The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by rapper Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. The two were friends at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals. In 1993, the Roots recorded an album Organix.
The Roots' first album for DGC, Do You Want More?!!!??!, was released in 1995. It was a moderate hit among alternative music fans due in part to the group's appearance at Lollapalooza.
The band also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival that year. Two guest performers on Do You Want More?!!!??!, Rahzel and Scott Storch joined the group.
Soon after, Storch left the band and was replaced by Kamal Gray. Their next album, Illadelph Halflife, was released in 1996. With Illadelph Halflife the band added two more members, Scratch and Dice Raw.
Illadelph Halflife was the group's first album to crack the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.
They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals. In 1993, the Roots recorded an album Organix. The Roots' first album for DGC, Do You Want More?!!!??!, was released in 1995. It was a moderate hit among alternative music fans due in part to the group's appearance at Lollapalooza.
The band also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival that year. Two guest performers on Do You Want More?!!!??!, Rahzel and Scott Storch joined the group.
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| Scratch |
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| Dice Raw |
Illadelph Halflife was the group's first album to crack the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.
So is this group one that engages in political/protest commentary?
ReplyDeleteYes, I would say that this group is one that engages in political/protest commentary. Their songs all deal with social/political issues and will either simply point out the issue or offer a solution to the issue.
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