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.
Swept Away
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The rhythm just sways and like a sorceress I slays
Foes and ri-vals, who wanna come
This way, they better pay attention
Or a penchant not to mention suspension
From the microphone plus the tension
Trey-eight-o's will vacate those
So lamp to my man Mussolini
Go get your whole staff, call the calf
Cause half-and-half's couldn't cream me
The lyrics make your head knock
Malik B and Black Thought, the dreadlock
Mannn, transss-gressin
You'll catch lead I, crushing
Poundin on the drums like King Kong
We can ring your bellll, ding-dong
I styles with my vocabulary
The Roots the one to call your ultra adversary
Now you're all desert cause I'mma serv ya like a tray
To meet your doom Malik's the boom so you get swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
Yo hello everybody do I need introduct
I be the mic mercenary very un..clear
To your ear the exquisite pattern that you hear
It's known to be Black Butta Baby
Crazy cardiac my attack on any fat rhythm
That I capture kid I snatch the mic from tykes
While I proceed and continue to tend to
Business, cause this is, how I do
I'm insane, and go against the grain like freight
Never on no nigga dick, cause I'm just too hip
Plus I rest where niggas pack and never act
Other than ill, shit is real in Phy-double
So if you want trouble let's stomp
My mission is to flip on comp
You might aspire to be flyer than I, you must pay
Your dues while I bruise niggas new for the day
Shall be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
There's somethin goin on
Because there's somethin goin on
Yeah, somethin's goin on
Yeah, somethin goin on
Y'all know there's somethin goin
Because there's somethin goin on
She knows there's somethin goin on
Yeah, somethin goin on
Y'all know there's somethin goin on
Yeah, somethin's goin on
Because there's somethin goin on
Yeah, y'all know what's goin on
The Roots's song "Swept Away" is a rap song filled with punchlines, clever wordplay, and metaphors. The song features Black Thought and Malik B rapping alongside each other while they challenge other rappers who have been sleeping. The opening line, "MC's who slept for days, must be swept away," suggests that other rappers who have been complacent will have to face being swept away by the Roots's skillful rapping. Black Thought's verse has him introducing himself and his skills as a "mic mercenary", while Malik B's verse has him boasting about being the "boom" that will sweep away their competition.
The song is characterized by its fast-paced beat, which is accompanied by drums and various other percussion instruments. The lyrics themselves are filled with wordplay that often rely on double meanings and puns. Black Thought's verse, for example, features lines such as "I'm insane, and go against the grain like freight / Never on no n***a d**k, cause I'm just too hip" which showcases his ability to create clever imagery and metaphors. Similarly, Malik B's verse has him using lines such as "To meet your doom, Malik's the boom so you get swept away", which links the idea of being swept away to both his lyrics and his ability to rap.
Line by Line Meaning
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MCs who are not on their game and have been ignoring their craft have no place here and must be taken care of
The rhythm just sways and like a sorceress I slays
My flow is so smooth and effortless that it's almost magical when I rap
Foes and ri-vals, who wanna come
This way, they better pay attention
Or a penchant not to mention suspension
Anyone who wants to challenge me better be prepared because they might face consequences such as suspension from the music industry
From the microphone plus the tension
Trey-eight-o's will vacate those
If there's drama with my henchmen
If anyone starts something with my crew, we'll make sure they leave empty-handed and won't come back for more
So lamp to my man Mussolini
Go get your whole staff, call the calf
Cause half-and-half's couldn't cream me
I'm strong and confident, even when facing a group of opponents, just like Mussolini. Even if they bring their best, they won't be able to top me
The lyrics make your head knock
Malik B and Black Thought, the dreadlock
Mannn, transss-gressin
You'll catch lead I, crushing
My rhymes are so powerful that they'll make your head nod uncontrollably. I'm not afraid to call out transgressions and take people down if they mess with me
Poundin on the drums like King Kong
We can ring your bellll, ding-dong
I styles with my vocabulary
The Roots the one to call your ultra adversary
Now you're all desert cause I'mma serv ya like a tray
To meet your doom Malik's the boom so you get swept away
We beat on our drums like beasts and we'll knock you out with our rhymes. We're the ones to call if you want to take down a formidable opponent. You'll be left dry and lifeless, with Malik's rapid, powerful flow taking care of you
Yo hello everybody do I need introduct
I be the mic mercenary very un..clear
To your ear the exquisite pattern that you hear
It's known to be Black Butta Baby
I may not need an introduction, but just in case, I'm the mercenary of the microphone with a flow so unique and intricate that you won't even notice the lack of clarity in my voice. And you know me, I'm Black Butta Baby
Crazy cardiac my attack on any fat rhythm
That I capture kid I snatch the mic from tykes
While I proceed and continue to tend to
Business, cause this is, how I do
My assault on any beat is unmatched, and I'll take the mic from anyone who can't keep up. I'm here to handle business and this is just how I operate
I'm insane, and go against the grain like freight
Never on no nigga dick, cause I'm just too hip
Plus I rest where niggas pack and never act
Other than ill, shit is real in Phy-double
So if you want trouble let's stomp
My mission is to flip on comp
You might aspire to be flyer than I, you must pay
Your dues while I bruise niggas new for the day
Shall be swept away
I'm a nonconformist and I'll do things my own way. I'm confident but not arrogant, and I stay true to myself and my roots. If you want to challenge me, let's do it, but be prepared for a fight. I'll take on all opponents and make them pay their dues, leaving them defeated in the end
There's somethin goin on
Because there's somethin goin on
Yeah, somethin's goin on
Yeah, somethin goin on
Y'all know there's somethin goin
Because there's somethin goin on
She knows there's somethin goin on
Yeah, somethin goin on
Y'all know there's somethin goin on
Yeah, somethin's goin on
Because there's somethin goin on
Yeah, y'all know what's goin on
There's an underlying energy and movement that's happening and everyone can feel it. Something big is coming and everyone can sense it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: LEONARD N. HUBBARD, TARIK L. COLLINS, MALIK SMART, AHMIR K. THOMPSON, SCOTT SPENCER STORCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joerokhed3481
R.I.P. M-Illitant....thank you for one of my favorite verses in Hip Hop
@salsasoul4112
Journey well Malik B 🙏🏾❤
@salsasoul4112
Rest in eternal peace Leonard Hubbard. Master bass player ❤️
@Casatoman
The roots always took me on a spiritual journey
@veronicawhite3826
Yeah, I miss this type a music 🎵🎶🎶🎵!
@Bishopspipes
Their best album. Hands down.
@nylar3577
ill second that motion sir
@TomasDelaNoche
tipping point was pretty damn good
@linkueiwarriorkamaal9876
i disagree
@linkueiwarriorkamaal9876
there best album is illadelph halflife