The Roots

Biography from RollingStone.com

Originally formed in 1989, this Philadelphia supergroup is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Pioneers of the live-rap movement, the Roots use traditional instrumentation in lieu of samples and drum machines. Their distinctly jazzy sound is the direct result of highly skilled musicianship, as demonstrated on their high-quality albums and always impressive live performances. In addition to their signature, organic sound, they are also known for their positive and conscious lyricism. Emcees Black Thought and Malik B always give you something to think about, dropping verses on such heavy topics as politics, equality and respect for fellow man. The Roots have opened the door for a new breed of artist, stressing the importance of original music and intelligent content, a refreshing contrast to hip-hop's glut of party-thug rappers. They are without a doubt one of the most important bands around, not just as emcees, but as musicians and role models.

Biography from ShoreFire.com

1987. Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, second day of school. A student named Ahmir Thompson walks into the principal's office seeking a lunch pass. At the same time, a freshman named Tariq Trotter stumbles in, gripped by school guards who caught him engaging in "extracurricular" activities with a ballerina in the ladies bathroom...[more]

Discography

Do You Want More?!!!??! []

Release Date: 1/17/1995

UPC: 720642470824

01. Intro/There's Something Goin' On

02. Proceed

03. Distortion To Static

04. Mellow My Man

05. I Remain Calm

06. Datskat

07. Lazy Afternoon

08. ? Vs. Rahzel

09. Do You Want More?!!!??!

10. What Goes On Pt. 7

11. Essaywhuman?!!!??!

12. Swept Away

13. You Ain't Fly

14. Silent Treatment

15. The Lesson Pt. 1

16. The Unlocking

17. Intro / There's Something Goin' On

18. What Goes On, Pt. 7

Illadelph Halflife[]

Release Date: 9/24/1996

UPC: 720642497227

01. Intro

02. Respond/React

03. Section

04. Panic!!!!!!

05. It Just Don't Stop

06. Episodes

07. Push up Ya Lighter

08. What They Do

09. ? Vs. Scratch (The Token DJ Cut)

10. Concerto of Desparado

11. Clones

12. Universe at War

13. No Alibi

14. Dave Vs. Us

15. No Great Pretender

16. Hypnotic

17. Ital (The Universal Side)

18. One Shine

19. Adventures in Wonderland

20. Outro

Things Fall Apart []

Release Date: 2/23/1999

UPC: 008811194840

01. Act Won...Things Fall Apart

02. Table of Contents, Pts. 1 & 2

03. The Next Movement (ft. DJ Jazzy Jeff)

04. Step Into The Realm

05. Spark

06. Dynamite!

07. Without a Doubt

08. Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New

09. Double Trouble

10. Act Too...The Love Of My Life

11. 100% Dundee

12. Diedre Vs. Dice

13. Adrenaline

14. 3rd Act: ? Vs. Scratch 2...Electric Boogaloo

15. You Got Me

16. You Don't See Us

17. Return To Innocence Lost

18. Act Fore...The End?

The Roots Come Alive []

Release Date: 11/2/1999

UPC: 008811205928

01. Live at the T-Connection

02. Next Movement

03. Step into the Realm

04. Proceed

05. Mellow My Man

06. Love of My Life - Common

07. Ultimate

08. Don't See Us

09. 100% Dundee

10. Adrenaline! - Dice Raw

11. Essaywhuman?!!!??!

12. Silent Treatment

13. Notice

14. You Got Me

15. Encore

Phrenology []

Release Date: 11/26/2002

UPC: 008811299620

01. Phrentrow

02. Rock You

03. Sacrifice (feat. Nelly Furtado)

04. Rolling With Heat (feat. Talib Kweli)

05. WAOK Roll Call

06. Thought At Work

07. The Seed 2.0 (feat. Cody Chestnutt)

08. Break You Off (feat. Musiq)

09. Water

10. Quills

11. Pussy Galore

12. Complexity (feat. Jill Scott)

13. Something In The Way Of Things [in Town] (feat. Amiri Baraka)

The Tipping Point []

Release Date: 7/13/2004

UPC: 602498623763

01. Star/Pointro

02. I Don't Care

03. Don't Say Nuthin'

04. Guns Are Drawn

05. Stay Cool

06. Web

07. Boom!

08. Somebody's Gotta Do It

09. Duck Down!

10. Why (What's Goin On?)

Photographs

they are musical geniuses

indeed

Don't forget their first album, Organix.

What album would you recommend for a newbie?

I love the Roots

For a newbie I think I would go with Phrenology, but all of the albums are good.

I would suggest "Things Fall Apart". That is a CLASSIC!!! Too bad Malik B. is no longer part of the group. His drug problem became too much for the other Roots members to handle.

19.02.09

The only group worth listening to today

They even played on my sons favorite show, Yo Gabba Gabba