The Roots: History of the Hip Hop Band

this legendary roots crew is known for

this legendary roots crew is known for their groovy live performances

their groovy live performances

their groovy live performances welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re taking a look at the history of the

taking a look at the history of the

taking a look at the history of the roots hip hop group the roots formed in

roots hip hop group the roots formed in

roots hip hop group the roots formed in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1987 rapper

Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1987 rapper

Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1987 rapper Tariq Trotter known as Black Thought and

Tariq Trotter known as Black Thought and

Tariq Trotter known as Black Thought and drummer Amir Thompson known as Questlove

drummer Amir Thompson known as Questlove

drummer Amir Thompson known as Questlove met during high school they began

met during high school they began

met during high school they began performing together and were eventually

performing together and were eventually

performing together and were eventually joined by bassist Leon

joined by bassist Leon

joined by bassist Leon hub Hubbard and rapper Malik be the

hub Hubbard and rapper Malik be the

hub Hubbard and rapper Malik be the artist soon began to make a name for

artist soon began to make a name for

artist soon began to make a name for themselves in the underground scenes of

themselves in the underground scenes of

themselves in the underground scenes of Philadelphia and New York City they

Philadelphia and New York City they

Philadelphia and New York City they independently released the hip hop album

independently released the hip hop album

independently released the hip hop album organics in 1993 another type portion

organics in 1993 another type portion

organics in 1993 another type portion Jeff – accompanies of audio distorts it

Jeff – accompanies of audio distorts it

Jeff – accompanies of audio distorts it this effort garnered the interest of

this effort garnered the interest of

this effort garnered the interest of several labels and allowed the roots to

several labels and allowed the roots to

several labels and allowed the roots to sign with David Geffen company records

sign with David Geffen company records

sign with David Geffen company records shortly thereafter do you want more

shortly thereafter do you want more

shortly thereafter do you want more followed two years later

followed two years later

followed two years later to rock the line

this hip-hop jazz effort did not

this hip-hop jazz effort did not initially attract the attention of many

initially attract the attention of many

initially attract the attention of many hip-hop fans however some of the

hip-hop fans however some of the

hip-hop fans however some of the alternative rock audience took notice

alternative rock audience took notice

alternative rock audience took notice after the band played at the

after the band played at the

after the band played at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in the

Lollapalooza Music Festival in the

Lollapalooza Music Festival in the mid-1990s

mid-1990s

mid-1990s during this time the roots also added

during this time the roots also added

during this time the roots also added producer Scott Storch and beatboxer

producer Scott Storch and beatboxer

producer Scott Storch and beatboxer Roselle M Brown to the lineup up next

Roselle M Brown to the lineup up next

Roselle M Brown to the lineup up next was 1996 ‘as illa Delft halflife the

was 1996 ‘as illa Delft halflife the

was 1996 ‘as illa Delft halflife the intense record found a place within the

intense record found a place within the

intense record found a place within the top 30 of the Billboard 200 chart and

top 30 of the Billboard 200 chart and

top 30 of the Billboard 200 chart and featured what they do which was the

featured what they do which was the

featured what they do which was the band’s first single to chart on the

band’s first single to chart on the

band’s first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100 however the roots really began to earn

however the roots really began to earn

however the roots really began to earn recognition with their record Things

recognition with their record Things

recognition with their record Things Fall Apart the body told me that this

Fall Apart the body told me that this

Fall Apart the body told me that this planet was small we used to live in the

planet was small we used to live in the

planet was small we used to live in the same building or same floor and never

same building or same floor and never

same building or same floor and never met before that cell I’m overseas on

met before that cell I’m overseas on

met before that cell I’m overseas on tour the 1999 album reached the fourth

tour the 1999 album reached the fourth

tour the 1999 album reached the fourth spot on the Billboard chart and won them

spot on the Billboard chart and won them

spot on the Billboard chart and won them a Grammy for the song you got me the

a Grammy for the song you got me the

a Grammy for the song you got me the effort featured meaningful lyrics as

effort featured meaningful lyrics as

effort featured meaningful lyrics as well as neo-soul influences and was

well as neo-soul influences and was

well as neo-soul influences and was their most successful to that point

their most successful to that point

their most successful to that point later that year the roots demonstrated

later that year the roots demonstrated

later that year the roots demonstrated their talent and passion for live

their talent and passion for live

their talent and passion for live instrumentation with the album the roots

instrumentation with the album the roots

instrumentation with the album the roots come alive despite a few personnel

come alive despite a few personnel

come alive despite a few personnel changes the collective released another

changes the collective released another

changes the collective released another disc in 2002 chronology made it within

disc in 2002 chronology made it within

disc in 2002 chronology made it within the top 30 on the charts the

the top 30 on the charts the

the top 30 on the charts the commercially successful effort included

commercially successful effort included

commercially successful effort included several collaborations with multiple

several collaborations with multiple

several collaborations with multiple artists

more members of the roots left the band

more members of the roots left the band prior to the release of 2004’s

prior to the release of 2004’s

prior to the release of 2004’s the tipping point this more varied

the tipping point this more varied

the tipping point this more varied record was based on previously recorded

record was based on previously recorded

record was based on previously recorded jam sessions and contained various

jam sessions and contained various

jam sessions and contained various influences like pop jazz and funk it

influences like pop jazz and funk it

influences like pop jazz and funk it reached number four on the charts 2006

reached number four on the charts 2006

reached number four on the charts 2006 is game theory was the roots first disc

is game theory was the roots first disc

is game theory was the roots first disc on Def Jam Recordings the top ten record

on Def Jam Recordings the top ten record

on Def Jam Recordings the top ten record was much darker than the previous

was much darker than the previous

was much darker than the previous material and spoke of socio-political

material and spoke of socio-political

material and spoke of socio-political themes it was followed by rising down

themes it was followed by rising down

themes it was followed by rising down two years later which carried over the

two years later which carried over the

two years later which carried over the grim tone of their last effort with the

grim tone of their last effort with the

grim tone of their last effort with the addition of electronic influences this

addition of electronic influences this

addition of electronic influences this album also charted within the Billboard

album also charted within the Billboard

album also charted within the Billboard top 10 in 2009 the roots became the

top 10 in 2009 the roots became the

top 10 in 2009 the roots became the House ban on the late-night talk show

House ban on the late-night talk show

House ban on the late-night talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while holding this gig they continued to

holding this gig they continued to

holding this gig they continued to record and came out with how I got over

record and came out with how I got over

record and came out with how I got over in 2010 the top ten record was praised

in 2010 the top ten record was praised

in 2010 the top ten record was praised for combining various musical genres

for combining various musical genres

for combining various musical genres such as soul indie rock and gospel into

such as soul indie rock and gospel into

such as soul indie rock and gospel into a unified sound later that year the

a unified sound later that year the

a unified sound later that year the roots made a collaborative album with

roots made a collaborative album with

roots made a collaborative album with singer John Legend

wake up consisted mainly of soul music

wake up consisted mainly of soul music covers and was followed by the wake up

covers and was followed by the wake up

covers and was followed by the wake up radio mixtape in 2011 while still

radio mixtape in 2011 while still

radio mixtape in 2011 while still appearing on Late Night with Jimmy

appearing on Late Night with Jimmy

appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Fallon

Fallon the roots co-produced singer Betty

the roots co-produced singer Betty

the roots co-produced singer Betty Wright’s album Betty Wright the movie

Wright’s album Betty Wright the movie

Wright’s album Betty Wright the movie they also released their first concept

they also released their first concept

they also released their first concept record undone

record undone

record undone later that year with their blend of

later that year with their blend of

later that year with their blend of hip-hop and neo soul the roots won fans

hip-hop and neo soul the roots won fans

hip-hop and neo soul the roots won fans by using multiple instruments more often

by using multiple instruments more often

by using multiple instruments more often associated with jazz and funk during

associated with jazz and funk during

associated with jazz and funk during their live performances they have become

their live performances they have become

their live performances they have become an influence for many artists and

an influence for many artists and

an influence for many artists and continued to be admired by critics and

continued to be admired by critics and

continued to be admired by critics and fans alike