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 stars
The Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't give me grief
I don't wanna break or mend
Your beliefs
I wanna hear ya
And keep my mind free
I'm not gonna judge ya
I hope you don't judge me
Tell me do you feel an angel somehow
Has given you the right
To advise the world and his wife
How to live their lives
Whoever you may be
Whatever walk of life
It's you who hold your light
It's up to you whether to hide it
Or let it shine
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
Speak a solution
You can keep your problems
I hear your opinion
And yes we've got 'em
Somebody's trash is somebody's treasure
Somebody's laugh is
Somebody's pain
Somebody's loss is somebody's gain
It don't matter what car yo drive
Or whatever sound you like
It don't matter if you're praying to God
Or trusting mother nature's strife
What's true to you and I maybe
Won't be right for another kind of life
Can't we agree to disagree and we can be happy
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
We are who we are
We should be able to say what we think and make love at the end of the day
We should be able to step out out of sin and fall back in our own kind of way
It's ok if you don't wanna see, it's ok if you disagree
Just reach inside of yourself and realize that we're one of a kind
And all that you are is just fine know that you're you and I'm me
Free to fly
Free to fall
Free to learn, love and lie
It's up to you to live
If you don't know what to do with yourself, just breathe
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
Live, live, live
Let live
The Roots feat. Wadud Ahmad's song "Star" is a message about acceptance and understanding. The lyrics convey a lesson in love and respect for people's individuality and their choices. The song's first few lines talk about the importance of hearing people out without judgment. The following lines encourage listeners not to advise others on how to live their lives unless they feel they are "an angel" who has been given that right. It's important to recognize that everyone has their own path in life and their own beliefs, and one person's truth may not be right for another.
The chorus emphasizes the need for inclusivity and acceptance. "We are who we are. Love us or move on" reminds the listener that we should be willing to accept others as they are, without expecting them to change to fit our mold. The lyrics also mention that there is a "star guiding everyone," which could be interpreted as following your intuition or personal guiding light.
The song's bridge goes on to say that we should be able to speak our minds without fear of judgment or repercussion. We should be able to disagree and still find happiness and understanding with one another. The lines "Just reach inside of yourself and realize that we're one of a kind, and all that you are is just fine" convey the message that it's essential to recognize our unique qualities and find value in our differences.
In summary, "Star" is a positive and inspiring song that promotes love and understanding for all individuals. It reminds us of the importance of acceptance and appreciation for our differences in beliefs, perspectives, and ways of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me strength
I need to be empowered to handle whatever comes my way
Don't give me grief
I don't need extra stress or negative energy in my life
I don't wanna break or mend
Your beliefs
I'm not interested in changing your beliefs or having mine changed
I wanna hear ya
And keep my mind free
I want to listen to you without judgment and maintain an open mind
I'm not gonna judge ya
I hope you don't judge me
Let's accept each other as we are without criticism or condemnation
Tell me do you feel an angel somehow
Has given you the right
To advise the world and his wife
How to live their lives
Do you believe that you have some divine permission to tell others how to live their lives?
Whoever you may be
Whatever walk of life
It's you who hold your light
It's up to you whether to hide it
Or let it shine
No matter who you are or where you come from, you have your own unique qualities and it's your decision whether to embrace them or hide them
We are who we are
Love us or move on
Don't you know that there's a star guiding everyone
All of us are different, but we have our own guiding light to follow and it's important to accept and respect each other for who we are
Speak a solution
You can keep your problems
I hear your opinion
And yes we've got 'em
Let's talk about solutions instead of dwelling on problems, and even if we don't agree, I'm willing to listen to your opinion
Somebody's trash is somebody's treasure
Somebody's laugh is
Somebody's pain
Somebody's loss is somebody's gain
What one person may see as negative, another may see as positive
It don't matter what car yo drive
Or whatever sound you like
It don't matter if you're praying to God
Or trusting mother nature's strife
External factors like material possessions or religious beliefs don't define who we are or what's important
What's true to you and I maybe
Won't be right for another kind of life
Can't we agree to disagree and we can be happy
What works for some may not work for others, and that's okay as long as we can peacefully coexist with our differences
We should be able to say what we think and make love at the end of the day
We should be able to step out out of sin and fall back in our own kind of way
We should be able to express ourselves freely and still find love and acceptance, and we should be able to make mistakes and learn from them in our own unique way
Just reach inside of yourself and realize that we're one of a kind
And all that you are is just fine know that you're you and I'm me
We are all unique and have our own qualities that make us special, and we should be comfortable in our own skin and accept others for who they are
Free to fly
Free to fall
Free to learn, love and lie
It's up to you to live
If you don't know what to do with yourself, just breathe
We have the freedom to take risks, make mistakes, learn and love despite our imperfections, and sometimes we just need to take a step back and breathe when we're feeling overwhelmed
Live, live, live
Let live
We should live our own lives to the fullest and let others do the same without interference or judgment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SYLVESTER STEWART, AHMIR THOMPSON, TARIK TROTTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hazel Meade
Get 'em up high okay, yeah
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
When that adrenaline get in they system
It get 'em out on a quest for stardom, could be a mother fuckin' problem
In Philly, Cincinnati, Los Angeles or Harlem
Kids call themselves killers let they hammers do the talkin'
Don't even know the meaning of life, ain't seen a thing
And you dream of floodin' the scenery with, yayo and greenery
But for now, you stickin' her with the heavy machinery
Wonder how, you lift it up, be only 17
And like everybody he want to shine, young brothers on the grind
Holdin' something in their spine, "Bowling for Columbine"
Stressin' to me how it's all about a dollar sign
Dig the way you out of line, out of sight and out of mind
Up against the clock and damn near out of time
"The Tipping Point" has arrived, and that's the bottom line
To all my peoples that are stars, it's our time to shine
Let's get 'em up high, c'mon
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Yo, ain't it strange how the newspapers play with the language
I'm deprogrammin' y'all with uncut slang shit
I know some peoples in the party armed and dangerous
Twist some cool champagne, I'm goin' through changes
A grown-ass man, I done paid my dues
Learn the rules lil' homey, you could be one too
Niggas know, ain't no tellin' what he gonna' do
But recognize young bro, I'mma do it for you
You know why? We're all stars and we highly evolved
Hip-Hop, it's not pop like Kylie Minogue
If it bang, them gettin' busy brothers probably involved
In the game, where everybody got a shottie to draw
I guess you probably a thug, you boss ballin' or what?
I can't call it man, I got the ladies fallin' in love
Cause handsome, intelligent, tough I'm all the above
I know you knew it it's the movement
Groove to it while you doin' it up
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Introducing the band you gotta see to believe
He got the mic in his hand, so keep the heat up your sleeve
It's Black Thought, he rockin' sharp so the speakers'll bleed
I run a triathlon, you wouldn't see me fatigued
I'm a star, and maybe y'all should cop something to be
Or trade some of y'all equipment in for something you need
Cause it's a, lot of bullshit floodin' the scene
Where everybody's a star, and hot shit is few and far between
We lose the grip of what, garbage mean
Shorties want to be themselves, I know it's hard to be
Don't want to do the Ruben Studdard and come off less threatening
Keepin' it real I'll kill you if you end up lettin' it
Ain't it blowin' your mind how the game all in line
Now the best, to the rest, we fin' to end up settin it
I'd tell you that I was a veteran but it's evident
You act like you want it, you gonna' end up gettin' it
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
Everybody is a star
JOHN GREEN
Star/Pointro
The Roots
Get 'em up high okay, yeah
Go all-star, and get down for yours
To the ladies in the house, we proud of y'all
You got the, Roots crew with the sound of course
High, lift 'em up high, okay
When that adrenaline get in they system
It get 'em out on a quest for stardom, could be a mother fuckin' problem
In Philly, Cincinnati, Los Angeles or Harlem
Kids call themselves killers let they hammers do the talkin'
Don't even know the meaning of life, ain't seen a thing
And you dream of floodin' the scenery with, yayo and greenery
But for now, you stickin' her with the heavy machinery
Wonder how, you lift it up, be only 17
And like everybody he want to shine, young brothers on the grind
Holdin' something in their spine, "Bowling for Columbine"
Stressin' to me how it's all about a dollar sign
Dig the way you out of line, out of sight and out of mind
Up against the clock and damn near out of time
"The Tipping Point" has arrived, and that's the bottom line
To all my peoples that are stars, it's our time to shine
Let's get 'em up high, c'mon
Yamel
This song gives me chills. Just the inspiration, the hope, the feeling behind it.
timetraveler
👌👁😎
Booski 1
@Pete Goins gotta move to this!
Pete Goins
@A.J. Young Jr Truu . like so many others from the Roots.Really don't mind moving to it.
A.J. Young Jr
No doubt!!! That lead guitar haunts you and finally finds you nodding your head...then that bass drum thump with the bass over the ledge takes you completely out!!!!!!!!!!!
King King
IKR 😬
LJ
“I love you for who you AARRRRRREE”. My favorite part, so soulful. This song and sample are timeless.
Robert Johnson
@Bruno Coutinho sly the family stone
Bruno Coutinho
What is the sample?
Shahid Patterson
Yo, I've been a Roots man since day one and you gotta see them live to get the full effect of the way they do the damm thing. The Truest hands down. Big Shy Bmore .