The Roots Lyrics

The Roots Info:

Also known as:
The Legendary Roots Crew
The Fifth Dynasty
The Square Roots
Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show Band

From:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Genres:
Alternative hip hop, neo soul, jazz rap

Years active:
1987-present

Associated acts:
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jill Scott
Jaguar Wright
Amel Larrieux
John Legend
Dave Chappelle
Erykah Badu
BT
Big K.R.I.T.
Jimmy Fallon
Elvis Costello

Members:
Black Thought -
rapping (1987-present)

Questlove -
drums (1987-present)

Kamal Gray -
electronic keyboard (1994-present)

F. Knuckles -
percussion (2001-present)

Captain Kirk Douglas -
electric guitar (2003-present)

Tuba Gooding, Jr. (Damon Bryson) -
sousaphone (2007-present)

James Poyser -
electronic keyboard
(For The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and occasional performances only)

Mark Kelley -
bass guitar (2011-present)


Past members:
Malik B. - rapping (1987-1999)

Kid Crumbs (Kenyatta Warren) - rapping (1993)

Rubberband (Josh Abrams) - bass (1992)

Rahzel - beatboxing (1995-2001)

Dice Raw - rapping (1995-2001) (frequent collaborator with the band)

Scott Storch - keyboards (1993-1995)

Ben Kenney - guitar, bass (2000-2003)

Martin Luther - vocals (2003-2004)

Scratch - beatboxing (1996-2003)

Leonard 'Hub' Hubbard - bass (1992-2007)

Owen Biddle - bass (2007-2011)


Did You Know:
The founding members met at Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts

The Roots Quotes:
Phrenology is the study of the brain or how it operates, you know, the particular components that effect the nerves and the thought process, and the study of the size of the head. We just wanted to tie it into subject matters.
Black Thought

My main concern is that there is a balance in the system and that some art-based hip-hop can get out to the masses, 'cause right now people are not responding to what they don't know. Most people are just afraid to think on their own.
Black Thought

We go under the industry There is no subculture anymore, hip-hop used to be the subculture of the music industry; it was the underground. Now it's the mainstream of the music industry.
Black Thought

In Italy once I caused a car crash, that was the sweetest revenge. It was the sweetest vindication I have ever had in my life. Four assholes were driving in their car in Rome and they rode by me, rolled down the window, shouted out derogatory comments, and drove straight into a pole.
Black Thought

Tour Dates: