is a lyrical display of Black Thought's rap skills, as he raps about his pro-Blackness and his ability to stay level-headed in difficult situations. He also touches on the idea that success can often be fleeting and that even if he were to die, he wonders if people will remember his name.
The second verse is equally intense, with Black Thought rapping about the challenges and obstacles that he has faced in his career. He talks about the need to jump off the proverbial jock of others and to carve out his own path to success. He also emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication, using his own success as an example. The final verse is a reflection on the lessons that Black Thought has learned throughout his life, namely, that if you want to achieve your dreams, you have to be willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice necessary to make them a reality.
Overall, "Sacrifice" is a powerful message about the importance of perseverance and dedication on the road to success, and Black Thought's lyrics are a testament to his own hard work and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen, I got you phobic offa this like arachnids
I'm so good at this that I give you the same fear you have of spiders
Drastic, it ain't plastic, it's just pro blackness
My message is bold, real and unapologetically pro-Black
Grown man tactics no pediatrics
I am not playing around with unimportant things, I am focused on grown-up issues
The kind of track that make the comeback miraculous
My song is so powerful that it can inspire a comeback where hope has been lost
The catalyst. Thought with the knack of splashin'
I am the driving force behind change and with my unique ability to create waves through my music
I'm dashin', I mastered the craft of mashin'
I move quickly and with purpose, my music is expertly crafted
The level-headed thoroughbred the females passion
I am calm and collected, but also highly desirable to women
Magnetic attraction be keeping em askin'
My magnetic energy attracts people and they want to know more about me
The crews in the Cadillac, the Pendergrassin'
My crew is riding in style in a Cadillac, like Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
Swerve half-naked won't come near crashin'
We're driving fast but we won't crash, even though we're half-naked
But if I go to Heaven would ya'll know my name
If I die and go to Heaven, will people still remember my name?
Or would it be the same for you like I was Eric Clapton, huh?
Would people forget me just like they forgot Eric Clapton?
Clap for your freedom dog, that's what's happenin'
Celebrate your freedom, that's the most important thing happening right now
My spit take critical political action
My rapping has a political purpose and can inspire action
The hustle is a puzzle, each piece is a fraction
The path to success is complicated and requires putting together many different pieces
And every word that's understood is a transaction
Every word I say has real value and meaning
I'm an S.P. soldier, microphone holder
I am a soldier for Soul Power and I hold the microphone
Rep Philly set
I represent the Philadelphia hip-hop scene
From Bolivia to Boulder
My influence stretches from South America to Colorado
Paris, France to Tip and Thai Yoga
My reach extends to France and the practice of yoga in Thailand
How we gon' make it through the dark?
How will we overcome the struggles and challenges of life?
I'll show ya.
I will provide an example and lead the way forward
If you want to reach something in life
To achieve your goals in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
It won't happen unless you
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Are willing to make a sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
Sometimes you have to go through tough times before you can experience joy
You need a heart that's filled with music
To overcome those tough times, you need a heart full of passion and music
If you use it you can fly
Music can lift you up and help you soar
Yo kick off ya shoes, jump off the jock
Relax and let go of your worries
I fly higher than them dudes from off ya block
I am above the neighborhood drama and fly higher than those involved in it
My name Black, the style is unorthodox
My name is Black thought and my style is unique and outside of the norm
It tap chins wit ya men's who you thought could box
My rhymes hit hard and can even take down those who were thought to be great at battling
A couple people wanted thought to stop
Some people tried to stop me from succeeding
But guess what?
But, their efforts were in vain
My man grab the missile, plug for the gut
My friend stepped in and took care of the situation with force
Now next time greedy stop being such a glut
In the future, people should be less selfish and greedy
I'm precise with it like Faheim with haircuts
I am very skilled and precise, like a skilled barber
We up close on 'em with toast but no crust
We are in close combat with our enemies, but we don't have any weak spots
It's fructose on 'em they froze and won't bust
We have surprised our enemies and they are too scared to react
Choke on your face you jewels is lackluster
Your jewelry is subpar and makes you look foolish
Gotta put it to ya straight
I have to be candid with you
Y'all fools is jacked up
You are acting foolishly and making bad decisions
Came close to the utmost but no cogar
We almost succeeded but didn't quite make it
Nose to the grindstone, head to the stars
We are hard-working and focused on success, while also aiming high
The number one runner with the number one drummer
I am the best rapper with the best drummer by my side
Grammy award-winning it's the world's eighth wonder
Our music has won a Grammy and is a true wonder of the world
Yo, your first impression might be I'm a asshole
You might not like me at first glance
Or say I'm sometimey and give people a hassle
Or you might say I'm inconsistent and give people trouble
Or try to suntouch and put the heat in a capsule
Or you might try to challenge me, but I can handle the heat
Dog I'm far deeper than that though,
But I am much more complex and deep than you realize
I get in the zone, recognize I'm a rolling stone
I am completely focused when I perform and am always on the move
No time to lollygag or lounge with scallywags
I am too busy to waste time hanging out with unimportant people
Gimme the disc or I'll put it where your body at
Give me the music or else I'll cause harm
Old school spit flow laid over Trotter tracks
I have an old-school rhyming style and perform over music produced by Questlove
With no apology, fraud or tricknology
I am real and honest with my lyrics and don't use any gimmicks
Just trust what I see and I say and follow me
Believe in what I say and follow me to success
My way, I be the open book, look inside me
I am an open book, my music reflects who I am on the inside
The star of the story that the grooveteller guide me
I am the main character in my story and my music is guided by the grooveteller (Questlove)
Through all the dark times part of the business
Even during tough times, I keep going because it's all part of the music business
The light be contingent on small forensics
My success depends on the small details and hard work
My microphone'll make a man a newborn infant
My rapping can have a powerful effect and make someone feel reborn
It's true so the true gon' sense it
What I say is true and real, and those who are real will sense it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN DAVID PEARN, MICHAEL ANTHONY SHEFFORD GRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MytreeTv
Sacrifice - Lyrics!
by The Roots and Nelly Furtado
Listen, I got you phobic offa this like arachnids
Drastic, it ain't plastic, it's just pro blackness
Grown man tactics no pediatrics
The kind of track that make the comeback miraculous
The catalyst. Thought with the knack of splashin'
I'm dashin', I mastered the craft of mashin'
The level-headed thoroughbred the females passion
Magnetic attraction be keeping em askin'
The crews in the Cadillac, the Pendergrassin'
Swerve half-naked won't come near crashin'
But if I go to Heaven would ya'll know my name
Or would it be the same for you like I was Eric Clapton, huh?
Clap for your freedom dog, that's what's happenin'
My spit take critical political action
The hustle is a puzzle, each piece is a fraction
And every word that's understood is a transaction
I'm an S.P. soldier, microphone holder
Rep Philly set
From Bolivia to Boulder
Paris, France to Tip and Thai Yoga
How we gon' make it through the dark?
I'll show ya.
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
Listen,
If you want to be high
Yo kick off ya shoes, jump off the jock
I fly higher than them dudes from off ya block
My name Black, the style is unorthodox
It tap chins wit ya men's who you thought could box
A couple people wanted thought to stop
But guess what?
My man grab the missile, plug for the gut
Now next time greedy stop being such a glut
I'm precise with it like Faheim with haircuts
We up close on 'em with toast but no crust
It's fructose on 'em they froze and won't bust
Choke on your face you jewels is lackluster
Gotta put it to ya straight
Y'all fools is jacked up
Came close to the utmost but no cogar
Nose to the grindstone, head to the stars
The number one runner with the number one drummer
Grammy award-winning it's the world's eighth wonder
Come on!
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
Yo, your first impression might be I'm a asshole
Or say I'm sometimey and give people a hassle
Or try to suntouch and put the heat in a capsule
Dog I'm far deeper than that though,
I get in the zone, recognize I'm a rolling stone
No time to lollygag or lounge with scallywags
Gimme the disc or I'll put it where your body at
Old school spit flow laid over Trotter tracks
With no apology, fraud or tricknology
Just trust what I see and I say and follow me
My way, I be the open book, look inside me
The star of the story that the grooveteller guide me
Through all the dark times part of the business
The light be contingent on small forensics
My microphone'll make a man a newborn infant
It's true so the true gon' sense it
I get in the zone
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
Tell you one lesson I've learned
If you want to reach something in life
You ain't gonna get it unless
You give a little bit of sacrifice
Ooh sometimes before you smile you got to cry
You need a heart that's filled with music
If you use it you can fly
If you want to be high
@walidjaziriofficial
Who is listening to this masterpiece in June 2023?
@eokogbo
"The Hustle is a puzzle, each piece is a fraction and every word that's understood is a transaction..." ~ The man is a savant (Black Thought)
@dianacomby3782
so true!! most underrated mc in the game.
@zeromathematics
your comment is underated
@DAPDave
This song takes me to an exciting, but strange, time in life. Haven't heard it on forever. This is probably my favorite Roots album.
@EliBeatboxJimenez
Black Thought is a lyrical genius!
@peagles83
This still sounds so fresh even 17 years later!
@fthisjob6676
God this album is amazing.
@hutchisonst
un-freaking-believable. the kind of music that just sucks you in and you never want it to end!!
@jonathandnicholson
Probably the best hip-hop/rap song I know...