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.
Why
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sky's the limit so you know I'm gonna rise and shine
I gotta do my thing, I'm kinda getting a little tired of all that's hidden
That's the reason I'm a speak my mind, keep from going insane
Now work with it, we in the last innin'
The world keeps spinnin', my peoples steady losin' while the rich keep winnin'
It's like we neva smilin' and the devil steady grinnin'
Even our children and women, 2K4, livin' above and under the law
Young teen joins the marines, says he'll die for the core
Inducted up into the government's war as if the land of money and oil
Funny how ain't none of it yours
I can't sleep yo I'm paranoid, it's code orange
It's far from right, I guess that's why it feels so wrong
To see the world get stripped out of every resource
And people pray to Coca-Cola now instead of the gods
What's goin' on?
Why
Keepin' your head above water, hustlin' to survive
Some people chasin' a dream, others just chasin' a high
Some people blind leading the blind, they chasin' a lie
Some people chokin' backs broken barely makin' it by
But still they workin' all they live, they pushin' for the light
Givin' everything they got to stitch them swishes on ya Nike's
Puttin' pockets on our jeans, mining diamonds for them rings
Rewarded with small change and bullets in the brains
And it makes me feel strange everything we take for granted
At times I feel stranded on this planet of mine
Now should I pull the hammer, clap it out, and laugh about it
Or stand up, be counted while I cast my ballot
When the undertaker's busy and the prison's is crowded
People livin' in fear because they vision is clouded
But the sky's the limit, I ain't cryin' you a river
Gotta move me a mountain, I'm a git up and shout it
Why?
When I dream it's hounds on my heels gainin' momentum
I'm tired, can't get uninspired or quit runnin'
I can feel they only inches behind, I escape, I survive
Some how I gotta decide how much I want it
Or is anybody listenin' without a pot to piss in
If I disappear I wonder if the world will know I'm missin'
Who my support system, it's not the court system
Gotta letter it said that you're not avoiding prison
People 'neath the microscope 'cause we defining the culture
They smile and insult you like you shinin' their loafers
Them old heads say we need a modern day Moses
When the leaders is posers we needing some soldiers
It's the X generation, the anger is a nature
Got the writing on the wall so clear that I can taste it
Like a kid sniffing glue somewhere trying to escape
Cause we vulnerable and naked
Gotta show 'em we can make it
Why?
The Roots's song Why seems to focus on the societal issues and question the current state of affairs in the world. The lyrics of the song try to convey a message of hope and resilience to the listeners as it touches on various themes like war, poverty, corruption, and oppression. The song begins with the artist stating that he aims to speak his mind and rise above the obstacles in his way. He addresses the disparity between the rich and poor and mentions that the people are losing while the rich continue winning. In the second verse, the artist talks about the struggle for survival, and how some people are chasing their dreams while others are chasing highs.
The song further highlights the struggles that people are facing in today's world, like economic inequality, corruption in the government, and the struggle to survive. It also delves into the idea of standing up against oppression and fighting for a better world. The artist expresses their frustration with the current state of affairs and implores the listeners to cast their votes and make a change.
Overall, The Roots's song Why delivers a strong message of resilience, persistence, and the power of collective action against oppressive forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Sky's the limit so you know I'm gonna rise and shine
I have endless possibilities, so I am going to work hard to achieve success.
I gotta do my thing, I'm kinda getting a little tired of all that's hidden
I need to focus on my goals because I am tired of being kept in the dark about certain things.
That's the reason I'm a speak my mind, keep from going insane
I need to express my thoughts to maintain my sanity.
Now work with it, we in the last innin'
We are approaching the end, so let's give it our all.
The world keeps spinnin', my peoples steady losin' while the rich keep winnin'
Our society is unequal, and the rich are getting richer while others are struggling.
It's like we neva smilin' and the devil steady grinnin'
We are always unhappy, and it seems like evil is always present.
Killin' what we representin'
Even our children and women, 2K4, livin' above and under the law
We are destroying the values and well-being of marginalized groups, even in modern times.
Young teen joins the marines, says he'll die for the core
Inducted up into the government's war as if the land of money and oil
Funny how ain't none of it yours
Many young people are willing to risk their lives to fight for the government's interests, even though they do not profit from those interests.
I can't sleep yo I'm paranoid, it's code orange
It's far from right, I guess that's why it feels so wrong
I am anxious because there is a heightened threat, and this situation feels unjust and immoral.
To see the world get stripped out of every resource
And people pray to Coca-Cola now instead of the gods
People are depleting the earth's resources and prioritizing consumerism over spirituality.
What's goin' on?
What is happening in the world and why is it like this?
Keepin' your head above water, hustlin' to survive
Some people chasin' a dream, others just chasin' a high
Some people are trying to make ends meet, while others are seeking success or escape through drugs.
Some people blind leading the blind, they chasin' a lie
Some people chokin' backs broken barely makin' it by
Some leaders are misguided, and some individuals are struggling to get by.
But still they workin' all they live, they pushin' for the light
Givin' everything they got to stitch them swishes on ya Nike's
Despite obstacles, some people work tirelessly to improve their lives and contribute to society.
Puttin' pockets on our jeans, mining diamonds for them rings
Rewarded with small change and bullets in the brains
Companies exploit workers and resources for profit, while the workers receive very little compensation and often face violence or death.
And it makes me feel strange everything we take for granted
At times I feel stranded on this planet of mine
We often overlook the privileges and luxuries we have, and I sometimes feel isolated in this world.
Now should I pull the hammer, clap it out, and laugh about it
Or stand up, be counted while I cast my ballot
Should I resort to violence, or should I advocate for change through democratic means?
When the undertaker's busy and the prison's is crowded
People livin' in fear because they vision is clouded
Many people are dying or imprisoned, and others are unable to see clearly because of their circumstances.
But the sky's the limit, I ain't cryin' you a river
Gotta move me a mountain, I'm a git up and shout it
I have endless possibilities, and I will work hard to achieve my goals and advocate for change.
When I dream it's hounds on my heels gainin' momentum
I'm tired, can't get uninspired or quit runnin'
I often have nightmares about being chased, and I am tired but still motivated to keep working towards my goals.
I can feel they only inches behind, I escape, I survive
Some how I gotta decide how much I want it
I feel like I am barely staying ahead, and I need to decide if my goals are worth the effort.
Or is anybody listenin' without a pot to piss in
If I disappear I wonder if the world will know I'm missin'
I wonder if anyone cares about the struggles of the less fortunate, and if I were to disappear, I wonder if anyone would know or care.
Who my support system, it's not the court system
Gotta letter it said that you're not avoiding prison
The legal system is not supportive, and someone has received a notice that they cannot avoid imprisonment.
People 'neath the microscope 'cause we defining the culture
They smile and insult you like you shinin' their loafers
Society often scrutinizes individuals who shape the culture, and others sometimes belittle or criticize them.
Them old heads say we need a modern day Moses
When the leaders is posers we needing some soldiers
Some people believe we need a strong leader to help us, while others believe we need brave warriors to fight for change.
It's the X generation, the anger is a nature
Got the writing on the wall so clear that I can taste it
Many young people are angry and dissatisfied with society, and the problems are becoming more and more obvious.
Like a kid sniffing glue somewhere trying to escape
Cause we vulnerable and naked
Gotta show 'em we can make it
People are trying to numb their pain and escape from their problems, but we need to face our vulnerabilities and show that we are capable of overcoming them.
Why?
Why do we have to face so many obstacles and injustices?
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DONOVAN N BENNETT, RANALDO EVANS, ANDRE GRAY (GB), MARK HENRY, KUNLEY MCCARTHY, WAYNE MORRIS, CRAIG N PARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mike whit
This song never disappoints with putting you in the feels.
Ravi Singh
What a ripper of a track..hits harder than a freight train
The IronHorse
Damn , this takes me back. I'm Big Roots fan. I remember I was in the Army when this dropped. The Roots Crew Is The Greatest and Black Thought us The Ultimate Emcee.
Chumani Maxama
Can't get enough of this track
okullu humphrey
The Roots always come with it
Tre Norman
Relaxing and mellow. This track is just right for me.
Yo Momma
this is the music that the radio should play! calms me down on the way home from school :)
Angelì
good vibes. really good song!
Magdalena Sz
coś pięknego
MCsAddicta
makes me feel so damn chill. LOVE IT!