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.
Superlyrical
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay-yo my murderous rap verbal attack is actual fact
Tactical tracks match perfectly with graphical stats
Half a you lack the magical dap of tragical rap
That tackles you back and shackles and laughs at you
That's...the mathematical madness I'm on, the savage, the strong
The marriage, a bond of havoc and song
This massacre's on as if Picasso laced you
in the closet of my castle of Grayskull
I'm possum at grade school, that's why I have to debate you
My raps are like Capel, slashin' your face, you
That's how a master degrades you
I'm battlin' Jesus (hay-soos) if he passes through my label
I'm snatchin' his halo
God I pray that you send my father back as an angel
Language is fatal and it's hypnotizin'
I'm only emphasizin', I'm still all about business and enterprisin'
I'm super lyrical, a brain boosts the chemicals
That's used contenicals inside of my mental projectable
CHORUS -- Lyrically I'm supposed to represent (Biggie)
Niggaz'll tell you that I'm nice with the
blah, blah, blah (Canibus)
Lyrically I'm...<
BLACK THOUGHT --
Black Thought the super lyricist, your arch-nemesis
Still with the Punisher, that's my accomplice
Stressin' to emcees how they don't really want this
Electrifying shit his excellency Thought spit
These cats they sentimental such with a gentle touch
Dancin' double dutch and all sayin' nothin' much
My sound wave liftin' your chin up like uppercuts
New found ways of rippin' shit up, I de-ve-lop
Your squad chest swell up, still you're mini-ay-ture to me
Nature-ally I bring the extremity
Musically intense with the globe in suspense
Contemplatin' where the world traveler been since
The Roots bless you with a strong record, long like a epic
Immerse you in some 'ol next shit, ill poetic
Thought from Illadelph somethin' like nothin' else
My talk stomp like elephants upon every elf, cause...what...
CHORUS -- Lyrically I'm supposed to represent
Niggaz'll tell you that I'm nice with the blah, blah, blah
Lyrically I'm supposed to represent
You will lose...I must break you (Ivan Drago from "Rocky")
Lyrically I'm supposed to represent
Niggaz'll tell you that I'm nice with the blah, blah, blah
Lyrically I'm-I'm-I'm...<
I'm supposed to represent
PUNISHER --
Ay-yo peace Roots east coast niggaz reppin' the streets most
With heat, toast, and keep close more Phillies than Pete Rose
These dos, niggaz that'll lift ya mentals
Lyrics'll twist your temples into pretzels
like the "Triumph" instrumental
BLACK THOUGHT --
My instrumental's the Renaissance, no resem-ba-lance
To nothin' you come across, lyrical holocaust
The crowd pleaser emcees freeze then catch seizure
They praise the Lord of rap thesis, true believers
PUNISHER --
Just call me Baby Jesus 'cause lady niggaz be praisin' me
Just for the way I blaze to be crazily, tape to CD lasery
It pays to be amazingly flavery
Daaaaze 'em to my rhymes that basically hypnotize you occasionally
BLACK THOUGHT --
Occasionally as I focus on my next opus
The way it's all f**ked up and emcees is hopeless
I leave your head wrecked as I erect scultpures
My thought's just a fortress, approach this ferocious up-closeness
Chorus -- Lyrically I'm supposed to represent
Niggaz'll tell you that I'm nice with the blah, blah, blah
Lyrically I'm-I'm-I'm...<
I'm supposed to represent
Lyrically..."It's suicide!"
Lyrically..."You've seen him, you know how strong he is!"
Lyrically..."You can't win!"
Lyrically..."It's suicide!"
Lyrically..."You've seen him, you know how strong he is!"
Lyrically..."You can't win!"
Lyrically..."You can't win!"
Lyrically..."You will lose..."
Lyrically..."I must break you..."
Ly-ly-ly-lyrically <
<
The lyrics to The Roots' song Superlyrical are packed with intricate wordplay and clever rhymes that showcase the skills of both Black Thought and Punisher. The song is about the power of lyrical prowess and how it can be used to assert dominance over other rappers. Punisher sets the tone with his aggressive flow and boasts about his ability to shackle and laugh at his enemies. He also invokes religious imagery by saying he's battlin' Jesus and snatchin' his halo, adding to his intimidating persona.
Black Thought comes in with equally impressive rhymes, calling himself the super lyricist and stressing that emcees don't really want to battle him. He also highlights his ability to lift the crowd with his sound waves and takes pride in his unique style that sets him apart from other rappers. Both Punisher and Black Thought emphasize the importance of strong lyrics and the impact they can have on the listener.
Overall, Superlyrical is a showcase of The Roots' talent for crafting complex and meaningful lyrics that blend together seamlessly. The song is a testament to the power of language and how it can be used to elevate music to new heights.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay-yo my murderous rap verbal attack is actual fact
My words and rhymes are deadly accurate and can do some serious damage.
Tactical tracks match perfectly with graphical stats
My beats and rhythms complement my lyrics and flow seamlessly.
Half a you lack the magical dap of tragical rap
Most other rappers don't have the same emotional depth and intensity that I do.
That tackles you back and shackles and laughs at you
My rhymes and flow can overwhelm and intimidate other rappers.
That's...the mathematical madness I'm on, the savage, the strong
My rap style is a calculated and intense form of madness that is both savage and powerful.
The marriage, a bond of havoc and song
The combination of my intense lyrics and powerful beats is a perfect match.
This massacre's on as if Picasso laced you
I'm about to destroy you with my rhymes and beats, like Picasso painting a beautiful yet deadly picture.
There's lotsa hateful skeletons locked in the closet of my castle of Grayskull
I have a lot of dark and twisted thoughts that I keep hidden away, just like the secrets in Castle Grayskull.
I'm possum at grade school, that's why I have to debate you
I was quiet and unassuming in school, which is why I now have a chip on my shoulder and love to debate my opponents.
My raps are like Capel, slashin' your face, you
My rhymes are cutting and sharp, like a knife slashing through flesh.
That's how a master degrades you
I'm a master of rap and can easily tear down other rappers with my rhymes and flow.
I'm battlin' Jesus (hay-soos) if he passes through my label
I'm so confident in my rap skills that I would even challenge Jesus if he was on my record label.
I'm snatchin' his halo
I'm so confident in my rap ability that I would even try to take away the divine aura around Jesus.
God I pray that you send my father back as an angel
I pray to God that my deceased father can watch over me as a guardian angel.
Language is fatal and it's hypnotizin'
The power of words is dangerous and can easily mesmerize and captivate people.
I'm only emphasizin', I'm still all about business and enterprisin'
I'm simply highlighting the power of words, but at the end of the day I'm still focused on my music career.
I'm super lyrical, a brain boosts the chemicals
My rhymes are so intense and powerful that they can literally alter the chemical makeup of a listener's brain.
That's used contenicals inside of my mental projectable
My rhymes come from the chemicals inside my brain and are projected out like a mental force.
Black Thought the super lyricist, your arch-nemesis
I'm Black Thought, the ultimate skilled rapper who is your biggest rival and enemy.
Still with the Punisher, that's my accomplice
I'm still working with the Punisher, a legendary figure in the rap game.
Stressin' to emcees how they don't really want this
I'm letting other rappers know that they can't handle my rap skills and should back off.
Electrifying shit his excellency Thought spit
My raps are so intense and powerful that they can shock and electrify listeners.
These cats they sentimental such with a gentle touch
Most other rappers are too soft and sentimental, lacking the intensity and power that I possess.
Dancin' double dutch and all sayin' nothin' much
Most other rappers are simply jumping around and not really saying anything of substance.
My sound wave liftin' your chin up like uppercuts
My powerful beats and rhymes can lift you up and make you feel like you've been punched in the face.
New found ways of rippin' shit up, I de-ve-lop
I'm always developing new and innovative ways to destroy other rappers with my rhymes and flow.
Your squad chest swell up, still you're mini-ay-ture to me
Even though other rappers may feel powerful and intimidating, they're still small and insignificant compared to me.
Nature-ally I bring the extremity
I'm a natural talent when it comes to rap, and I bring an extreme level of intensity and power to every performance.
Musically intense with the globe in suspense
My music is so intense and powerful that it can captivate people from all around the world and leave them in suspense.
Contemplatin' where the world traveler been since
While I'm known around the world, I'm always looking for new places to explore and conquer with my music.
The Roots bless you with a strong record, long like a epic
The Roots are a powerhouse band that will provide you with an amazing record that is epic in length and scope.
Immerse you in some 'ol next shit, ill poetic
Our music will take you to a whole new level and provide you with something amazing, deep, and thought-provoking.
Thought from Illadelph somethin' like nothin' else
My rap style and skills are unique and unlike anything else in the world, coming from the streets of Philadelphia.
My talk stomp like elephants upon every elf, cause...what...
When I talk, it's so powerful and intense that it can crush everything in its path, like an elephant stomping on a bunch of elves.
My instrumental's the Renaissance, no resem-ba-lance
The beats and rhythms that I create are a rebirth of the classic hip-hop sound, but with a unique and unmatched twist.
To nothin' you come across, lyrical holocaust
My rap style is something that nobody else can match, and it's so intense and devastating that it's like a lyrical holocaust on other rappers.
The crowd pleaser emcees freeze then catch seizure
My music is so intense and captivating that it can make other rappers freeze up and even have seizures.
They praise the Lord of rap thesis, true believers
They worship and adore me as the king of rap, and are true believers in the power of my words and flow.
Just call me Baby Jesus 'cause lady niggaz be praisin' me
I'm so amazing and powerful that even women are singing my praises and calling me 'Baby Jesus'.
Just for the way I blaze to be crazily, tape to CD lasery
People are mesmerized and awed by the intensity and power of my lyrics and flow, which capture them like a laser beam on tape or CD.
It pays to be amazingly flavery
It's important to have a unique and amazing rap style that captivates listeners and sets you apart from other rappers.
Daaaaze 'em to my rhymes that basically hypnotize you occasionally
My rhymes are so powerful and intense that they can hypnotize and daze listeners, even if it only happens occasionally.
Occasionally as I focus on my next opus
While I'm always focused on my next big project, it's important to step back occasionally and look at the bigger picture.
The way it's all f**ked up and emcees is hopeless
The rap game is in a sorry state, with most other rappers lacking the skills and talent needed to make a real impact.
I leave your head wrecked as I erect scultpures
My music and rhymes can leave you feeling stunned and overwhelmed, like a work of art that has been masterfully sculpted.
My thought's just a fortress, approach this ferocious up-closeness
My mind and rap style are impenetrable like a fortress, and I'm not afraid to get up close and personal with my opponents.
Contributed by Carson D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aganju Ilu-Aiê
that beat that flow..hummm!!!
RM³
Thought was prolly #1 lyrically when this dropped
Bakhytzhan Adai
Classic!!!
Trell High
Real lyrics
TheHPRIC
CLASSIC!!
"Just call me Baby Jesus cause lately niggas be praising me
Just for the way I blaze the beat crazily, tape to CD lasery It pays to be amazingly flavery, Gaze into my rhymes that basically hypnotize you occasionally"
PUN was just like the name of the track SUPER LYRICAL
R.I.P.