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.
Step Into the Realm
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Yo, I walk across this world that's deceptive
Beats are perfected, the ghetto's infested
With more destruction, my vocal eruption
Was speakin' 'bout corruption with no introduction
Approach me with caution 'cause I spark losses
M-illitant the rap arson, marchin'
Leavin' niggas stiff like I'm starchin', departin'
Hollywood Sambos and jokes just like Martin
I'm the type of nigga that belongs in a war
With a mic and a cord, to hold your head with a sword
Some proclaim lames, callin' theyselves bold
They shall be flawed when the claps applaud
If this a point of life, one I can't afford
Then I have to get shiest and I deal in fraud
Now back to the topic of the rap philosopher
With more drama than a soap opera
Who stops the propaganda, the hot block commander
Puttin' a halt to all the backtalk and slander
Warn every challenger about the silencer
Muzzle in your mouth for the days that's on the calendar
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
I'm from the valley of the heavyheads, watch the ghetto pre-medical
Undergrads and steady red faces of stone
Eyes are crevices, life like a double negative
Philly criminal, I rhyme my dirt Tariq already did
Buildin' this Fifth foundation in the wilderness
Thought-less, trespass and enter Thought's fortress
Limitless entrance paid to the order of the
Cypher slaughterer, my mic slappin' you senseless
Defenseless, niggas never movin' me inches
The beat Fifth, invisible in the trenches
Afficiando, awesome hip-hop drug problem
Fuck stardom, and chickens up in Gotham
Poltergeist, slit or choke the mic 'til it scream to me
Stop that, cash we conveniently got that
I stroll through your scenery cocked back
Me and Hot Mack, the nine-eight, El Dorado Cadillac Jacks
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
The Roots's song Step Into the Realm expresses a warning about the dangers and temptations of the world. The lyrics suggest that by stepping into the realm of the world, one is bound to be caught and will eventually depart from this worldly life. The song highlights the deceptive nature of the world and the corruption that exists in it. The rapper warns the listener to approach him with caution, sparking losses and military-like marches with his words. He asserts his place as a rap philosopher, tackling the drama and propaganda of the world, and silencing challengers who dare to question him.
The lyrics also touch on the rapper's background as being from a tough neighborhood, the valley of the heavyheads, where even the pre-medical undergrads have red faces of stone from the challenges of living in the ghetto. The rapper asserts his prowess as a mic slapper, a cypher slaughterer, and a defenseless mover who cannot be moved. He speaks of his love for hip-hop and his disdain for fame and fortune, stating that he walks through the scenery with his nine-eight, El Dorado Cadillac Jacks. Overall, the song delivers a powerful message about staying true to oneself and avoiding the pitfalls of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Step into the realm, you're bound to get caught
Venturing into dangerous territory is likely to result in negative consequences.
And from this worldly life, you'll soon depart
This life is temporary and will eventually come to an end.
Yo, I walk across this world that's deceptive
I navigate through a world that is full of lies and deceit.
Beats are perfected, the ghetto's infested
Music is crafted with precision, but the neighborhoods are filled with poverty and crime.
With more destruction, my vocal eruption
My lyrics describe the devastation around me.
Was speakin' 'bout corruption with no introduction
I'm addressing the issue of corruption without any preamble.
Approach me with caution 'cause I spark losses
Be careful when engaging me because I've caused people to lose before.
M-illitant the rap arson, marchin'
I'm a militant arsonist of rap, marching forward.
Leavin' niggas stiff like I'm starchin', departin'
I leave people immobile as though I'm using starch, then move on.
Hollywood Sambos and jokes just like Martin
Entertainers who rely on racially charged jokes are like Martin Lawrence's offensive character, Hollywood Shuffle.
I'm the type of nigga that belongs in a war
I'm a fighter who thrives in conflict.
With a mic and a cord, to hold your head with a sword
I use my microphone to wield a verbal sword, holding your attention.
Some proclaim lames, callin' theyselves bold
Some people boast of being brave, but are actually weak.
They shall be flawed when the claps applaud
Their true nature will be exposed when they receive a negative reaction.
If this a point of life, one I can't afford
If this is what life demands of me, and I can't comply, I'll be forced to make tough choices.
Then I have to get shiest and I deal in fraud
If necessary, I'll resort to dishonesty and trickery to survive.
Now back to the topic of the rap philosopher
Let's return to the subject of the deep-thinking rapper.
With more drama than a soap opera
My life is full of more drama and tension than a daytime television drama.
Who stops the propaganda, the hot block commander
I'm the one who halts false information and directs the block.
Puttin' a halt to all the backtalk and slander
I stop all the unnecessary and harmful negative talk.
Warn every challenger about the silencer
I caution anyone who dares to test me.
Muzzle in your mouth for the days that's on the calendar
Don't speak negatively for the rest of your life.
I'm from the valley of the heavyheads, watch the ghetto pre-medical
I come from an area full of people who are always high and the ghetto is in dire need of medical help.
Undergrads and steady red faces of stone
Young people are stoned and have faces that show they've faced many challenges.
Eyes are crevices, life like a double negative
Their eyes are deep-set and their existence is so bleak that it feels like a double negative.
Philly criminal, I rhyme my dirt Tariq already did
I'm a criminal who raps about my illegal activities, like Tariq.
Buildin' this Fifth foundation in the wilderness
I'm creating a foundation on which to build my life, despite my circumstances.
Thought-less, trespass and enter Thought's fortress
I act without thinking and invade deep mental spaces.
Limitless entrance paid to the order of the
I can go anywhere I choose with the appropriate payment.
Cypher slaughterer, my mic slappin' you senseless
I'm the one who kills mics and I'll do the same to anyone who challenges me.
Defenseless, niggas never movin' me inches
Even those who are defenseless can't stop me.
The beat Fifth, invisible in the trenches
I blend into my environment, just like a stealth fighter plane.
Afficiando, awesome hip-hop drug problem
I'm a lover of hip-hop, but it's also addictive like a drug.
Fuck stardom, and chickens up in Gotham
I don't care about being famous and I'm not interested in superficial girls.
Poltergeist, slit or choke the mic 'til it scream to me
I'm like a ghost, and I'll dominate the mic until it cries out to me.
Stop that, cash we conveniently got that
Stop trying to stop us, we have the money to keep going.
I stroll through your scenery cocked back
I walk confidently through your area, fully prepared to handle any situation.
Me and Hot Mack, the nine-eight, El Dorado Cadillac Jacks
I'm rolling with Hot Mack in our 1998 El Dorado Cadillac cars.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kenyatta Saunders, Malik Smart, 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!