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The Roots

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The Roots
The Roots performing in 2016
The Roots performing in 2016
Background information
Also known asThe Legendary Roots Crew
The Fifth Dynasty
The Square Roots
The Tonight Show Band
OriginPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S.
Genres
DiscographyThe Roots discography
Years active1987(1987)–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
Past members
Websitetheroots

The Rootsare an Americanhip hopband formed in 1987 byTariq "Black Thought" TrotterandAhmir "Questlove" ThompsoninPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania.The Roots serve as thehouse bandonNBC'sThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,having served in the same role onLate Night with Jimmy Fallonfrom 2009 to 2014. Current regular members of The Roots onThe Tonight ShowareCaptain Kirk Douglas,Mark Kelley,James Poyser,Ian Hendrickson-Smith,Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr."Bryson,Stro Elliot,Dave Guy,Kamal Gray,andRaymond Angry.

The Roots are known for ajazzyand eclectic approach to hip hop featuring live musical instruments[6]and the group's work has consistently been met with critical acclaim.ThoughtCoranked the band #7 on its list of the 25 Best Hip-Hop Groups of All-Time, calling them "Hip-hop's first legitimate band."[7]

In addition to the band's music, several members of the Roots are involved in side projects, includingrecord production,acting, and regularly serving as guests on other musicians' albums and live shows.

Band history

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1987–1993: early years

[edit]
Black Thought with the Roots in 1999

The Roots originated inPhiladelphiawith Ahmir "Questlove"Thompson and Tariq"Black Thought"Trotter while they were both attending thePhiladelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.[8]They wouldbuskout on the street corners with Questlove playing bucket drums and Black Thought rapping over his rhythms. Their first organized gig was a talent show in 1989 at the school where they used the name Radio Activity, which began a series of name changes that progressed through Black to the Future and then The Square Roots.[9]Another MC, Malik B., and a permanent bass player, Leonard "Hub" Hubbard, were added to the band before the release of their first album. In 1992, they dropped the "Square" from "Square Roots" because a local folk group had claim to the name.

Unable to break through in their native Philadelphia, the band briefly moved to London, where they would release their 1993 debut,Organix.The album was released and sold independently. In the span of a year, the band developed a cult following in Europe, boosted by touring. The Roots would receive offers from music labels, and the band eventually signed with DGC/Geffen.

1994–1997:Do You Want More?!!!??!andIlladelph Halflife

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The Roots' first album for DGC,Do You Want More?!!!??!,was released in the United States the year following the signing. During the recording process, beatboxerRahzeland keyboardistScott Storchjoined the band.[10]The addition of the two members provided additional depth to the band's sound, and energized the Roots' Philadelphia jam sessions, which the band would later sample for songs onDo You Want More?!!!??!.The album's opening track features Black Thought introducing the band's sound as "organic hip hop jazz"; the album is characterized by a combination of contemporaryEast Coast hip hopandjazzinfluences, with a heavy reliance on Storch'sFender Rhodesand the occasional saxophone of guest musicianSteve Coleman.The album spawned three singles with accompanying videos: "Proceed", "Distortion to Static", and "Silent Treatment". The album was a moderate hit amongalternative musicfans, boosted by the group's appearance atLollapalooza.In 1995, the band performed at theMontreux Jazz Festival.In the years since its release,Do You Want More?!!!??!has come to be considered to be a classicjazz rapalbum.[11]

The Roots in 1999

The 1996 releaseIlladelph Halflifewas the group's third album and their first to break the Top 40 on theBillboard200chart,[10]spurred in part by MTV's airplay of the video for "What They Do" (a parody of rap video clichés)[12]and "Clones", which was their first single to reach the top five on the rap charts. The band added "What They Do" was also the group's first single to hit theTop 40ofBillboard'scharts, reaching a peak of No. 34. Scott Storch left the band and was replaced by a new keyboardist,Kamal Gray.The band's sound would take a darker turn during this period, heavily influenced bythe Wu-Tang Clanand theRZA's grimy and haunting production style, replete with samples from old jazz and classical music. The album is also notable for its many guests and collaborators, includingCommon,D'Angelo,Q-Tip,and others. These collaborations would provide the foundation for the creation of theSoulquariansand forged the Roots' association with theneo-soulsubgenre.

1998–2000: breakthrough withThings Fall Apart

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The group releasedThings Fall Apartin 1999 (named afterThings Fall Apart,a novel byChinua Achebe,which in turn was named after a line from "The Second Coming"by W.B. Yeats). This was their breakthrough album, peaking at No. 4 on theBillboard200 charts and earning agold record,signifying U.S. sales of at least 500,000 units.[13]The album was eventually certifiedplatinumin April 2013. Mos Def contributed to the track entitled "Double Trouble". The track "Act Two" features African-Belgian bandZap MamaandCommon.The track "You Got Me",a duet withR&BsingerErykah BaduandEveandJill Scottintended by Black Thought for the "unconscious" population,[14]peaked at No. 39 on theBillboardHot 100 charts. At the42nd Grammy Awards"You Got Me" won the award for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group[15]and the album was nominated for Best Rap Album.[16]

Steve Huey of the website allmusic perceived "a strong affinity for the neo-soul movement" in the album.[17]First-time cameos onThings Fall Apartfor Philadelphia nativesBeanie Sigeland Eve helped to earn them major record deals later (withRoc-A-FellaandRuff Ryders,respectively). After this album,Dice Rawleft the collective to record his solo debut albumReclaiming the Dead.In the summer, the band performed at theWoodstock '99concert in New York state.[18]

2001–2005:PhrenologyandThe Tipping Point

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Several members, including longtime member Malik B., left the group. In December 2001, the Roots backedJay-Zfor hisMTV Unpluggedconcert.[19]With heightened popularity came mounting pressure. The Roots releasedPhrenology(named after thepseudoscience of the same name) in 2002. Despite not charting as high asThings Fall Apart,reaching a peak of No. 28 on the charts,Phrenologywas commercially successful, being certified gold, and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. At the time, however, there came rumors that the Roots were losing interest in their signing with MCA.[10]During this time, the band backed Jay-Z for his 2003 farewell concert in Madison Square Garden and appeared in the accompanyingFade to Blackconcert film.

AfterPhrenology,Ben Kenney and Scratch both left the group; Kenney joined the rock bandIncubus.[20]This culminated with the release of 2004'sThe Tipping Point,the byproduct of several jam sessions.[10]The album earned two more Grammy nominations: one for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Star/Pointro" and another for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for the track "Don't Say Nuthin'."[21]The Tipping Pointpeaked at No. 4 on theBillboardalbum chart. In 2005,Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Volumes 1 & 2,a two-disc compilation album, was released. The Roots were among several performers on the 2006 filmDave Chappelle's Block Party,whose event took place on September 18, 2004,[22]and was released on film two years later.[23]

2006–2008:Game TheoryandRising Down

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Game Theorywas released August 29, 2006, onDef Jam Recordings.Questlove describes the album as being very dark and reflective of the political state in America.[24]The first single from the album, "Don't Feel Right", appeared on the internet in May 2006, and is available for free download on several websites. The album's first video, titled "The Don't Feel Right Trilogy", premiered on August 21, 2006, and features three songs, "In the Music", "Here I Come", and "Don't Feel Right". It earned an 83 on Metacritic and two Grammy Nominations. The lateJ Dillais honoured on different occasions throughout the album. Track 1 is credited to be "Supervised by J Dilla". Track 13 "Can't Stop This" is devoted to his persona, the first part being an edited version of a track ( "Time: The Donut of the Heart" ) of hisDonutsalbum, released three days before his death. This version comprises vocals by Black Thought. Secondly, a string of kindred artists reminisce about J Dilla in the form of answering machine messages.

The Roots' eighth studio album,Rising Down,was released on April 29, 2008, the 16-year anniversary of the1992 Los Angeles riots.In the weeks before the album's release, the original first single "Birthday Girl", a radio-friendly collaboration with Fall Out Boy'sPatrick Stumpwas removed from the album reportedly because it did not fit in with the album's tone.[25]It remained as a digital download available fromiTunesas a bonus track, as well as on international releases. Picking up whereGame Theoryleft off, the album maintains a dark and political tone, with Black Thought and several guests venting about the ills of society. The album's guests includeChrisette Michele,Common,Mos Def,Saigon,Styles P,Talib Kweli,andWale;it also features Philadelphia artists Dice Raw,DJ Jazzy Jeff,Peedi Crakk,Greg Porn, and Truck North, as well as former member Malik B.Rising Downfeatures the Roots incorporating a more electronic andsynth-heavy feel into their sound.Rising Downwas released to critical acclaim, garnering an overall score of 80 onMetacritic.The album's first single was "Rising Up" featuring Chrisette Michele and Wale.

The Roots was among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the2008 Universal Studios fire.[26]Responding to an earlierTimesreport, Questlove confirmed that the masters forDo You Want More?!!!??!andIlladelph Halflifewere among those lost in the fire.[27]

2009–2010:How I Got OverandWake Up!

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How I Got Overreflects the relief the band felt at the end of theBush administrationand the beginning of theObamapresidency. Guests includeBlu,Phonte,andPatty Crash.A cover ofCody Chesnutt's song "Serve This Royalty" was expected to be covered on the album, similar to the group's reworking of his single for "The Seed 2.0"onPhrenology.[28]Rather than relying on samples, the album was recorded live, with covers (including "Celestial Blues", featuring the song's original artist,Andy Bey) being reinterpreted by the band.[29]The album was released on June 22, 2010.

On June 24, 2009, the Roots debuted the first single and title track from the album live onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon.The song features longtime Roots collaborator Dice Raw.[30]The Roots collaborated with R&B singerJohn Legendon the albumWake Up!.The album was released on September 21, 2010, and was publicized two days later with a live concert at Terminal 5 in New York City with John Legend andJennifer Hudsonthat was streamed on YouTube. On October 30, 2010, the Roots and John Legend played live at theRally to Restore Sanity and/or Fearin Washington, D.C.

2011–2014:Undun,...And Then You Shoot Your Cousinand side projects

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The Roots released their 13th albumUndunvia Def Jam Records on December 6, 2011.[31]The first single "Make My" leaked on October 17, 2011.Unduntells the story of their semifictional character, Redford Stephens, who struggles unsuccessfully to avoid a life of crime and fast money. The album's name is inspired byThe Guess Who's song "Undun", and the character was named after theSufjan Stevenssong "Redford".[32]The album features artists includingAaron Livingston,Big K.R.I.T.,Phonte,Dice Raw,Greg Porn, Truck North,Bilal,andSufjan Stevens.The Roots also collaborated with R&B singerBetty Wrighton the 2011 albumBetty Wright: The Movie,credited to Betty Wright and the Roots. The album, co-produced by Wright and Questlove, was nominated for a 2012Grammyin the "Best Traditional R&B Performance."

The Roots andElvis CostelloreleasedWise Up Ghoston September 17, 2013, viaBlue Note Records.[33]On July 22, 2013, they released a music video for the first single, "Walk Us Uptown".[34]The Roots released...And Then You Shoot Your Cousinon May 19, 2014. The first single, "When the People Cheer", was released on April 7, 2014. Black Thought described the album as a satirical look at violence in hip-hop and American society overall.[35]

2015–present:End Game

[edit]

In an interview withFuse TV,Questlove said he also had "two or three secret, major musical projects that I'm working on that I can't really talk about."[36]In September 2016 The Roots backed upUsherat a Global Citizen benefit concert in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, launching speculation of a major collaboration between the two acts. In October 2016, the group announced their 17th studio album,End Game.[37]Black Thoughtin June 2017 further revealed that producers9th WonderandSalaam Remiwill contribute to the album,[38]and in March 2019, Questlove revealed there will be an unreleased J Dilla beat on it as well.[39]

Members

[edit]

The Roots' original lineup included Tariq "Black Thought"Trotter (MC) and Ahmir "Questlove"Thompson (drums), classmates at thePhiladelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.[10]As they began to play at school and on local streets, they added bassist Josh "The Rubberband" Abrams, who went on to form thejazzgroup The Josh Abrams Quartet. They later added another MC,Malik Abdul Basit-Smart( "Malik B." ) andLeonard Nelson "Hub" Hubbard(bass), andScott Storch(keyboards). Kenyatta "Kid Crumbs" Warren (MC) was in the band for Organix, the Roots' first album release. Another MC,Dice Raw,joined the band in cameo appearances on later albums. The band filled Storch's position withKamal Gray(keyboards), who continues in that capacity. Kamal Gray did not play with the Roots onLate Night With Jimmy Fallonbetween April or May and early September 2012. His absence was not publicly explained, however on the September 17, 2012 (NBC's 'Late Night' 700th) episode, Gray returned to the group. BeatboxerRahzelwas a band member from 1995 to 2001. Alongside Rahzel was turntablist/vocalistScratch,who also DJ'd in live concerts. However Scratch left abruptly in 2003. Malik B. left the group in 1999 for personal reasons but continued to record, making occasional cameos on some albums. GuitaristBen Kenneyhad a brief stint with the group and contributed to thePhrenologyalbum, but left to joinIncubusas bassist. Percussionist Frank Knuckles joined the lineup in 2002 and guitarist"Captain" Kirk Douglasreplaced Kenney. VocalistMartin Luthertoured with the Roots in 2003 and 2004 and contributed to theTipping Pointalbum. The group announced in August 2007 that its longtime bassist Leonard Hubbard was leaving. Owen Biddle was the band's bassist in 2007–2011.SousaphoneplayerDamon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Brysonjoined the band in 2007.

The band announced on August 25, 2011, that Owen Biddle left the band, replaced byMark Kelley.[40][41]OnThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,James Poyserplays keyboards.Raymond Angryalso regularly sits in on keyboards.

Because most of the band members hail from Philadelphia and its surrounding area, they showed their support for thePhiladelphia Philliesduring the2009 World Seriesagainst theNew York Yankees,displaying Phillies memorabilia when performing onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon.On the episode which aired the day after the Yankees clinched the title,Questlovestated "No comment!" on the show's intro (when he usually states the episode number), and had a Yankees logo purposely displayed upside-down on his drumset. In 2010, the group showed support for thePhiladelphia Flyersduring their run to the2010 Stanley Cup Finalsby having the team logo on their drumset, and again in 2014 when the Flyers faced theNew York Rangersin the first round of the playoffs onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

In April 2017, Frank Knuckles left the Roots due to family issues, and has not appeared onThe Tonight Showsince then. Later in August 2017, Knuckles sued Questlove, Black Thought, and the band manager Shawn Gee over unpaid royalties.[42]

In June 2017, Questlove announced in an interview that producer and performerStro Elliotis an official member of the Roots.[43]

On July 29, 2020, founding memberMalik B.died at the age of 47.[44]

Band lineup

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Questlove in discussion during book signing, 2013.

Current members

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Former members

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Timeline

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Touring and other work

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The Roots performing in 2007

The band tours extensively, and their live sets are frequently hailed as the best in the genre.[45]TheBlack Eyed Peasopened for The Roots in a performance atRochester Institute of Technologyin May 2001. In 2006, the band played a concert in NYC's Radio City Music Hall withCommon,Nas,Talib Kweli,andBig Daddy Kane.[46]Also in 2006, they backedJay-Zfor his Reasonable Doubt Concert, a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the release of his first album.[47][48]

In 1994, the Roots appeared on theRed Hot Organization's compilation album,Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool.The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" byTimemagazine. They have been highly involved in many other Red Hot Organization productions, including the 1998 albumRed Hot + Rhapsodyand the 2001 albumRed Hot + Indigo,a tribute toDuke Ellington.

The Roots' Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame marker located on South Broad Street

The Roots have been featured in four movies:Dave Chappelle's Block Party,both performing album songs and playing as a backing band for other artists;Spike Lee'sBamboozled;Marc Levin'sBrooklyn Babylon,in whichBlack Thoughtplays the protagonist, Solomon, and former band memberRahzelnarrates; andChasing Liberty,starringMandy Moore.Black Thought and Questlove were both featured in the movieBrown Sugar.Black Thought made an appearance in the filmLove Romeas Tariq Trotter, and Questlove currently appears in the recent documentary movie aboutTBC Brass BandcalledFrom the Mouthpiece on Back,which lists the Roots as one of the executive producers of the movie.

The Roots were featured on the albumTrue LovebyToots and the Maytals,which won theGrammy Awardin 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians includingWillie Nelson,Eric Clapton,Jeff Beck,Trey Anastasio,Gwen Stefani/No Doubt,Ben Harper,Bonnie Raitt,Manu Chao,Ryan Adams,Keith Richards,Toots Hibbert,Paul Douglas,Jackie Jackson,Ken Boothe,andThe Skatalites.[49]

The band guest-performed with theDave Matthews Bandduring their 2007 summer tour. Members of the Roots played in various forms as well as a whole band on DMB's back to back concerts atAlpine Valley Music TheatreinEast Troy,Wisconsin.In 2007, the band performed at anNAACPtribute toBono,coveringU2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"and"Pride (In the Name of Love)."Black Thought mixed in lines from the band's own" False Media. "[50]

The group hosts a highly anticipated jam session every year the night before the Grammys.[51]The Roots jam session, produced byOkayplayer,Goodtime Girl Entertainment, andKeldof,has been attended by celebrities ranging from Jay-Z,Beyoncé,andTom CruisetoDon Cheadle,Jeremy Piven,andPrince,with impromptu performances fromSnoop DoggandCorrine Bailey RaetoQueen Latifah,Matisyahu,Fall Out Boy,andDave Chappelle.

Billed as "The Roots," Questlove, Douglas, and Biddle made an appearance onThe Colbert Reporton April 15, 2008, whenStephen Colbertspent a week inPhiladelphiaprior to the2008 Pennsylvania Democratic primary.During the appearance, they performed the intro song to the show, and closed the episode with a rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."[52]

The Roots are featured on theMen in BlackOriginal Soundtrack(1997) with the song "The Notic" with neo-soul singerD'Angelo.The song "Here I Come" was featured in the filmsSuperbad,Hancock,andStep Up 3D."Here I Come" is also featured in many video games includingProject Gotham Racing 4.The song "The Seed 2.0" featuringCody ChesnuTTwas featured in the moviesCollateralandI Think I Love My Wife,as well as theWithout a Traceepisode "Candy." The song "Don't Say Nuthin" was featured in the first-season episode, "Busey and the Beach," ofHBO'sEntourage.The song "Guns Are Drawn," featuring Aaron Livingston, was featured in a season six episode of CBS'Cold Case.The band also collaborated with musicianBTon the song "Tao of the Machine," which was featured in the filmBlade IIalong with the Japanese bonus disc for the albumEmotional Technology.[53]

In 2008, the band (then consisting of Black Thought, Questlove, Captain Kirk Douglas, Damon Bryson, Frank Knuckles, Kamal Gray, and Owen Biddle) appeared on the popular kids' showYo Gabba Gabba!,performing "Lovely, Love My Family". Three years later, in 2011, the band returned to the show to perform "We Have Fun," with James Poyser joining Gray on keyboards, and Mark Kelley (replacing Biddle) playing upright bass.

The band also did a secret jam session at the Oulipo Ballroom in Kentucky in 2009.[citation needed]In 2012, they played during the NHL Winter Classic at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia[54]and atAustin City Limits Music Festival(ACL) in Austin, Texas.[55]In 2013, they performed at theGathering of the VibesMusic Festival at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[56]

The Roots host theRoots Picnic,an annual all-day music festival in Philadelphia, every June.[57]In 2017, they headlined the 2017 NBA All Star game pregame introductions and performed a musical show with various guests titled "The Evolution of Greatness."

Late NightandThe Tonight Show

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In March 2009, the Roots became the officialhouse bandonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon,with "Here I Come" as the show's theme.[58]WhenJimmy Fallonbecame the host ofThe Tonight Showin February 2014, the Roots became the house band for that show.[59]

The Roots are featured heavily throughout the show, providing the bumper music in and out of commercials, as well as the opening song "Here I Come"and playing the show off the air. Fallon frequently interacts with the band during the course of the show, and they occasionally provide snippets of music for some monologue running jokes such as Funkin' GoNuts. They also provide music and drum rolls for the games with show guests, along with theme songs for the games and segments like Darts of Insanity, Wheel of Carpet Samples, and Christmas Sweaters.

On November 22, 2011, US Congresswoman and presidential candidateMichele Bachmannwas a guest onLate Night.For her entrance, the Roots controversially played a snippet fromFishbone's 1985 song, "Lying Ass Bitch"[60]resulting in apologies from Fallon,[61]Questlove for The Roots,[62]and NBC.[63]The incident nearly resulted in the Roots being dismissed from the show, but the timing of theThanksgivingholiday and a national security gaffe[64]by Bachmann shortly after helped defuse the situation in the media.[65]NBC now approves all walk-on songs before to the filming of each show.[65]

Sketches

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  • One of the first sketches involving the Roots was "Freestyling with the Roots."Fallon finds an audience member and gets them to talk about themselves and a topic. The information is relayed to Trotter along with a genre of music, and they then compose a song on the spot. In the early days of the show in 2009, there was apprehension about their overall fit with the show, but after the first appearance of this sketch and its successful reception,"....They knew they were there for life. "[66]
  • Thank You Notes,a segment every Friday, involves keyboardistJames Poyserprominently. The segment starts with "Can I get some thank you writing music, James?" with Poyser playing and typically acting upset. Fallon then tries to engage with him to get him to smile before continuing the segment.
  • Slow Jam the Newsfeatures Fallon and Trotter, often with a celebrity guest, rhyming over a "slow-jam"played by the Roots. The lyrics are often political or current events related, with guests usually appearing to talk about an issue pertinent to them.Brian Williamsis a frequent popular guest "vocalist," talking about the news as if he were still behind hisanchor desk.[67]Some of the notable guest slow-jammers include former PresidentBarack Obama[68]and former GovernorMitt Romney.[69]Like the majority of the show, the segments are uploaded to YouTube after airing on NBC and often goviral;President Obama's clip has received over 8 million views[70]and theMitt Romneyclip received 2.7 million views in less than a week.[71]
  • The Roots have contributed to additional online successes with the Classroom Instruments sketch. Fallon and a musical guest from the show will record an arrangement of a song with the Roots providing accompaniment on instruments that would be found in an elementary school music class. Examples of these instruments arewood blocks,pixiphones,kazoos,tambourines,melodica,shakers,andrecorders.They have performed "Call Me Maybe"withCarly Rae Jepsen,[72]"Blurred Lines"withRobin Thicke,[73]"All I Want for Christmas"withMariah Carey,"Hello"withAdele,[74]theSesame Streettheme songwith several members of the cast,[75]and "Enter Sandman"withMetallica.
  • The Roots also provide the backing tracks for Fallon's andJustin Timberlake's episodic "History of Rap." As of March 2014, the History of Rap saga consists of 5 parts and 101 individual songs, all performed with a comedic approach.[76][77]The fifth installment was performed during the inaugural week of Fallon'sTonight Show.[77]

Philanthropy

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The founding members of The Roots attended a creative arts school in South Philadelphia called CAPA, and through a donation helped set up the CAPA Foundation, where they now sit on the board.[78]The Roots partnership with the CAPA Foundation also includes opportunities for students to perform on national stages, learn through internships the business side of show business and a master class series.

After watching the 2010 documentaryWaiting for Superman,Questlovewas inspired to raise money forHarlem Village Academies,a group of charter schools.[79]

Awards and nominations

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Grammy Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000 "You Got Me"(withErykah Badu)[80] Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Won
Things Fall Apart Best Rap Album Nominated
2004 Phrenology Nominated
2005 "Star" Best Urban/Alternative Performance Nominated
"Don't Say Nuthin'" Best Rap Performance By a Duo/Group Nominated
2007 "Don't Feel Right" (featuring Maimouna Youssef) Nominated
Game Theory Best Rap Album Nominated
2011 "Hang On in There"(withJohn Legend) Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance Won
Wake Up!(with John Legend) Best R&B Album Won
"Shine"(with John Legend) Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Nominated
"Wake Up Everybody"(with John Legend,Melanie Fiona&Common) Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Nominated
How I Got Over Best Rap Album Nominated
2012 "Surrender"(withBetty Wright) Best Traditional R&B Performance Nominated
2013 Undun Best Rap Album Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 The Seed 2.0 MTV2 Award Nominated

mtvU Woodie Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2004 The Roots Road Woodie Nominated
Welcome Back Woodie Nominated[81]

BET Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005 The Roots Best Group Nominated
2009 The Roots Best Group Nominated

NAACP Image Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005 The Roots Outstanding Duo or Group Nominated
2007 The Roots Outstanding Duo or Group Won[82]
2011 Wake Up! Outstanding Collaboration Won[83]
Outstanding Album Won[83]

Discography

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Main article:The Roots discography

Studio albums

A distinctive feature of the Roots albums is the way tracks are numbered. With the exception of their collaboration albums, the Roots have used continuous track numbering beginning with their first studio albumOrganixthrough all following albums:[86]

  • 1–17:Organix
  • 18–33:Do You Want More?!!!??!
  • 34–53:Illadelph Halflife
  • 54–71:Things Fall Apart
  • 72–76:The Legendary
  • 77–86:The Roots Come Alive
  • 87–102:Phrenology
  • 103–113:The Tipping Point
  • 114–127:Game Theory
  • 128–143:Rising Down
  • 143–156:How I Got Over
  • 157–170:Undun
  • 171–181:...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin

Questlovereferences this numbering system in his bookMo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove(specifically to the release ofIlladelph Halflife), and explains it was "...our way of saying that it was a continuation of the work we had started onOrganixandDo You Want More?!!!??!."[87]

Similarly, the Roots' 2005 compilation albums,Home Grown! The Beginners Guide to Understanding The Roots, Vol. 1andVol. 2,feature a continuous track numbering beginning at negative 29 and counting up to zero. The implication is that this "Beginners Guide" would introduce new fans to the Roots and lead them to consuming the Roots' discography beginning atOrganix.[citation needed]

  • −29 thru −14:Home Grown! The Beginners Guide to Understanding The Roots, Vol. 1
  • −13 thru 0:Home Grown! The Beginners Guide to Understanding The Roots, Vol. 2

References

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  1. ^Bush, John (n.d.)."The Roots: Biography & History".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 27,2021.
  2. ^Patrin, Nate (June 25, 2010)."The Roots: How I Got Over Album Review".Pitchfork.RetrievedJanuary 27,2021.
  3. ^Nieman, Carrie (May 14, 2003)."Digging the Roots".Style Weekly.RetrievedFebruary 21,2022.
  4. ^Gross, Jason (May 10, 2006)."The Roots: They're a (funky) American band".Creative Loafing Charlotte.RetrievedJanuary 27,2021.
  5. ^Lewis, Miles Marshall(August 9, 2007)."Common".Dallas Observer.RetrievedJuly 14,2021.
  6. ^Powell, Kevin (October 24, 1996)."Album Review: Illadelph Halflife".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon May 6, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 25,2010.
  7. ^Adaso, Henry (October 12, 2017)."25 Greatest Hip-Hop Groups – Best Rap Groups of All Time".ThoughtCo.RetrievedMarch 26,2018.
  8. ^"The roots of Questlove's success".CBS News.September 14, 2014.
  9. ^Thompson, Ahmir 'Questlove';Greenman, Ben(2013). "Chapter 9".Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove.Hachette Book Group. p. 88.
  10. ^abcdeBush, John (2008)."The Roots – Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedMarch 3,2009.
  11. ^"The 10 Best Jazz Rap Albums To Own On Vinyl".Vinylmeplease.November 4, 2016.
  12. ^"Roots Take A Swing At Video Cliches".MTV News.January 7, 1997. Archived fromthe originalon October 30, 2001.RetrievedMarch 3,2009.
  13. ^"Gold and Platinum – The Roots".RIAA.RetrievedMarch 4,2009.
  14. ^"The Roots Send Wake-Up Call To" Unconscious "Population".MTV News.February 23, 1999. Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2003.RetrievedMarch 3,2009.
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