The Roots is an American Grammy Award winning hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq «Black Thought» Trotter and Ahmir «Questlove» Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
They are known for a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which includes live instrumentals. Malik B., Leonard «Hub» Hubbard, and Josh Abrams were added to the band, originally called The Square Roots.
◊ ‘You Got Me’ ⇓ [feat. Erikah Badu]
[Chorus] x 2
(Erykah Badu)
If you were worried ‘bout where
I been or who I saw or what club I went to with my homies
baby don’t worry you know that you got me
[Verse 1]
(Black Thought)
Somebody told me that this planet was small
we use to live in the same building on the same floor
and never met before
until I’m overseas on tour
and peep this ethiopian queen from philly
taking classes abroad
she studying film and photo flash focus record
said she workin on a flick and
could my click do the score
she said she loved my show in paris
at Elysee Montmartre
and that I stepped off the stage
and took a piece of her heart
we knew from the start that
things fall apart, intentions shatter
she like that shit don’t matter
when I get home get at her
through letter, phone, whatever
let’s link, let’s get together
shit you think not, think the Thought went home and forgot
time passed, we back in philly now she up in my spot
tellin me the things I’m tellin her is makin her hot
startin buildin with her constantly round the clock
now she in my world like hip-hop
and keep tellin me
[Chorus] x2
[Verse 2]
(Black Thought)
Yo, I’m the type that’s always catchin a flight
and sometimes I gotta be out at the height of the night
and that’s when she flip and get on some ‘ol
(Female Voice)
Another lonely night
seems like I’m on the side you only loving your mic
I know you gotta get that paper daddy keep that shit tight
but yo I need some sort of love in my life, you dig me
while politicin with my sister from new york city
she said she know this ball player and he think I’m pretty
sike, I’m playin boo, you know it’s just wit you I’m stayin boo
and when cats be poppin game I don’t hear what they sayin boo
when you out there in the world, I’m still your girl
with all my classes I don’t have the time for life’s thrills
so when you sweatin on stage think of me when you rhyme
and don’t be listenin to your homies they be leavin you blind
(Black Thought)
Yeah, so what you sayin I can trust you?
(Female Voice)
Is you crazy, you my king for real
(Both)
But sometimes relationships get ill
(Female Voice)
No doubt
[Chorus] x2
[Verse 3]
(Black Thought)
Thet snake could be that chick
and that rat could be that cool cat
that’s whispering «she tryin to play you for the fool Black»
if something’s on your chest then let it be known
see I’m not your every five minutes all on the phone
and on the topic of trust, it’s just a matter of fact
that people bite back and fracture what’s intact
and they’ll forever be I ain’t on some «oh I’m a celebrity»
I deal with the real so if it’s artificial let it be
I’ve seen people caught in love like whirlwinds
listening to they squads and listening to girlfriends
that’s exactly the point where they whole world ends
lies come in, that’s where that drama begins, she like
[Chorus] until fade
«we’re not against rap…we’re not against rappers…
what we are against is those THUGS»
◊ ‘Make My’ ↓
They told me at the end don’t justify the dreams that I’ve had since a child
Maybe I’ll throw in the towel
Make my . . . (make my . . .)
Departure from the world
◊ DJ Krush – ‘Meiso’ (feat. The Roots) ↓ REMIX by DJ Shadow
Black Thought :
Yin for yang I walk on a line
Between ghetto slang and stimulation of the mind
Life is a labyryth for dollars and cents
As I quest for cream, through the steam so dense
From the sensei me a puff, cause the tunnel is tough
Some lick shots with sound, some’ll bust from the cannon
Experts o-rig-i-nal man’ll examine
I am in fact lacking con-fus-ion, as to what’s real
and what’s illus-ion
I come from Illadelph where ya health you never take for granted
As hot as the equator in a cypher round the planet
Or abnormal, niggas appearing out of portals and demanding your soul
Who controls the eight immortals but the number seven
In this continual maze, where night fight with days
Within my mind marijuan blaze
And some say I should change my ways
But it’s hard to hear the phrase through the havoc and haze
Thought’s style will never since or never cease to excella-rate
It’s the great lab dwella
Tha mentals of The Roots are beyond any computer
The judge prosecutor, or the drug distributor
Respect to the ex-Lex Luger, my nigga Malik B the intruder
Phila 5th Dynasty’s the future
And DJ Krush is the producer, ya healin with the ginseng Roots
We get ya renascence loosa
Remember me the Thought I represent essentially and
mentally eventually, ya mention me as most high
My decibels are most fly, I come to paint ya Thought’s Black
Yo Krush, where’s it at?!!!??!
Malik B :
The Roots bring it from the Phila Fifth, spill the gift
The melody of a felony is straight off a cliff
Now can I get a witness to dismiss Christmas from the myth list
Man that’s bogus, let’s try to stay focused
You would think it was the Fourth of July
Cause in Illadelph a round of applause light up the sky
Why? Don’t ask me, subtle attitudes sometimes nasty
Foul mouth bitches walk around looking trashy
Bimbos talking about where’s the indo?
Crackheads leavin babies unattended at the window
To see death, and brothers with strikes who got three left
I’m trying to make it, cause if I don’t I’ll probably take it
But perserverence is a virtue
The person that you thinking you hurting might hurt you
Ya celly might jerk too
Perhaps I’ll go to court this time when I’m summoned
But I’m a rebel to the system so I might not be coming
So if I fail, man just get up the bail
It’s just more time to write another story to tell
Ill elements, drop intelligence, Black Thought Malik B
fuck up their-re-le-vance
We got strain on the brain from bodies left in the dust
Man just leave it to us, look main aim and I’ll bust
Fuck betrayal just trust, all the tracks we lust
With DJ Krush from Japan with no more need to discuss
◊ The Roots feat Cody ChesnuTT ↓ ‘The Seed’
w/ Elvis Costello:⇒‘Cinco Minutos con Vos‘ [Karriem Riggins mix]⇐
¤ The Roots ⇓ History of the Hip Hop Band
• Formation
Hip hop group The Roots formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1987. Rapper Tariq Trotter, known as Black Thought, and drummer Ahmir Thompson, known as Questlove, met during high school. They began performing together and were eventually joined by bassist Leon “Hub” Hubbard and rapper Malik B. The artists soon began to make a name for themselves in the underground scenes of Philadelphia and New York City.
• Debut
They independently released the hip hop album Organix! in 1993. This effort garnered the interest of several labels and allowed The Roots to sign with David Geffen Company Records shortly thereafter.
• Alternative Rock Fans
Do You Want More?!!!??! followed two years later. This hip hop jazz effort did not initially attract the attention of many hip hop fans. However, some of the alternative rock audience took notice after the band played at the Lollapalooza music festival in the mid-1990s. During this time, The Roots also added producer Scott Storch and beatboxer Rahzel M. Brown to the line-up.
• First Mainstream Success
Up next was 1996’s Illadelph Halflife. The intense record found a place within the top thirty of the Billboard 200 chart and featured “What They Do,” which was the band’s first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Critical and Commercial Recognition
However, The Roots really began to earn recognition with their record Things Fall Apart. The 1999 album reached the fourth spot on the Billboard chart and won them a Grammy for the song “You Got Me.” The effort featured meaningful lyrics as well as neo-soul influences, and was their most successful to that point. Later that year, The Roots demonstrated their talent and passion for live instrumentation with the album The Roots Come Alive.
• “Phrenology”
Despite a few personnel changes, the collective released another disc in 2002. Phrenology made it within the top thirty on the charts. The commercially successful effort included several collaborations with multiple artists.
• Line-Up Changes and Jam Sessions
More members of The Roots left the band prior to the release of 2004’s The Tipping Point. This more varied record was based on previously recorded jam sessions and contained various influences, like pop, jazz and funk. It reached number four on the charts.
• Darker Themes and Top Ten Records
2006’s Game Theory was The Roots’ first disc on Def Jam Recordings. The top ten record was much darker than their previous material and spoke of socio-political themes. It was followed by Rising Down two years later, which carried over the grim tone of the last effort with the addition of electronic influences. This album also charted within the Billboard top ten.
• Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
In 2009, The Roots became the house band on the late-night talk show “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.” While holding this gig, they continued to record and came out with How I Got Over in 2010. The top-ten record was praised for combining various musical genres such as soul, indie rock and gospel into a unified sound.
• John Legend
Later that year, The Roots made a collaborative album with singer John Legend. Wake Up! consisted mainly of soul music covers and was followed by “The ‘Wake Up Radio’ Mixtape.”
• “Undun”
In 2011, while still appearing on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” The Roots co-produced singer Betty Wright’s album Betty Wright: The Movie. They also released their first concept record Undun later that year.
• Excellent Live Band
With their blend of hip hop and neo soul, The Roots won fans by using multiple instruments more often associated with jazz and funk during their live performances. As such, they have become an influence for many artists and continue to be admired by critics and fans alike.
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