The Roots

The Roots
Michael Seeley from Melbourne, FL, United States · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	The Roots
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genre	Alternative hip hop, neo soul, jazz rap
Years active	1987–present
Label	MCA, Geffen, Def Jam, Okayplayer
Associated acts	The Soulquarians, J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Common

The Roots. An American hip hop band formed in 1987 in Philadelphia, renowned for their live instrumentation and profound influence on alternative hip hop. The group achieved mainstream prominence as the house band for *Late Night with Jimmy Fallon* and its successor, *The Tonight Show*, a role that cemented their status as cultural ambassadors. With a career spanning over three decades, they are celebrated for their sophisticated musicianship, socially conscious lyrics, and pivotal role in the neo soul movement.

History

The collective was founded by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson while they were students at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Their early performances on South Street in Philadelphia led to the independent release of their debut album, *Organix*, in 1993. Signing with Geffen/MCA, they released *Do You Want More?!!!??!* (1995), which garnered critical acclaim for its jazz-infused sound. The critical and commercial breakthrough came with *Illadelph Halflife* (1996) and the certified platinum *Things Fall Apart* (1999), the latter featuring the Grammy-winning single "You Got Me" with Erykah Badu and Eve. This period aligned them with the Soulquarians collective, collaborating with artists like D'Angelo and Common. In 2009, they began their historic residency as the house band for NBC's *Late Night*, a move that introduced their musicianship to a vast network television audience.

Musical style and influences

The band is distinguished by their use of live instruments, notably Questlove's intricate drumming and Captain Kirk Douglas's guitar work, eschewing the sampling and drum machine reliance common in hip hop. Their sound is a sophisticated amalgam of jazz rap, funk, soul, and neo soul, drawing direct inspiration from pioneers like A Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers, and De La Soul. Lyrically, Black Thought is renowned for his complex, literate, and often socio-politically charged raps, influenced by the teachings of The Five Percent Nation and the storytelling of Slick Rick. Their work with producer J Dilla and within the Soulquarians further refined their organic, improvisation-friendly approach, impacting the sound of albums like D'Angelo's *Voodoo* and Common]'s *Like Water for Chocolate*.

Band members

The core lineup has remained stable around founding members Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter (lead vocals) and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson (drums, musical director). Longtime key members include Kamal Gray (keyboards), Captain Kirk Douglas (guitar), Mark Kelley (bass), Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson (sousaphone), and James Poyser (keyboards), a frequent collaborator and fellow Soulquarian. Former pivotal members include Malik B. and Dice Raw (contributing rappers), and Scott Storch (keyboards during the *Illadelph Halflife* era). The ensemble functions as a true collective, with each musician contributing significantly to the composition and live performance.

Discography

Their studio album chronology showcases a consistent evolution: *Do You Want More?!!!??!* (1995), *Illadelph Halflife* (1996), the seminal *Things Fall Apart* (1999), *Phrenology* (2002), *The Tipping Point* (2004), *Game Theory* (2006), *Rising Down* (2008), *How I Got Over* (2010), *Undun* (2011), a concept album inspired by the life of a fictional character, and their final studio album (to date) *...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin* (2014). They have also released collaborative albums, such as *Wake Up!* with John Legend, and numerous live recordings and compilations through their Okayplayer label.

Cultural impact and legacy

The group is widely credited with legitimizing live instrumentation in hip hop and broadening the genre's artistic boundaries. Their residency on *Late Night* and *The Tonight Show* made them America's most visible hip hop band, providing a platform for countless musical guests across all genres. Through their Okayplayer collective and label, they fostered a community of like-minded artists, directly influencing the neo soul movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. They have received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, and are frequently cited by artists from Kendrick Lamar to The Weeknd as a major influence. Their album *Things Fall Apart* was inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Category:American hip hop groups Category:Musical groups from Philadelphia Category:Alternative hip hop groups