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.
Stomp
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It’s about a heart beat that beats strong
It’s about s passion
That is unyielding
And I want you men to know today
It’s your time
It is your hour
It is your moment
Yeah speaking of pieces of a man
Staring at a future in the creases of my hand
It reads like a final letter I’m leaving for my fam' but
It’s written in language they will never understand
A late repentant
Never deviating from a plan
I drive by headed for the valley of the damned
The wheels spin, I’m looking for a sacrificial lamb
Then roll tactics like a soldier out in the Sudan
Listen
Was this a matter of flesh and blood
Yes it was
Does it matter who win and lose
Yes it does
It ain’t about the most blessed love
When you return to the essence
What is it back to the essence of
Greatness I wasn't in the presence of
Cause you was fake and never measured up
You just a nigga on his regular
But how far am I ahead of ya
It just as easily could'a been me instead of ya
We gone fight till we can’t fight no more
You can't fight no more
You gone lie down and bleed a while
You gone get up
And fight some more
Want you say it with me
Repeat it after me when I say it
We gone fight
Fuck getting fucked
Immaculate conception
Now what’s beef ain’t even a question
Calico kisses, cold blood and crime tape
Flirt with death every night it’s a blind date
One night stand paybacks a bitch
Shit have you skinny dipping in a pool of your piss
Blood sweat and tears broken teeth and spit
Put the barrel in your mouth
Blow the devil a kiss
Put the knife in ya back cut down to the red meat
Daddy should’ve let me be a stain on the bed sheets
I’m one shot short of a Molotov cocktail
Kick in the door like welcome to my world
I’m an evil genius when it comes to this dumb shit
Half of the time I'ma keep it one hundred
Don’t play chicken when I’m driving them crazy
Get hit in the wing thigh breast or drumstick
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The Roots's song "Stomp" is a powerful motivational track aimed at encouraging men to embrace their passion and take charge of their lives. The first stanza emphasizes the importance of flesh and blood, heartbeat, and unyielding passion. The song then urges men to seize their moment, asserting that it is their time to shine. The second stanza talks about the struggles involved in achieving success, using language that the singer's family will not understand. The singer implies that the pursuit of success sometimes involves tough decisions that may lead to violence, sacrifice or death.
The song is designed to appeal to young men who are facing challenges in their lives. It is a call-to-action for them to push through adversity and strive for greatness. The theme of the song is universal and can apply to different situations such as business, sports, or personal development. The lyrics are strong and emotionally charged, with a sense of urgency, and the song is set to a high-energy hip-hop beat, making it an excellent motivational anthem.
Line by Line Meaning
It’s about flesh and blood
This song is about human life and experience
It’s about a heart beat that beats strong
It’s about living passionately and with conviction
It’s about a passion
It’s about finding and pursuing something that drives you
That is unyielding
That is unwavering and persistent
And I want you men to know today
I want to encourage and inspire all of you listening
It’s your time
This is your moment
It is your hour
This is your time to shine
It is your moment
This is the moment to seize
Go take it
Take control and make the most of this opportunity
Yeah speaking of pieces of a man
Now let me talk about the reality of life
Staring at a future in the creases of my hand
Looking at my destiny in my palm
It reads like a final letter I’m leaving for my fam' but
It’s as if I’m writing a letter to my loved ones before I go
It’s written in language they will never understand
But it’s in a language they won’t comprehend
A late repentant
Realizing things too late
Never deviating from a plan
Following a course of action without straying
I drive by headed for the valley of the damned
Heading towards destruction and chaos
The wheels spin, I’m looking for a sacrificial lamb
My plans are in motion, searching for a victim
Then roll tactics like a soldier out in the Sudan
Execute my plan like a military operation
Was this a matter of flesh and blood
Was this a matter of life and death?
Yes it was
Yes, it was a matter of life and death
Does it matter who win and lose
Does it matter who comes out on top?
Yes it does
Yes, it does matter who wins and loses
It ain’t about the most blessed love
It’s not about divine love
When you return to the essence
When you get back to basics
What is it back to the essence of
What is it really all about?
Greatness I wasn't in the presence of
I wasn't around greatness
Cause you was fake and never measured up
Because you were phony and never met expectations
You just a nigga on his regular
You’re just an ordinary person
But how far am I ahead of ya
But I’m way ahead of you
It just as easily could'a been me instead of ya
I could have easily been in your position
We gone fight till we can’t fight no more
We’ll keep fighting until we can’t anymore
You can't fight no more
Until you physically can’t fight anymore
You gone lie down and bleed a while
Rest and recover from the fight
You gone get up
Then you’ll get up and continue fighting
And fight some more
And keep fighting
Want you say it with me
Join me
Repeat it after me when I say it
Say it after me
Fuck getting fucked
Screw getting taken advange of
Immaculate conception
Unusual or extraordinary creation
Now what’s beef ain’t even a question
Now, we’re not even questioning what the conflict is
Calico kisses, cold blood and crime tape
Violent incidents with guns and bloodshed
Flirt with death every night it’s a blind date
Putting oneself in danger constantly
One night stand paybacks a bitch
Bad karma comes back to bite
Shit have you skinny dipping in a pool of your piss
In a bad situation or consequence
Blood sweat and tears broken teeth and spit
Physical cost of violence and conflict
Put the barrel in your mouth
Thinking of suicide
Blow the devil a kiss
Embracing danger or overcoming temptation
Put the knife in ya back cut down to the red meat
Betrayed or attacked in a deep and serious way
Daddy should’ve let me be a stain on the bed sheets
A life not worth living
I’m one shot short of a Molotov cocktail
On the brink of chaos and destruction
Kick in the door like welcome to my world
Abruptly asserting oneself and inviting confrontation
I’m an evil genius when it comes to this dumb shit
Masterfully skilled at doing bad things
Half of the time I'ma keep it one hundred
I'll be straightforward half the time
Don’t play chicken when I’m driving them crazy
Don't test me when I'm at my limit
Get hit in the wing thigh breast or drumstick
Get hurt in various ways
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We are all connected and united
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, THE ADMINISTRATION MP INC
Written by: DELENO SEAN MATTHEWS, GREG SPEARMAN, LEVAR R. COPPIN, 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!