Before they even had their first hit album The Roots had been in the game for 12 years. The band had minor success with "Do You Want More?!!!??!" and "Illadelphia Halflife," but the band remained an underground sensation until their 1999 release "Things Fall Apart" went gold. But what is more impressive about this multi-talented band, is that in the rap industry, where as Chris Rock said it, "you're here today, gone today," the number one Roots crew has showed staying power, and like Frank, they did it their way.
But why stop at rap?! The longevity of The Roots is impressive even in the broader category of music. This is because they have figured out how to stay, by remaining on the cutting edge. Music is ever evolving, and rap is no exception. The foundation of rap music just like any form of creation, is to take a little bit of what the person did before them, and make it their own. All music does this. It's called influence. And when you listen to any Roots album from "Do you Want More?!!!??!" to their new release, "How I got Over," you are sure to hear a different influence each time. The reason for this is that The Root's leadership, lyricist Black Thought and drummer ?uestlove, bring differenet ideas to the table while finding a single middle ground, the desire to move forward. Black Thought brings a rugged rap sounds that is not only skilled but true to (oddly enough) the roots of hip hop. He has swagger, not the kind you hear in ridiculous songs now, actual style that brings you back to the days of Public Enemy, or Rakim and Eric B. While ?uestlove brings in the eccentric music stylings with influences like Herbie Hancock all the way to Daft Punk, and everything in between.
The Roots don't fit into the typical rap mold. Behind the rapping Black Thought, is more than your typically found DJ's. Instead, their is an entire band, fully equipped with guitars, key board, and often with a beat boxer. And the band is good, becoming so popular that they've been asked to provide backup to Jay-Z on MTV's Unplugged, and have become the band for Jimmy Fallon's late night show. By the way, Jimmy, stop freakin' laughing in every sketch you have ever been in. Their music often take on sounds found in jazz, blues, rock, indie, house, old school, and hardcore because of their wacky genius of a drummer, ?uestlove. The combination is well put together and there is nothing else in music that comes even close to resembling it.
From 1987 through 2010 The Roots have seen the likes of DMX, Eminem, 50 Cent, the birth, fall, rebirth and fall of Dr. Dre, and Cash Money Millionairs amonst countless other acts come and go. But their path hasn't always been a smooth one. When the band first gained steam Black Thought was not the only rapper. He was joined by fellow lyricists Dice Raw, and Malik B. That is until 2001 when the band forced out Malik B. from the group because of drug problems. However, the band's 2002 album, "Phrenology" contained the song, "Water," detailing how Black Thought and Malik B. met one another and eventually became essential in the development of the Roots. Thought's intentions were to make Malik aware of his potential talent, and to encourage him to stop using drugs. Things turned around as he joined the band as a featured contributor on both their 2006 and 2008 releases. Throughout the band's storied career there has been chatter of a break up. Including an article in the Source coming during the promotion of their 2004 release of "The Tipping Point," where both Black Thought and ?uestlove left readers wondering if both had ideas of taking their careers in opposite directions. However, six years has past since the article hit newstands and The Roots remain on top of the industry.
The band that began their career reminding us "never do, what they do," has stuck by their promise, and as a result they have remained in the forefront of not only rap but all of music. The year is 2010, and in the Roots thirty three year career they have put out ten studio albums, a number of live albums, won a grammy, and continue to tour like they're Dave Matthews. Now how many rappers can say that?
Just because I like you...here are some of my personal favorite Roots songs from over the years...enjoy:
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