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albums
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- Rising Down (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2008
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- Phrenology (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2002
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- Game Theory (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2006
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- Things Fall Apart
- Released 1999
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biography
Though popular success has largely eluded the Roots, the Philadelphia group showed the way for live rap, building on Stetsasonic's "hip-hop band" philosophy of the mid-'80s by focusing on live instrumentation at their concerts and in the studio. Though their album works have been inconsistent affairs, more intent on building grooves than pushing songs, the Roots' live shows are among the best in the business.
The Roots' focus on live music began back in 1987 when rapper Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) and drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Khalib Thompson) became friends at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts. Playing around school, on the sidewalk, and later at talent shows (with ?uestlove's drum kit backing Black Thought's rhymes), the pair began to earn money and hooked up with bassist Hub (Leon Hubbard) and rapper Malik B. Moving from the street to local clubs, the Roots became a highly tipped underground act around Philadelphia and New York. When they were invited to represent stateside hip-hop at a concert in Germany, the Roots recorded an album to sell at shows; the result, Organix, was released in 1993 on Remedy Records. With a music industry buzz surrounding their activities, the Roots entertained offers from several labels before signing with DGC that same year.
The Roots' first major-label album, Do You Want More?!!!??!, was released in January 1995; forsaking usual hip-hop protocol, the album was produced without any samples or previously recorded material. It peaked just outside the Top 100, but was mostly ignored by fans of hip-hop. Instead, Do You Want More?!!!??! made more tracks in alternative circles, partly due to the Roots playing the second stage at Lollapalooza that summer. The band also journeyed to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Two of the guests on the album who had toured around with the band, human beatbox Rahzel the Godfather of Noyze -- previously a performer with Grandmaster Flash and LL Cool J -- and Scott Storch (later Kamal), became permanent members of the group.
Early in 1996, the Roots released Clones, the trailer single for their second album. It hit the rap Top Five, and created a good buzz for the album. The following September, Illadelph Halflife appeared and made number 21 on the album charts. Much like its predecessor, though, the Roots' second LP was a difficult listen. It made several very small concessions to mainstream rap -- the bandmembers sampled material that they had recorded earlier at jam sessions -- but failed to make a hit of their unique sound. The Roots' third album, 1999's Things Fall Apart, was easily their biggest critical and commercial success; The Roots Come Alive followed later that year.
The long-awaited Phrenology was released in late November 2002 amid rumors of the Roots losing interest in their label arrangements with MCA. In 2004, the band remedied the situation by creating the Okayplayer company. Named after their website, Okayplayer included a record label and a production/promotion company. The same year, the band held a series of jam sessions to give their next album a looser feel. The results were edited down to ten tracks and released as The Tipping Point in July of 2004. A 2004 concert from Manhattan's Webster Hall with special guests like Mobb Deep, Young Gunz, and Jean Grae was released in early 2005 as The Roots Present in both CD and DVD formats. Two volumes of the rarities-collecting Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots appeared at the end of the year. Game Theory, the group's first album for Def Jam, followed in 2006, and two years later the especially politically-charged Rising Down came out. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
The Roots' focus on live music began back in 1987 when rapper Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) and drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Khalib Thompson) became friends at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts. Playing around school, on the sidewalk, and later at talent shows (with ?uestlove's drum kit backing Black Thought's rhymes), the pair began to earn money and hooked up with bassist Hub (Leon Hubbard) and rapper Malik B. Moving from the street to local clubs, the Roots became a highly tipped underground act around Philadelphia and New York. When they were invited to represent stateside hip-hop at a concert in Germany, the Roots recorded an album to sell at shows; the result, Organix, was released in 1993 on Remedy Records. With a music industry buzz surrounding their activities, the Roots entertained offers from several labels before signing with DGC that same year.
The Roots' first major-label album, Do You Want More?!!!??!, was released in January 1995; forsaking usual hip-hop protocol, the album was produced without any samples or previously recorded material. It peaked just outside the Top 100, but was mostly ignored by fans of hip-hop. Instead, Do You Want More?!!!??! made more tracks in alternative circles, partly due to the Roots playing the second stage at Lollapalooza that summer. The band also journeyed to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Two of the guests on the album who had toured around with the band, human beatbox Rahzel the Godfather of Noyze -- previously a performer with Grandmaster Flash and LL Cool J -- and Scott Storch (later Kamal), became permanent members of the group.
Early in 1996, the Roots released Clones, the trailer single for their second album. It hit the rap Top Five, and created a good buzz for the album. The following September, Illadelph Halflife appeared and made number 21 on the album charts. Much like its predecessor, though, the Roots' second LP was a difficult listen. It made several very small concessions to mainstream rap -- the bandmembers sampled material that they had recorded earlier at jam sessions -- but failed to make a hit of their unique sound. The Roots' third album, 1999's Things Fall Apart, was easily their biggest critical and commercial success; The Roots Come Alive followed later that year.
The long-awaited Phrenology was released in late November 2002 amid rumors of the Roots losing interest in their label arrangements with MCA. In 2004, the band remedied the situation by creating the Okayplayer company. Named after their website, Okayplayer included a record label and a production/promotion company. The same year, the band held a series of jam sessions to give their next album a looser feel. The results were edited down to ten tracks and released as The Tipping Point in July of 2004. A 2004 concert from Manhattan's Webster Hall with special guests like Mobb Deep, Young Gunz, and Jean Grae was released in early 2005 as The Roots Present in both CD and DVD formats. Two volumes of the rarities-collecting Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots appeared at the end of the year. Game Theory, the group's first album for Def Jam, followed in 2006, and two years later the especially politically-charged Rising Down came out. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
news
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questlove: @VanessaVeasley *bahn-chicka-woaw-woaw"
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- 11/20/2009
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- 4:59 AM
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- Twitter / questlove
- questlove: @VanessaVeasley *bahn-chicka-woaw-woaw"
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questlove: @Miss_Dani_Baby lol uh nope. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpkBq9TYQck
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- 11/20/2009
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- 4:59 AM
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- Twitter / questlove
- questlove: @Miss_Dani_Baby lol uh nope. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpkBq9TYQck
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questlove: we went through all this hub-bub for the nyc Yo-Gabba concert....& there is one tiny detail i forgot...we never practiced the song! (rotf)
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- 11/20/2009
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- 4:52 AM
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- Twitter / questlove
- questlove: we went through all this hub-bub for the nyc Yo-Gabba concert....& there is one tiny detail i forgot...we never practiced the song! (rotf)
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questlove: @VanessaVeasley you know and i know she wouldn't accept mere pronoun status other than "I"
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- 11/20/2009
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- 4:49 AM
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- Twitter / questlove
- questlove: @VanessaVeasley you know and i know she wouldn't accept mere pronoun status other than "I"
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questlove: @solangeknowles nighty night grandma knowle.
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- 11/20/2009
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- 4:48 AM
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- Twitter / questlove
- questlove: @solangeknowles nighty night grandma knowle.
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comments
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Music for the mind and soul
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- By Keem Ameer
- 8/11/2009 17:49:41
- I will argue with anyone that The Roots is and will continue to be the best group out there. I remember watching "Distortion to Static" on Urban Xpressions as a youngster of 14 years old. I have been in love ever since (I am 30 now). Tragically I have not been able to go to one of there concerts yet. It just hasn't been in the stars. I have made it a goal to go to a concert the next time they are in Dallas.
- 2 out of 2 people
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Must see live
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- By speculum fight
- 6/10/2009 23:39:25
- The Roots are unbelievable live. Easily the best concert you will ever go to.
- 1 out of 1 people
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Best in concert
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- By aamato18
- 6/9/2009 22:55:03
- Hip Hop act ever.
- Be the first person to rate this comment!
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ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!
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- By GeminiGirl22
- 5/17/2009 00:57:55
- I've been on The Roots bandwagon since Proceed, I think I may have been 13 or 14 at the time. I love them, they're my #1 Hip-Hop group; I never miss them when they come to Atlanta because the live shows are always amazing. Anyone who's been sleeping on hip-hop for awhile because of lack of talent, put in The Roots...you'll come back.
- 1 out of 1 people
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#1 hiphop group all-time
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- By catalakid18
- 3/10/2009 23:06:23
- you may argue with runDMC or who knows what else but all i know is... runDMC didnt constantly produce hit albums for almost 20 years know, did they?
- 2 out of 2 people
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