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 Coming
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Again racing for the fall
Close My eyes but I never wonder
I have seen it all
They don't remember
Was it coming was it going
Running from the sun
I'm coming
Take my chance my footsteps in the road
No one sees and no one knows
I'm coming
I'm coming
I'm coming
I hear somebody screaming
Again racing for the fall
Close My eyes but I never wonder
I have seen it all
The lyrics to The Roots song "The Coming" speak to the feeling of inevitability and the need to push forward despite hardships. The opening lines set a chaotic scene, with someone screaming and racing toward a fall, but the singer seems unfazed. They have seen it all before and know that they cannot control everything that happens around them. The repetition of "I'm coming" throughout the song seems to indicate a determination to face whatever comes their way, even if they do not know what it is.
The second verse speaks to the idea that some things are forgotten, come and go, but there is always another challenge to face. The line "Running from the sun" may reference the fleeting nature of time and how we cannot escape it. However, the singer is still determined to push forward, to take chances and make their mark on the world. The repetition of "I'm coming" reinforces this idea of someone who will not be deterred.
The overall message of the song seems to be one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The singer knows that there will always be challenges and hardships, but they are committed to facing them head-on. The repetition of "I'm coming" throughout the song serves as an anthem for anyone who has faced difficult times and refused to give up.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear somebody screaming
I am aware of the sounds of distress and fear around me.
Again racing for the fall
Despite repeated warnings and the inevitability of danger, people continue to make reckless and harmful choices.
Close My eyes but I never wonder
I have become desensitized to the tragedies that I witness and I no longer feel the need to question why they occur.
I have seen it all
Through repeated exposure to negative and tragic events, I have lost hope and am resigned to the inevitability of suffering.
They don't remember
Others refuse to acknowledge the past or learn from previous mistakes.
Was it coming was it going
People are unsure of what the future holds and whether they are facing their problems or running from them.
Running from the sun
People are trying to escape the harsh realities of life and are blinded by their own fears.
Listen through the morning
Despite the darkness and despair, there's always a glimmer of hope if one can only listen and pay attention.
I'm coming
I am ready to face whatever comes my way, no matter how difficult or challenging.
Take my chance my footsteps in the road
I am willing to take risks and try new things, even if the path ahead is uncertain.
No one sees and no one knows
I am moving through life on my own, without support or recognition from others.
I'm coming
I have the courage and determination to face my fears and overcome whatever obstacles come my way.
I'm coming
I am determined to move forward, to keep pushing myself to grow and to evolve.
I'm coming
Despite the struggles and setbacks that lie ahead, I am confident in my ability to overcome them and to continue moving forward with purpose and determination.
I hear somebody screaming
Despite my best efforts, the suffering and pain of others is still a constant presence in my life.
Again racing for the fall
Despite the fact that they know better, people continue to make choices that lead them towards greater risk and danger.
Close My eyes but I never wonder
Though I may seem apathetic or disengaged, I am still deeply affected by the tragedies and struggles of those around me.
I have seen it all
Through my own experiences and my interactions with others, I have witnessed the full extent of human suffering and struggle.
Lyrics © CHARLIE DEITCHER PROD INC
Written by: D. D. JACKSON, GREGORY ALLEN JR. SPEARMAN, JOSEPH SIMMONS, KARL B. JENKINS
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!