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.
The 'notic
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
I knew this girl named Alana with mad persona
She delt with reality never fed it to the drama
I met her through my nigga named Jermaine Palmer
Who knew her through his peoples by the Baltimore harbor
Alana was a Marylan' thurough and attractive
Shorty that's relaxed with me and kickin back
Wif a phat flick to cool out
Was stressed cause the game'll make you wanna pull a tool out
And go the old school route
But all-a that cease - when that piece checkin the jewel out
A bruver was charged - light a spliff and listen to the dabarge
Let the shorty hit me wif a massage to annoint
Lubricatin my maridian points that was the Summer easy to remember
Alana was all up on - to read the gender how I used to back bender
She even told her best friend Blinda from Virginia
Who asked me if I had a cousin I could recomend-a
But as time float on we grew more mature - and further apart
When I began to do tours, we lost contact
And slowly parted - reminissin of when it started
It keep me feelin heavy hearted - a stolen moment periodic
Addicted to her presence like a narcotic
Though I wonder if she ever got it - the hypnotic
That faded like a dream sequence that pursuaded
Beyond being infatuated - spiritually intoxicated
Comps are dated - I concentrated
On how to get in touch with her
Cuase the fact of the matter remain that I miss the hypnotic
Driftin (driftin)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
(The hypnotic, the hypnotic)
Driftin ------- (driftin)
I would begin to dial -
Her number but knowin it's been awhile it's hard to link
I figure what she probly think and soon start to drink
Fightin the feelin I'm concealin apparently I first appealin
Later revealin to be deeper - resistance increasingly weaker
The essence of life is more than just mic's and puffin reefa
This universe of Black Thought that I can teach ya
I'm tryin to touch ya only if I can reach ya
I hit this kid I sign up on his beepa
And ask him if a had a chance to speak ta
Jermaine Palmer who fathers a preacha
To make the story short me and my man soon ran
Into each other von the humble at a show in San Fran
I said "Yo Palma, when did you last see Alana"?
He offer me a seat and attempts to make me calma
When he began to break it down my mind start to wander
Response beyond somber incredible crushed
Kinda feelin on my shoulder - that of a boulder
To find out that her life was over - it made the room feel colder
I thought I could get wif her when she was a little older
But she a victim of the wicked system that controlled-a it's all chaotic
But if my life it's symbolic forever shadow on my mental I never forgot it
Yo the psycotic, the hypnotic check it out the Most Melodic hypnotic
Driftin
Driftin
The Roots's song The 'notic is a nostalgic and melancholic anthem about a lost love named Alana. The hypnotic repetition of the word "hypnotic" throughout the track serves as a metaphor for the mesmerizing hold that Alana had on the rapper's heart and mind. The song starts with an introduction of Alana's character, describing her as someone who dealt with reality but never fed it to the drama, and met her through a mutual friend. The rapper remembers the good times they shared, including relaxing and watching a movie together, a time when he cherished her presence like a narcotic.
However, as time went by and he began his music career, they lost touch and slowly parted ways. The rapper reflects on the stolen moments with Alana and reminisces further into the past when they first met. He tries to get in touch with her but finds out that she had passed away. The song ends with the rapper confronting his feelings and realizing that he would never forget Alana and the hypnotic hold she had over him.
The 'notic is a song that speaks to the universal experience of nostalgic longing, heartbreak, and the pain of letting go. The hypnotic beat and repetitive melody create an immersive listening experience that captures the feeling of being lost in a memory.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo,
The singer is addressing the audience to tell a story
I knew this girl named Alana with mad persona
The singer met a girl named Alana who had a great personality
She delt with reality never fed it to the drama
Alana was able to handle life's challenges without creating unnecessary conflicts
I met her through my nigga named Jermaine Palmer
The artist was introduced to Alana by his friend Jermaine
Who knew her through his peoples by the Baltimore harbor
Jermaine knew Alana through people he knew at a harbor in Baltimore
Alana was a Marylan' thurough and attractive
Alana was from Maryland and was both thorough and physically attractive
Shorty that's relaxed with me and kickin back
Alana was comfortable and able to relax around the singer
Wif a phat flick to cool out
Alana had a good movie to watch to help her relax
Was stressed cause the game'll make you wanna pull a tool out
Alana was stressed because of the dangerous environment she lived in
And go the old school route
She felt like she needed to resort to violence to protect herself
But all-a that cease - when that piece checkin the jewel out
Her desire to use violence stopped when she realized that it wouldn't solve anything
A bruver was charged - light a spliff and listen to the dabarge
The artist and Alana smoked together and listened to music to relax
Let the shorty hit me wif a massage to annoint
The massage helped relieve the singer's stress
Lubricatin my maridian points that was the Summer easy to remember
The massage helped the singer relax and recall a good memory
Alana was all up on - to read the gender how I used to back bender
Alana was attracted to the singer and wanted to know more about him
She even told her best friend Blinda from Virginia
Alana talked to her friend from Virginia about the artist
Who asked me if I had a cousin I could recomend-a
Alana's friend asked the artist if he could introduce her to someone else
But as time float on we grew more mature - and further apart
The singer and Alana grew apart over time as they got older
When I began to do tours, we lost contact
The singer lost contact with Alana when his music career took off
And slowly parted - reminissin of when it started
The artist and Alana still thought about each other despite growing apart
It keep me feelin heavy hearted - a stolen moment periodic
The artist was saddened by the loss of their relationship and cherished their memories
Addicted to her presence like a narcotic
The artist was emotionally attached to Alana
Though I wonder if she ever got it - the hypnotic
The singer wonders if Alana understood the connection they had
That faded like a dream sequence that pursuaded
Their connection felt like a fleeting dream
Beyond being infatuated - spiritually intoxicated
Their connection was more than just physical attraction, it was a spiritual experience
Comps are dated - I concentrated
The singer focused on reconnecting with Alana
On how to get in touch with her
The singer wanted to find a way to contact Alana
Cuase the fact of the matter remain that I miss the hypnotic
The artist missed the spiritual connection he had with Alana
Driftin
The artist drifts off in thought
I would begin to dial -
The singer considers calling Alana
Her number but knowin it's been awhile it's hard to link
The singer hesitates to call Alana because it's been so long since they talked
I figure what she probly think and soon start to drink
The artist wonders what Alana will think and starts drinking to ease his anxiety
Fightin the feelin I'm concealin apparently I first appealin
The artist is trying to fight his emotions and hide his true feelings
Later revealin to be deeper - resistance increasingly weaker
The artist realizes that his emotions are stronger than he thought and he can't hide them
The essence of life is more than just mic's and puffin reefa
The singer realizes that there is more to life than just music and smoking weed
This universe of Black Thought that I can teach ya
The artist has knowledge and wisdom to share with others
I'm tryin to touch ya only if I can reach ya
The singer wants to reconnect with Alana but is unsure if it's possible
I hit this kid I sign up on his beepa
The singer contacts someone he knows to try to get in touch with Alana
And ask him if a had a chance to speak ta
The singer asks the person to help him get in touch with Alana
Jermaine Palmer who fathers a preacha
The person the artist contacts is related to Jermaine, who is a preacher
To make the story short me and my man soon ran
The artist and his friend coincidentally ran into Jermaine
Into each other von the humble at a show in San Fran
They ran into each other at a humble show in San Francisco
I said "Yo Palma, when did you last see Alana"?
The singer asks Jermaine if he has seen Alana recently
He offer me a seat and attempts to make me calma
Jermaine tries to calm the artist down by offering him a seat
When he began to break it down my mind start to wander
Jermaine tells the artist what happened to Alana and the artist starts to think about their past
Response beyond somber incredible crushed
The news about Alana's fate is devastating to the artist
Kinda feelin on my shoulder - that of a boulder
The news weighs heavily on the singer's mind
To find out that her life was over - it made the room feel colder
The realization that Alana is gone makes the atmosphere somber
I thought I could get wif her when she was a little older
The singer hoped to reconnect with Alana in the future
But she a victim of the wicked system that controlled-a it's all chaotic
Alana fell victim to the chaos of a corrupt system
But if my life it's symbolic forever shadow on my mental I never forgot it
The impact of Alana's life will stay with the singer forever
Yo the psycotic, the hypnotic check it out the Most Melodic hypnotic
The power of their connection was both emotional and spiritual
Driftin
The artist drifts off in thought
Driftin
The singer drifts off in thought again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PHILIP BAILEY, PHILIP JAMES BAILEY, TARIK L COLLINS, LORENZO DUNN, LORENZO RUSSELL DUNN, JAMES JASON POYSER, AHMIR THOMAS, MAURICE WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidschneider9687
I discovered this song when I was 11 years old on the MIB album, seemingly by accident. Almost 21 years later, I'm still listening to this song.
@lexBhere
Dope
@marvsnindo323
Same here
@jesssymington6759
Yes im an alien
@sroland3533
Well hey am sorry am so late but even tho I am a De' Angelo Fan I only heard this trk abt 2 or 3yrs ago while listening a best of De' Angelo mix and I searched and hunted and cudnt find the trk, then abt 1 to 2wks ago the voice hit me and I said yow tht sounds like " Black Thought " bcse wen I first strtd looking my thoughts were D and Common and I still over looked the female voice bcse wen I now searched for D ft Blk thought here it pops up sayn Erykah Badu as well and I was like ...... yow Dummy how cud you miss or over look Erykah's voice but hey this trk is AWESOME from BEGINNING TO END. The Music The Singers The Lyrics yow .... AWESOME.
@invadingminds
Me too. I was in 4th grade and my friend sold me her MIB cd for $5 lol
@jacobsober1158
Black thought a lyrical genius
@ccayao3723
Best rapper alive... On God!!!
@redreets
This is pure bliss to my ears. Heaven on a plate :-)
@rileyosiris4915
Soulquarians, Stand Up! 2023 🤲🏽🔥