Why are the Roots one of the most important bands in recent history? Formed in the late 1980s in Philadelphia, Questlove, Black Thought and the Roots crew revolutionised the sound of hip-hop by placing it within the live band context
The Roots' story began back in the days of 1987 when rapper Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) and drummer Questlove aka Ahmir Khalib Thompson became buddies at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts. Playing around school, on the sidewalk, and later at talent shows (with Questlove'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.
Soon, the Roots became a highly tipped underground act around Philly and New York City. Their first major-label album, Do You Want More?!!!??!, was released in 1995, neglecting the usual hip-hop formula as the album was produced live without the use of sampling.
Largely ignored by hardcore hip-hop audiences around the US, the Roots made more marks in alternative circles, partly due to playing the second stage at Lollapalooza that summer. The band also journeyed to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and hooked up with fellow-jedis of the hip-hop force, like the singular Erykah Badu, for their third album:
With 1999's Things Fall Apart, the band earned critical and commercial success, a lot of it having to do with their force as a live act and Questlove’s encyclopaedic musical knowledge.
Three years later, Phrenology was released and in 2004, the band created the Okayplayer production/promotion company. The same year, the band held a series of jam sessions to give their next album a looser, funky feel. The results were edited down to ten magnificent tracks and released as The Tipping Point in July 2004.
Signed to DefJam in 2006, they released Game Theory (2006), Rising Down (2008), How I Got Over (2010) and, together with John Legend, Wake Up! (2010).
Through 2009 and 2010, the Roots expanded their reach as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Have a listen to their Fireside Chat on Red Bull Music Academy Radio and get to the bottom of what it is that makes the Roots what they are – one of the most important bands in hip-hop’s modern history.
Playlist:
The Roots – The Seed/Melting Pot/Web (live)
The Roots – Pass The Popcorn – Self Released
The Roots – Proceed – Geffen
The Roots – What They Do – Geffen
The Roots – Do You Want More - Geffen
The Roots feat. Erykah Badu – You Got Me – Geffen
The Roots – Double Trouble – Def Jam
The Roots – Rock You – Geffen
The Roots – The Seed – Geffen
The Roots – Here I Come – Def Jam
The Roots – Lost Desire – Def Jam
The Roots – Get Busy – Def Jam
Talk Over Tracks:
The Roots – Din Da Da – Geffen
The Roots – Break You Off – Geffen
More Red Bull Culture:
Questlove’s Afro-Picks - Video
Questlove’s Afro-Picks – Photostory and Music Stream
Questlove Talks About Red Bull Music Academy
Rock The Bells Hip-Hop Festival
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