The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The… Read Full Bio ↴The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy winning hip hop group based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, famed for a heavily jazzy sound and live instrumentation. Inspired by the "hip-hop band" concept pioneered by Stetsasonic, the Roots themselves have garnered critical acclaim and influenced later hip-hop and R&B acts.
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 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 Pow Wow
The Roots Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Roots:
!!!!!!! I woke up in the darkness at twelve seventeen, to…
"What They Do" Never do what they do, what they do, what they…
"You Got Me" If you were worried 'bout where I been or who I…
07 Thought at Work Knocked up nine months ago And what she finna have she…
08 Somebody's Gotta Do It [Chorus] Somebody's gotta be there when it gets ugly Somebod…
100% Dundee One one one one two P-P-5-D Yeah, yeah, P-P-5-D I'm sayin, y…
15 The name of the brother to blame It's quite plain, it's…
68. You Got Me If you were worried 'bout where I been or who I…
75 Bars I'm from the land of them straight razor face beard…
? vs Scratch Thank you Thank you Thank thank you Thank you Listen…
? Vs. Rahzel Come on we gonna do it like something like this…
? Vs. Scratch Thank you Thank you Thank thank you Thank you Listen…
@ 15 The name of the brother to blame It's quite plain, it's…
A Peace Of Light [repeat 5X w/ ad libs] Doo, doo-doo, doo dooooooo (de da…
Act Fore...The End? Yeah yeah yeah, yes I, no doubt yes I (P-5-D) Check…
Act Too What? Hip-hop y'all, to the top y'all Hip-hop check it out I…
Act Too ) Hip-hop y'all, to the top y'all Hip-hop check it out It's li…
Act Too... Love of My Life What? Hip-hop y'all, to the top y'all Hip-hop check it out I…
Act Too...The Love Of My Life Hip-hop y'all, to the top y'all Hip-hop check it out It's li…
Act Too..Love of My life What? Hip-hop y'all, to the top y'all Hip-hop check it out I…
Act Won And you are all But we don't even come to see…
Act Won (Things Fall Apart) You are all... We don't even come to see our own,…
Adrenaline Once again 'gain, ladies and gentlemen, yo adrenaline Yo I'…
Adrénaline [scratch intro] Chorus [black thought and scratch] 2x Once …
Adrenaline! Once again 'gain, ladies and gentlemen, yo adrenaline Yo I'…
Adventreus In Wonderland Fuck, kill, and prosper Is the gospel of Wonderland, where…
Adventures In Wonderland Fuck, kill, and prosper Is the gospel of Wonderland, where…
Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round Ain't gonna let nobody turn me ‘round, Turn me round, turn…
Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New What the fuck, what what what? Nuttin' new, nuttin' new What…
All In The Music Yeah, I'm from the illest part of the Western Hemisphere So…
Anti-Circle Yo I'm tha anti-circle On tha mad train like a rain That's…
Atonement As I wait for atonement Trapped in the heat of the…
Atonement (feat. Jack Davey of J*Davey) (feat. Jack Davey) [Intro/Chorus: Jack Davey - singing] As …
Baby Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Call me baby, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,…
Baby (feat. John-John of Nouveau Riche) (feat. John John) [Black Thought] Slow down when you're hit…
Becoming Unwritten The son won't face the father The gun won't erase the…
Been Thru The Storm From the amazing J. Period Mix Cd! J.Period Exclusive! The…
Birthday Girl [Patrick Strump] What is it we wanna do? Now that I'm allowe…
Black Rock Hey what's for breakfast? Same as yesterday Oh that's right …
Bonus Track Let me tell you what priceless is, some advice to…
Boom Hold your flix, I'm not for the photo op's It's Black,…
Bread And Butter Truck North Yeah, Through the sirens, the lights is…
Break of You Comin' to break you off(beat started, start-started) Comin' …
Break You Off (Dub/Sound Check at Bogart's Cincinnati, OH, 2003) Chorus 2X: Musiq] Comin' to break you off(we gettin' started…
Break You Off ) Comin' to break you off(beat started, start-started) Comin' …
Break You Off feat. Musiq Comin' to break you off(beat started, start-started) Comin'…
Break You Off Ft Musiq Comin' to break you off(beat started, start-started) Comin' …
burn [Havoc] It be a buck-fifty, your chance of runnin is infinte…
Burnin' & Lootin' This morning I woke up in a curfew O God, I…
Can't Stop This Last of the red hot (red hot), lovin' emcees Who came…
Can't Stop Won't Stop Uh....Youngunas...Chris and Neef...chia ....Uh Its officia…
Clock With No Hands Yeah, sitting in the staircase, holding back tears Looking o…
Clock With No Hands (feat. Mercedes Martinez of The Jazzyfatnastees) (feat. Mercedes Martinez) [Black Thought] Yeah, sitting in …
Clocks With No Arms Yeah, sitting in the staircase, holding back tears Looking o…
Clones Yeah, to all the Jim Carrey ass large co-op KnowhatI'msayin?…
Come On He said yeah You better come out with your hands up We…
Common Dust Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust It's Common Dust y'all,…
Complexity [Chorus: x2] I've been wondering about the complexity Of wha…
Complexity (feat. Jill Scott) (Jill Scott) I've been wondering about the Complexity Of wha…
Complexity ) [Chorus: x2] I've been wondering about the complexity Of w…
Concerto of a Desperado The concerto, of the desperado R-double-O-T-S check the flo…
Concerto Of Desperado The concerto, of the desperado R-double-O-T-S check the flow…
Criminal [Chorus] Monday they predict the storm Tuesday they predict …
Criminal (feat. Truck North & Saigon) (Chorus) Monday they predict the storm Tuesday they predict …
Da Lesson Part I Lyrically versatile My rap definition is wild I wrote graffi…
DARE VS. US Yo momma went on moose Our soldiers took 'em all She pulle…
Dat Scat Datskat! I know you dig it when I kick it…
Dave Vs. US Yo momma went on moose Our soldiers took 'em all She pulled…
De La Soul Rey de la casa es Correteando hoy lo vemos crecer, quien Lle…
Dear God Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you Dear God, I…
Diedre vs. Dice Yo, look at all the scavengers All wannabe contenders Dism…
Diedre Vs. Dice ) Yo, look at all the scavengers All wannabe contenders Di…
Din Da Da Yeah yeah yeah yeah (Over here) She got da money She on da…
Distortion To Static Yo, I'm every MC, it's all in me That's the way…
Distortion to Static (Black Thought mix) Verse One: Malik B Yo, I'm every MC, it's all in…
Do You Want More Well I'm a fly Philly nigga, finger on the trigga MCs…
Do You Want More ?!!!??! Well, I'm a fly Philly nigga, finger on the trigga MCs…
Do You Want More?!!!??! ) Well I'm a fly Philly nigga, finger on the trigga MCs…
Doin' It Again I keep it doin' it again Oh, I'm doin' it again Yes,…
Don't Feel Right It don't feel right, don't feel right, can't feel it…
Don't Feel Right Version ) [Chorus] It don't feel right, it don't feel right It don't…
Don't Feel Right (feat. Maimouna Youssef) (feat. Maimouna Youssef) [Chorus] It don't feel right, it d…
Don't Say Yeah! That all mighty amazing, ill, highly contagious Kamika…
Don't Say Nothin' (Verse 1 - Black Thought) Yeah! That all mighty amazing, il…
Don't Say Nuthin Yeah! That all mighty amazing, ill, highly contagious Kamika…
Don't See Us Uh, what what, yo yo P-5-D uncut Check it out,…
Dont Say Nothin Yeah! That all mighty amazing, ill, highly contagious Kamika…
Double Trouble We go wow, ba-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow Either stand tall, just si…
Duck Down Yea we gettin' ready to break y'all it's winner take…
Dun One one one one two P-P-5-D Yeah, yeah, P-P-5-D I'm sayin, y…
Dynamite Uh uh, come on, S-P in the Up north into the…
Dynamite! ) Uh uh, come on, S-P in the Up north into the…
Episodes Better believe it, cause it is coming You won't believe the…
Épisodes [voice in background] Yeah, you in tune to another episode i…
Essaywhuman Bass check 1-2 Keys check 1-2 Drums check 1-2 Its the roo…
False Media [Chorus] America's lost somewhere inside of Littleton Eleven…
Friday Night [Young Chris] Uh-huh, Young Gunnas Whoa Young Gunnas (Young …
Game Theory This is a game, I'm your specimen You've got to let…
Game Theory (feat. Malik B.) (feat. Malik B) [Chorus A] 4X This is a game I'm your speci…
Game Theory feat. Malik B This is a game, I'm your specimen You've got to let…
Get Busy Look my squad's half mandrill half Mandela My band bout seve…
Get Busy (feat. Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi) [Verse 1 - Black Thought] Look my squad's half mandrill half…
Glitches [Chorus] You live, you die And spend the years in between…
Good Music Peace to all the hip cats, all the nappy sweets…
Good Music (Prelude) [?uestlove] Peace to all the hip cats, all the nappy sweets …
Grapes On a Vine Ooh (Oh, oh, oh) Mm (oh, oh) Oh (Oh, oh) Oh whoa (Oh, oh-oh)…
Grits Yo Malik Blunt Whassup? Tell me how you like your…
Guns Are Drawn Yeah it would be cool it could be too Stop running…
Here I Come He said yeah You better come out with your hands up We…
How I Got Over Uh, uh Uh, uh-huh Out in the streets where I grew up First…
Hustla Let me tell you what priceless is, some advice to…
Hypnotic feat. D'Angelo Erykah Badu (The hypnotic, the hypnotic) Yo, I knew this girl named Ala…
I Can Why do I shake when things slow down? I don’t think…
I Can't Help It [Chorus: Mercedes Martinez] I, I, I can't help it, I, I,…
I Can't Help It (feat. Malik B., Porn, Mercedes Martinez & Dice Raw) {Chorus} (Mercedes Martinez) I..I.. I can’t help it, I..I.. …
I Can't Help It ) [Chorus: Mercedes Martinez] I, I, I can't help it, I, I,…
I Don't Care I don't care, as long as the bassline's pumpin' The drumline…
I Just Don't Stop Dig it, this world is filled with homicides and rape All…
I Remain Calm I remain calm, lyrically I got the bomb, when you…
I Remember I drew a 2 of hearts from a deck of…
I Will Not Apologize [Chorus: (Dice Raw) Talib Kweli] (I will not apologize) I wi…
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be…
I'm Out Deah Uh, the molecular mass Of that rhythmic ass grass Is organic…
In The Music Yeah, I'm from the illest part of the Western Hemisphere So…
Intro The Hamilton Mixtape You ever see a painting by John Trumbu…
Intro / There's Something Goin' On And you are all, you are all About to witness Some organic…
Intro/There's Something Goin' On There's something goin' on There's something goin' on We l…
It Ain't Fair Oh brother, hmm It's still a mystery, yeah Will you hear my…
It Just Don Dig it, this world is filled with homicides and rape All…
It's All About You When we first met stole my heart away Your love was incred…
It's Comin' The Roots is comin' [16X] [Black Thought] I rip the voca…
Ital (Everybody reppin' from the Illadelph side) From the Illadel…
and many more tracks by The Roots.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Gr00vy Abzu
dam i never looked at it that deeply lol but you make an incredible point
Gr00vy Abzu
ok last question and if its hard 4 u 2 answer its coo cuz that will b all the more reason 4 me 2 constantly go on my search 4 the greatest hip hop that kills rap quest wat is the true difference between rap and hip hop and wat theme does hip hop represent cuz ive listened 2 rap and all i hear is shitty ass music especially compared 2 the roots cuz there awesome plz reply cuz im tired of tellin everybody how much better it is but not truly knowing its full meaning
Pimpin
hip hop is what you call the genre of music where someone raps. Rappin is the way one rhymes words to create a rhythmic poem or song. rap is the exact same as poetry so musically you call it hip hop.
The Kuz Giacometti
This is a good question. @Neez Duts is sort of in the ballpark, but makes the mistake of labeling hip-hop a genre. "Rap" is certainly poetry, at heart. The genre of rap is poetry on top of music. That does not make all rap hip-hop, because hip-hop is a living culture. Hip-hop pulls on many other cultures and knits them together into a new form—which is hip-hop. Musically, hip-hop SOUNDS like a couple of things: hip-hop production (think Madlib beats or The Roots' music) and then the rap. Also included in hip-hop is breaking, graffiti, and turntablism (which fits inside of production). Consider the fact that anyone in the world can write a rap and make a beat and put them together and have a rap song—and yet, that person didn't necessarily create hip-hop, they probably just made a shitty rap song. Hip-hop is "a culture of artistic standards that only get better with time," to quote A.C. The P.D. If you are interested in the culture, I suggest you try listening to HipHop Philosophy Radio: http://hiphopphilosophy.com/index.php/on-air/#page-content
Peace
Pimpin
@The Kuz Giacometti ah yea i apologize i knew this its just been awhile since i remembered ,yes your right. Hip hop is a culture that consist of different forms of art from rhythm and poetry (rap) to the vast different styles of productions (Grandmaster flash to mf doom to metro boomin) and with things like visual art graffiti and physical art like break dancin and b-boyin or girlin. And the interwinin of other cultures like rock and the subgenres within it and others like psychedelic and alternative music to jazz. Basically rapping is rhythmic poetry and hip hop is a culture of what me and kuz stated. Thanks man.
Pimpin
@The Kuz Giacometti who are ya favorite rappers if u dont mind me askin? since you seem know alot about hip hop its always interestin to ask that question with people like you.
The Kuz Giacometti
@Pimpin Oh, man, now that's too hard to answer... but I'll try. My all-time go-to is Rakim. Up there with Rakim: Kool G Rap, Kool Keith, Slick Rick, KRS-One, MF DOOM, BDK. Those dudes reinvented rhyming. Then the super-rhymers: Black Thought, Masta Ace, Jean Grae, Native Tongues, Black Star, JAY-Z, Chuck D, Biggie, Hieroglyphics, Dungeon Family, Project Blowed, Nas, Percee P, Organized Konfusion, Wu-Tang, D.I.T.C., Geto Boys. There are so many amazing lyricists to learn from, so everyone takes notes from them and perfects the craft. The latest generations of lyricists are amazing too: Mach-Hommy, Mick Jenkins, Shawn Smith, Roc Marciano, Griselda, TDE, Armand Hammer, Lil Ugly Mane, Earl Sweatshirt, Jay Elec, RTJ, Pivot Gang, CRIMEAPPLE, Freddie Gibbs, Quelle Chris, Oswin Benjamin, Flatbush Zombies, Dreamville, R.A.P. Ferreira, Rapsody, Lupe Fiasco, Oh No, clipping., Tha God Fahim, The K-town Oddity, Aesop Rock, Your Old Droog, Tobe Nwigwe... and I'll stop myself there.
x m a h o u
this is googles link for this song
Gr00vy Abzu
so who was doin all the yellin
Ginga
@Marijuaninja Questlove