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.
Shook Ones Pt. 2
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yea, knawsayin?, yea, Table of Contents
Fuckin wit it, one two, it's the Table of Contents, come on
Uh yea, uh huh, yo
Check it out, you're now intuned to the sounds of the
R to the, double-O to the, T-S and I stretch limit to this profession
My voice physically fit, tracks I'm bench-pressing
Delicate MC's sliced in my delicatessan
My mind state is that of the S-P
Connection, Pennsy a part of me, South Philly through my arteries
Thought the dark one, fearsome, slump son
My vocal just a knuckle that sucker punched the drum
Hip-hop yo that's my hustle and it kill a kingdom
That Fall Apart to drastic propor-tion
Lost ones out there, you better stand clear
The Fifth Dynasty, it be a world premier
Cuttin' through like attorneys at law that's car chasin'
You star gazing, the force y'all facin' is the
R-to the, double-O to the, T-S an'
Y'all niggaz in the mix, keep guessin'
The world traveler in the flesh without question
Last seven years on tour without restin'
Yo the kind of rapper you should reconsider testin'
Supreme simply, o-fficial Dundee
What I bring'll motivate to move your whole country
Throw your hands up if y'all want me to proceed wit
And carry out strategic plans to leave wit
The title that I'm watchin, Roots we run-ting
My Dundee atire for MC hunting
Step up and out the ring
Y'all niggaz on some other, y'all loud as Don King
But wine drink within the danger zone lounging
You need to be more aware of your surroundings
Reality at times is astounding enough to get your heart pounding
It's safe to assume, in all confidence
That I'm one of the illest in the seven continents
Yo, you on my dick, thanks for the compliments
You be fucked up by my Table of Contents *begins fading*
Bad Lieutenant, you I been rhymin' since
The fuckin past tense, fuck no delayin'
Or playin' taking your wing way back in the day of yo
Motherfuckin' mind
It' the R-to the, double-O to the, T-S an'
Yo yo, it's the R to the, double-O to the, T-S an' yo
When I strike to excite, I just aim, I never miss
Embrace you wit a hug of death, give your ass a slight kiss
Toxic words that spill over pages, for ages
Impacts like M-16's to twelve gauges
The rage is still in me, never act too friendly
Scully down creepin' while you tilted off Henny
Many man begin pure but in this world of sin your
Holdin' tight my mor-al by in-jure
We scramble, because this game life is the gamble
Vandalize your terrain, go against the grain
Invade your brain wit the collision causing division
Sweep your sector, leavin' you niggaz for stool-pigeons
Sweep your sector, leavin' you niggaz for stool-pigeons
Sweep your sector, leavin' you niggaz for stool-pigeons
My religion is a way of life, but the trife replays
Cuz niggaz actin' shiest these days
Wagin' wars, usin' dynamics cuz I'ma slam it
You talkin' all this out out your mouth, you satanic
Roam the planet, always takin' bullshit for granted
Just a cool type of cat but you still can't understand it
You told to sit back, stand still and chill
Niggaz bound to clap shots cuz they all act ill
Wit a sour-ass taste smilin' up in your face
I'm like trust, never leavin' no trial or no trace
Disappear wit the wind, ? shows the discipline
Twenty-five years of my life I learned to miss amend
Peep the structure of a whole empire
Smuggled sealed tai, pack lyrics like Kya
Verbal messiah, when I cross I set a fire
Wacker MC went in doubt cuz I'm for hire
The Roots's song "Shook Ones Pt. 2" is a powerful lyrical masterpiece that speaks on themes such as self-confidence, dominance, and the struggles of life. The song starts off with an introduction by the artist, Table of Contents, as he announces the beginning of the track. The next part of the song, as performed by Black Thought, discusses his skills as an MC and his ability to dominate the rap game. He uses strong metaphors to emphasize his skill and his lyrics are all around his dominance in the industry. He goes ahead to foster that his mind-state is that of the S-P Connection, which suggests his ideals from South Philly that influences his music. The ending picks up with a discussion on the internal struggles of life and the inner rage that sometimes comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Check it out, you're now intuned to the sounds of the
Listen up, I'm about to start rapping
R to the, double-O to the, T-S and I stretch limit to this profession
My name is Roots, and I am the best rapper in this profession
My voice physically fit, tracks I'm bench-pressing
My voice is powerful, and I can handle any rap track
The mic chord is an extension of my intestine
The rap mic is part of my body, and I use it to express myself
Delicate MC's sliced in my delicatessan
I can easily defeat any other rapper in a rap battle
My mind state is that of the S-P
I have the mindset of a gangster, and I am ready to fight anyone who opposes me
Connection, Pennsy a part of me, South Philly through my arteries
I am deeply connected to my Philly roots, and they are a part of my identity
Thought the dark one, fearsome, slump son
I am a scary rapper who can intimidate any opponent
My vocal just a knuckle that sucker punched the drum
My rap lyrics hit hard like a punch, and they can beat any beat
Hip-hop yo that's my hustle and it kill a kingdom
Hip-hop is my passion, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to be successful in it
That Fall Apart to drastic propor-tion
If you oppose me, you will face serious consequences
Lost ones out there, you better stand clear
If you're not a skilled rapper, you should stay away from me
The Fifth Dynasty, it be a world premier
I am the best of the best, and I am ready to take on the world
Cuttin' through like attorneys at law that's car chasin'
I am unstoppable, like lawyers chasing after someone in a car
You star gazing, the force y'all facin' is the
You are amazed by my talent, but you are about to face the full force of my skills
Y'all niggaz in the mix, keep guessin'
Other rappers can try to compete with me, but they will never know what hit them
The world traveler in the flesh without question
I am a well-traveled rapper, and I have seen and experienced a lot
Last seven years on tour without restin'
I have been on tour for the past seven years, and I never stop working
Yo the kind of rapper you should reconsider testin'
I am the type of rapper that you should never underestimate or challenge
Supreme simply, o-fficial Dundee
My rapping skills are supreme, and I am an official Dundee
What I bring'll motivate to move your whole country
My rapping is powerful enough to inspire and move an entire nation
Throw your hands up if y'all want me to proceed wit
If you want me to keep rapping, put your hands up
And carry out strategic plans to leave wit
I have a plan to become the best rapper in the game, and I am working to achieve it
The title that I'm watchin, Roots we run-ting
I am aiming to become the best rapper in the game, and The Roots are leading the way
My Dundee attire for MC hunting
I am dressed for success as I hunt down other rappers
Step up and out the ring
If you want to battle me, step up to the ring
Y'all niggaz on some other, y'all loud as Don King
Other rappers are loud and obnoxious, like Don King
But wine drink within the danger zone lounging
I am comfortable and relaxed, even when I am in a dangerous situation
You need to be more aware of your surroundings
You need to pay more attention to what's happening around you
Reality at times is astounding enough to get your heart pounding
Reality can be intense and scary, making your heart race
It's safe to assume, in all confidence
I am 100% confident in myself
That I'm one of the illest in the seven continents
I am one of the best rappers in the entire world
Yo, you on my dick, thanks for the compliments
You are impressed by my rapping, and I appreciate the compliments
You be fucked up by my Table of Contents *begins fading*
My rapping is so powerful that it can defeat you before I even start rapping
Bad Lieutenant, you I been rhymin' since
I have been rapping since I was young, and I am an expert at it
The fuckin past tense, fuck no delayin'
I am always moving forward, and I don't let anything hold me back
Or playin' taking your wing way back in the day of yo
I am not here to play around, and I will take you down in a rap battle
It' the R-to the, double-O to the, T-S an'
I am Roots, and I am the best rapper in the game
Yo yo, it's the R to the, double-O to the, T-S an' yo
I am Roots, and I am ready to take on anyone who challenges me
When I strike to excite, I just aim, I never miss
I always hit my target when I rap, and I never miss a beat
Embrace you wit a hug of death, give your ass a slight kiss
My rapping is so powerful that it can kill you, but I will only give you a slight kiss
Toxic words that spill over pages, for ages
My rapping is so powerful that it can stay with you for a very long time
Impacts like M-16's to twelve gauges
My rapping hits hard like a machine gun or a shotgun
The rage is still in me, never act too friendly
I am always filled with anger and intensity, and I don't pretend to be friendly
Scully down creepin' while you tilted off Henny
I am always alert and aware of my surroundings, even when I am drinking Hennessy
Many man begin pure but in this world of sin your
Many people start out innocent, but this world can corrupt them
Holdin' tight my mor-al by in-jure
I am holding onto my morals even in the face of adversity
We scramble, because this game life is the gamble
We are always fighting and struggling because life is like a game of chance
Vandalize your terrain, go against the grain
I am willing to break the rules and do things my own way
Invade your brain wit the collision causing division
My rapping will invade your mind and cause you to become divided or conflicted
Sweep your sector, leavin' you niggaz for stool-pigeons
I will dominate and defeat my opponents, leaving them with no power or influence
My religion is a way of life, but the trife replays
My rapping is like a religion to me, but there is still a lot of drama and conflict in my life
Cuz niggaz actin' shiest these days
People are acting shady and untrustworthy these days
Wagin' wars, usin' dynamics cuz I'ma slam it
I am always fighting and using my skills to defeat my enemies
You talkin' all this out out your mouth, you satanic
You are saying evil and harmful things, like a devil or a demon
Roam the planet, always takin' bullshit for granted
I am traveling the world and dealing with people who underestimate me
Just a cool type of cat but you still can't understand it
I may seem laid-back and cool, but you still can't figure me out
You told to sit back, stand still and chill
You were told to relax and wait for me, but that won't work
Niggaz bound to clap shots cuz they all act ill
People are quick to use guns and violence because they are trying to act tough
Wit a sour-ass taste smilin' up in your face
You are being fake and unpleasant even when you are pretending to be friendly
I'm like trust, never leavin' no trial or no trace
You can trust me, and I will never do anything that would leave evidence or a trail
Disappear wit the wind, ? shows the discipline
I'm always on the move and never stay in one place for too long
Twenty-five years of my life I learned to miss amend
I've made mistakes in my life, but I have learned from them and tried to make amends
Peep the structure of a whole empire
Take a look at the organization and success of my entire operation
Smuggled sealed tai, pack lyrics like Kya
I am delivering powerful and valuable rap lyrics like a smuggler hiding valuable goods
Verbal messiah, when I cross I set a fire
I am like a savior or a prophet with my rapping, and I can ignite a fire in my listeners
Wacker MC went in doubt cuz I'm for hire
I am so skilled at rapping that I can even make a bad rapper sound good, and people are willing to pay me for my skills
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AHMIR K. THOMPSON, JIMMY GRAY, LEONARD N. HUBBARD, MALIK SMART, TARIK L. COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adrian Gonzalez Arguelles
My brain is unable to process these 2 groups being on the same stage... It's just too much talent together.
Richard Seizaux
Ahora en español (castellano).
gweah
Some years later Black Thought was spitting THAT FREESTYLE over the Burn beat at Flex and Hot 97. Everything coming full circle beautifully.
monta ellis
Most underrated hip-hop group ever
Big L Corleone
Aye i agree
Thul' Boy
The Roots can play anything on stage!
Hamza
Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, & The Roots is just pure genius. I would have lost my mind at this show. R.I.P. to the G.O.A.T. Prodigy.
Dazzlr
How clean are those vocals. Every lyric... Clear. As. Day. Peeps sound as dope live as they do on record!
inquizative44
It's surprising that the Roots are the only rap group with a live band. Rappers sound so much better with live instruments.
Mark Modesti
same here