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 Good The Bad & The Desolate
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now this one is dedicated to the good the bad and the desolated. And the
Roots crew you know them lyrically orientated program you lose in life
Instantly? Were like acid we burn you. Watch a rude bwoy now.
Black thought:
Yo you should see some of these cats that vocalize
They get props from they local guys and try to raise
They blind and wasn't as wise and fail to realize the com-
Plectual sexual side of the rhyme
When I make love to the mic the crowd respond
Your promoter love the vocal over dub when I control the club
So throw your hands up in the air show your love
We waste not the bangingest beats but make use
The roots get you open like parachutes
Yo who in the house only deal with hip hop that's authentic?
Back to renovate your state of mind for a minute
Its I, bad lieutenant represent fine lye
Delphia empire fifth dynasty
Your third eye couldn't wait for you to relate to what I activate
While the fake spectate
I'm less then immpressive for beyond stressin
And battle as a reveloutionary adolescent
But now in the present with fake masters of ceremonies yo that's phoney
Youll get capped with colonial force that of a cannon
Examinin the compact disc to start rammin
To put the diagram in effect and get fly
On immature mcs who try
Wake em up outta they high school high
Shakny don:
Yo bumbading bumdadabedang
The roots crew boy we mash things again
Bumbading ripapadededang the roots crew bwoy we runnin back again
Bumbading dumdadadedang the roots boy dem run the island
Bumbading ripadededang look? I mash up the scene
Malik b (m-illa-tant):
I blast off the roof to prove she lay in there blazed
Enslaved by the soundwaves as the skills amaze
Insight skin type annalitic cause I live it
My? Brow pivot over your style like give it
The lyricism I'm contemplatinng your neighborhood or legion
Brutalize your section stalk your whole region
When you blink it's hell then you drink sifendale
You wonder what's goin inside of my thinkin cells
We bomb like militias I'm trying to stack riches
Look first comes the money the power then the [?]
They all will bring you down but I milliant the sound
With a bargaid of pirate raps that's running through your town
Surrounded by a wise dome my ledge knows horizons
I keep at a distance confused and feel cyclones
You know I'm trying to make it because I probably take it
Hustlin stickin pickin it or scrape it
Tracks appeal that's why I'm trying to mack a mil
I stay sedated worth a zantac that's a pill
It gets hectic that's why niggas try to exit
Stress relates to those who walk around protected
Shanky don:
Yo bumbading ripadingdedingdedang
The roots crew man dem mash up the scene
Bumbading bumdadadedang the roots crew man is running back again
Bumbading ripadingdedingdedang
The roots crew man them come back again
Bumbading bumdadadedang the roots crew man they run the islang
Dice raw:
Naw nigga what's up then? Thanks for the man outroduction
Go ask your girl inside my world is the duction
No frontin finger on the button of destruction
Play nice like entice and keep your styles on the hush and
Step inside the illafifth dungeon
Where it smells of pungent
The underwater the brotherly lovin
Where crabs get knocked out respect from
Brought back to the lab were the scientist will dissect em
The old heads sniffin start bitchin when we testin
Interupting my class when my class is in session
Was when I manifestin or come to teach a lesson
What's inside of my dome I'll have all you clones guessin
Lets begin as the color gets tossed in with the pen
It feels good that's when you know it's a sin
Everytime I rhyme I might get charged for murder
Slicing your back with rap turn a brain into burger
Lyrically I shot with radioactive waves
Like kolby and big kev on fridays
Your styles older than dolo we on the top of?
Claim to gettin over but you aint makin quota
Shanky don:
Bumbading bumdadadedang the roots crew man they mash up the lane
Bumbading bumdadadedang this a poor rap boy you might not see again
Bumbading bumdadadedang the roots crew man they run things again
Bumbading bumdadadedang rufugee camp step on thee scene
Bumdading bumdadadedang
The Roots' song "The Good The Bad & The Desolate" is a tribute to those who have been through difficult times, whether good or bad. The song opens with a dedication to those who have been desolated, and continues with Black Thought's verse about the intellectual and sexual side of rhyming. He boasts about how he controls the club and gets the crowd to respond, and how The Roots crew burns those who try to come against them. Malik B's verse continues the theme of lyricism, with a focus on brutalizing his neighborhood and stacking riches. Dice Raw's verse brings a more aggressive tone, with references to murder and slicing backs with rap. The song ends with another dedication to The Roots crew, who are running things again.
The lyrics of "The Good The Bad & The Desolate" convey The Roots' confidence and skill as a rap group. They are not afraid to call out those who try to come against them and boast about their lyrical abilities. The dedication to those who have been through difficult times adds a layer of depth and empathy to the song. Overall, the song is a testament to The Roots' artistry and their ability to dominate the rap scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Now this one is dedicated to the good the bad and the desolated.
This song is a tribute to those who have experienced both positive and negative moments in life and those who feel isolated or alone.
Yo you should see some of these cats that vocalize
You would be amazed to see how some people express themselves through music.
They get props from they local guys and try to raise
They receive praise from people in their community and try to elevate their status.
Speaching through the mic like yo I apologize
Speaking through the microphone, they express regret for their past actions.
They blind and wasn't as wise and fail to realize the com-Plectual sexual side of the rhyme
They were ignorant and lacked wisdom, failing to understand the intellectual and sensual aspects of their lyrics.
When I make love to the mic the crowd respond
When I passionately perform and connect with the microphone, the audience reacts positively.
Your promoter love the vocal over dub when I control the club
The event organizer appreciates the overdubbing of vocals when I take control of the club.
So throw your hands up in the air show your love
Raise your hands in the air to show your admiration and support.
We waste not the bangingest beats but make use
We don't waste the most energetic beats; instead, we utilize them effectively.
The roots get you open like parachutes
The Roots, as a group, captivate and excite their audience like a parachute opening.
Yo who in the house only deal with hip hop that's authentic?
Who here appreciates and engages with genuine, true hip-hop?
Back to renovate your state of mind for a minute
Returning to positively transform your mindset for a brief period.
Its I, bad lieutenant represent fine lye
I, the bad lieutenant, represent high-quality and potent lyrics.
Delphia empire fifth dynasty
The Roots represent the fifth dynasty of the Philadelphia hip-hop empire.
Your third eye couldn't wait for you to relate to what I activate
Your higher perception couldn't wait for you to connect with and understand the impact of what I bring to life.
While the fake spectate
Meanwhile, those who are inauthentic merely observe from the sidelines.
I'm less then immpressive for beyond stressin
I am unimpressed by anything less than extraordinary and more focused on overcoming stress.
And battle as a reveloutionary adolescent
I fought as a revolutionary during my adolescent years.
But now in the present with fake masters of ceremonies yo that's phoney
But in the present, dealing with fake MCs pretending to be masters of ceremonies, it's all fake.
Youll get capped with colonial force that of a cannon
You will be suppressed and dominated forcefully, like the power of a cannon.
Examinin the compact disc to start rammin
Analyzing the compact disc to begin playing and captivating the audience.
To put the diagram in effect and get fly
To execute the plan and start exciting the crowd.
On immature mcs who try Wake em up outta they high school high
Targeting juvenile MCs who are still stuck in their high school mindset, trying to wake them up and elevate their lyrical skills.
Bumbading bumdadabedang The roots crew boy we mash things again
The Roots crew, with their unique style and energy, dominate and excel once again.
Bumbading ripapadededang the roots crew bwoy we runnin back again
The Roots crew, like a powerful force, are making a strong comeback.
Bumbading dumdadadedang the roots boy dem run the island
The Roots, as a collective, have established themselves as the leaders in the music scene.
Bumbading ripadededang look? I mash up the scene
I, with my explosive performance and presence, disrupt and energize the entire music scene.
I blast off the roof to prove she lay in there blazed
I deliver an explosive performance that leaves the audience amazed and in a state of euphoria.
Enslaved by the soundwaves as the skills amaze
The mesmerizing soundwaves and remarkable skills in my music captivate and dominate.
Insight skin type annalitic cause I live it
Providing profound understanding and analysis in my lyrics because I truly live and experience it.
My? Brow pivot over your style like give it
My creative and critical perspective exceeds and influences your style.
The lyricism I'm contemplatinng your neighborhood or legion
With my lyrical prowess, I am considering the impact on your community or group.
Brutalize your section stalk your whole region
I aggressively attack and dominate your specific area of influence and extend my influence throughout the entire region.
When you blink it's hell then you drink sifendale
When you close your eyes, you experience chaos, and then you consume the essence of my music to find solace.
You wonder what's goin inside of my thinkin cells
You are curious about the depths of my thoughts and creative process.
We bomb like militias I'm trying to stack riches
We explosively attack and dominate like revolutionaries, while also aiming to accumulate wealth.
Look first comes the money the power then the [?]
In this industry, financial success and influence come before everything else.
They all will bring you down but I milliant the sound
Others will try to bring you down, but I use my music as a powerful force to prevail.
With a bargaid of pirate raps that's running through your town
Delivering a surge of rebellious and captivating rap lyrics that quickly spread through your town.
Surrounded by a wise dome my ledge knows horizons
Enclosed within a circle of wisdom, my knowledge expands far beyond what can be seen.
I keep at a distance confused and feel cyclones
I maintain a certain level of distance, feeling disoriented and caught in the turbulence of life's storms.
You know I'm trying to make it because I probably take it
You are aware of my relentless pursuit of success, even if it means seizing opportunities.
Hustlin stickin pickin it or scrape it
I am hustling and making the most out of every opportunity, regardless of how challenging or undesirable it may be.
Tracks appeal that's why I'm trying to mack a mil
My music has widespread appeal, and that's why I am striving to earn millions.
I stay sedated worth a zantac that's a pill
I remain calm and composed, valuable like the medication Zantac, which provides relief.
It gets hectic that's why niggas try to exit
Things become chaotic, which is why people attempt to escape or disengage.
Stress relates to those who walk around protected
Stress is associated with those who live with defensive walls protecting them.
Naw nigga what's up then? Thanks for the man outroduction
Hey, what's going on? Thanks for the formal introduction, my friend.
Go ask your girl inside my world is the duction
Go inquire with your girlfriend about the captivating experience of being inside my world.
No frontin finger on the button of destruction
I'm not pretending; I am ready and capable of pressing the button that brings utter devastation.
Play nice like entice and keep your styles on the hush and
Behave politely, enticing others with your unique style, and maintaining an air of secrecy.
Step inside the illafifth dungeon
Enter the realm of the Illafifth crew, a dark and mysterious place.
Where it smells of pungent
A place that emits a strong and overwhelming odor.
The underwater the brotherly lovin
In this deep and submerged world, there exists a strong bond of brotherhood.
Where crabs get knocked out respect from
Where individuals who exhibit crab-like behavior are quickly subdued and disregarded.
Brought back to the lab were the scientist will dissect em
These individuals are metaphorically brought to a laboratory where skilled analysts meticulously examine and understand them.
The old heads sniffin start bitchin when we testin
The older generation, who are critical and resistant to change, start complaining when we push the boundaries.
Interupting my class when my class is in session
Disrupting my performance and trying to challenge me while I am showcasing my talent.
Was when I manifestin or come to teach a lesson
This is when I am fully expressing myself or imparting a valuable lesson.
What's inside of my dome I'll have all you clones guessin
The inner workings of my mind will leave all imitators and replicas bewildered.
Lets begin as the color gets tossed in with the pen
Let's embark on this journey as we infuse our unique perspectives into our creations.
It feels good that's when you know it's a sin
When something feels pleasurable and exciting, that's when you know it's going against societal norms or expectations.
Everytime I rhyme I might get charged for murder
Every time I craft a rhyme, it has the potential to be so impactful that it could be compared to committing murder.
Slicing your back with rap turn a brain into burger
With my powerful and incisive lyrics, I have the ability to completely transform someone's mindset or understanding.
Lyrically I shot with radioactive waves
I unleash lyrics that are so potent and impactful, they emit metaphorical waves of radioactivity.
Like kolby and big kev on fridays
Similar to the energy and enthusiasm of Kolby and Big Kev on their radio show on Fridays.
Your styles older than dolo we on the top of?
Your outdated style pales in comparison to ours; we are at the peak of our game.
Claim to gettin over but you aint makin quota
You brag about your success, but you're not meeting the expectations or quotas set.
Bumbading ripadingdedingdedang The roots crew man dem mash up the lane
The Roots crew, with their distinct style and energy, dominate and excel in their field.
Bumbading bumdadadedang this a poor rap boy you might not see again
This is a verse from a rapper who may not receive much attention or recognition in the future.
Bumbading bumdadadedang the roots crew man they run things again
The Roots crew, once again, assert their control and influence in the music industry.
Bumbading bumdadadedang rufugee camp step on thee scene
The Refugee camp, a group associated with The Roots, arrives with force and takes over the scene.
Bumdading bumdadadedang
A powerful and energetic sound that represents the impact and dominance of The Roots crew.
Contributed by Henry S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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!