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 Seed
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what she's fittin' to have she don't know
She wants neo soul cause hip hop is old
She don't want no rock and roll
She want platinum, ice and gold
She want a whole lot of somethin' to fold
If you a obstacle she just drop you cold
'Cause one monkey don't stop the show
In these streets she done ran
Ever since when the heat began
I told the girl, look here
Calm down I'mma hold your hand
To enable you to keep the plan
'Cause you was quick to learn
And we can make money to burn
If you allow me the latest game
I don't ask for much but enough room to spread my wings
And a world fittin' to know my name
I don't ask, for much these days
And I don't bitch and whine if I don't get my way
I only want to fertilize another behind my lover's back
I sit and watch it grow standin' where I'm at
Fertilize another behind my lovers back
And I'm keeping my secrets mine
I push my seed in her bush for life
It's gonna work because I'm pushin' it right
If Mary dropped my baby girl tonight I would name her rock and roll
Cadillac needs space to roam
Where we headin' for she don't know
We in the city where the pro shake rattle and roll
And I'm a god dang rollin' stone
I don't beg, I can hold my own
I don't break, I can hold a chrome
And it's weighin' a ton and I'm a son of a gun
My code name is the only one
And Black Thought is bad
These streets he done ran ever since when the game began
I never played the fool
Matter of fact I've been keeping it cool
Since money been changin' hands
And I'm left to shine, the legacy I leave behind be the seed that'll keep the flame
I don't ask for much but enough room to spread these wings
And a world fittin' to know my name, now listen to me
I don't beg from a rich man
And I don't scream and kick when his shit don't fall in my hands, man
'Cause I know how to still
Fertilize another against my lovers will
I lick the opposition cause she don't take no pill
Oh you know the deal you'll be keeping my legend alive
I push my seed in her bush for life
It's gonna work because I'm pushin' it right
If Mary drops my baby girl tonight I would name her rock 'n roll
Oh break it down, down for me
I push my seed somewhere deep in her chest
I push it naked cause I've takin' my test
Deliverin' Mary it don't matter the sex
I'm gonna name it rock 'n roll
I push my seed in her bush for life
It's gonna work because I'm pushin' it right
If Mary drops my baby girl tonight
I would name her rock 'n roll
I would name her rock 'n roll
I would name her rock 'n roll
I would name it rock 'n roll
The Roots' song "The Seed" is a story about a man named the Black Thought who fell in love with a woman named Mary. Little Mary is a tough girl who ran the streets and "done ran ever since when the heat began." The singer of the story tells her to calm down and promises to hold her hand to get her to where she wants to go. The chorus is a repetition of how the singer pushes his seed in Mary's bush for life because he is pushing it the right way, which means he will have a child that is going to be something special. He even confesses that he would name his daughter rock and roll if Mary has a baby girl that night. Overall, the song is about how the singer is confident about his abilities and his future, and he trusts that his seed will thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
Knocked up nine months ago
A woman became pregnant nine months ago.
And what she's fittin' to have she don't know
The pregnant woman does not know what she will have.
She wants neo soul cause hip hop is old
She prefers neo soul music because hip hop is outdated.
She don't want no rock and roll
She dislikes rock and roll music.
She want platinum, ice and gold
She desires extravagant material possessions.
She want a whole lot of somethin' to fold
She wants abundance of money to spend and save.
If you a obstacle she just drop you cold
She will cut off anyone who gets in the way of her goals.
'Cause one monkey don't stop the show
One person's absence will not halt progress or success.
Little Mary's bad
A woman named Mary is rebellious and misbehaves.
In these streets she done ran
Mary is streetwise and experienced.
Ever since when the heat began
Mary has been tough and resilient since the beginning of her struggles.
I told the girl, look here
Someone advises Mary.
Calm down I'mma hold your hand
The advisor will help and guide Mary.
To enable you to keep the plan
To help Mary execute her plans successfully.
'Cause you was quick to learn
Mary is intelligent and learns quickly.
And we can make money to burn
Together, they can make a lot of money.
If you allow me the latest game
The advisor wants Mary to trust and follow their lead.
I don't ask for much but enough room to spread my wings
The advisor wants freedom to pursue their dreams.
And a world fittin' to know my name
The advisor seeks fame and recognition for their accomplishments.
I don't ask, for much these days
The advisor's desires and requests are minimal.
And I don't bitch and whine if I don't get my way
The advisor is not the type to complain if things do not go their way.
I only want to fertilize another behind my lover's back
The advisor wants to have a child with someone else without their current partner's knowledge.
I sit and watch it grow standin' where I'm at
The advisor confidently watches their plan unfold from their current position.
Fertilize another behind my lovers back
Continuation of the previous line.
And I'm keeping my secrets mine
The advisor is keeping their intentions private.
I push my seed in her bush for life
The advisor is confident that the child they conceive will have a long and successful life.
It's gonna work because I'm pushin' it right
The advisor is certain that their plan will work if executed properly.
If Mary dropped my baby girl tonight I would name her rock and roll
The advisor has a name in mind for the child they hope to conceive with someone else.
Cadillac needs space to roam
The advisor needs freedom and room to explore.
Where we headin' for she don't know
The advisor and Mary's plan or destination is unknown to Mary.
We in the city where the pro shake rattle and roll
The advisor and Mary are in a busy city where people are busy and active.
And I'm a god dang rollin' stone
The advisor is a carefree wanderer who is always on the move.
I don't beg, I can hold my own
The advisor does not need to depend on others and is self-sufficient.
I don't break, I can hold a chrome
The advisor is tough and unbreakable.
And it's weighin' a ton and I'm a son of a gun
The task at hand is challenging, but the advisor is determined and confident in their abilities.
My code name is the only one
The advisor is unique and has a distinct identity.
And Black Thought is bad
Black Thought is a talented musician.
These streets he done ran ever since when the game began
Black Thought has been successful and active in the music industry since its inception.
I never played the fool
The advisor has never made foolish decisions.
Matter of fact I've been keeping it cool
The advisor has been calm, collected, and calculated.
Since money been changin' hands
Since the music industry has become profitable, the advisor has adapted and capitalized.
And I'm left to shine, the legacy I leave behind be the seed that'll keep the flame
The advisor hopes to leave a lasting impact and legacy in the music industry.
Oh you know the deal you'll be keeping my legend alive
Others will continue to talk about and remember the advisor's success and accomplishments.
I push my seed somewhere deep in her chest
The advisor is purposefully impregnating someone.
I push it naked cause I've takin' my test
The advisor is confident in their abilities, even when putting themselves in a vulnerable position.
Deliverin' Mary it don't matter the sex
The advisor is not concerned about the gender of the child they want Mary to deliver.
I'm gonna name it rock 'n roll
The advisor has their heart set on a particular name for the child they want to conceive.
I push my seed in her bush for life
Reiteration of the advisor's plans for the future with the child they hope to conceive.
It's gonna work because I'm pushin' it right
Reiteration of the advisor's confidence in their plan.
If Mary drops my baby girl tonight
The advisor thinks it is likely that Mary will successfully deliver their child soon.
I would name her rock 'n roll
Reiteration of the advisor's chosen name for the child they hope to conceive.
Oh break it down, down for me
Request for a musical breakdown in the song.
I push my seed in her bush for life
Reiteration of the advisor's plans for the future with the child they hope to conceive.
It's gonna work because I'm pushin' it right
Reiteration of the advisor's confidence in their plan.
If Mary drops my baby girl tonight
Reiteration of the advisor's belief that their child is coming soon.
I would name her rock 'n roll
Reiteration of the advisor's chosen name for the child they hope to conceive.
I would name her rock 'n roll
Reiteration of the advisor's chosen name for the child they hope to conceive.
I would name her rock 'n roll
Reiteration of the advisor's chosen name for the child they hope to conceive.
I would name it rock 'n roll
Final reiteration of the advisor's chosen name for the child they hope to conceive.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chestnutt Cody, Tarik L. Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@section8managementteam793
I've been listening to this song for 14 years and never knew it had a video until today..... What a pleasant surprise. 2024
@courtneyst.julian8192
This song is an absolute masterpiece. Every aspect from the lyrics, the vocals, to the rhythm is absolute perfection. I can't believe YouTube would tamper with this excellence by censoring this song!
@a.taylor8294
Yeah, those of us that got to jam to it during original release know this wasn't getting censored back then, LOL!
@williamdumas9715
As a lifetime rock fan... This song is in my top 10 songs of all time... Perfect blend of rock, soul, hip hop and more
@elsasegid963
Love love love this song
@ffokcuf761
No Rock in this track.
@jaysgotjokesofficial
@@ffokcuf761 you trying to be goofy.
@AllOuttaBubblegum123
Supporting the mighty chili peppers
@palapadadouwa807
Terrible.
Basta 🖤🤍😎😎😎🔥
@lisak19614
I'm 61 years old and this song still rocks me. One of my favorites....❤❤❤❤