The Roots are without a doubt one of the greatest Hip Hop groups of all time.
Holding on to the jazz band structure that preceded the genre, they were able to keep the live music trait moving into the 2000’s. Seeing a present day rapper perform with a live band is a rare treat. The Roots have been able to hold onto that band formula, consistently resulting in dope shows and an incomparable chemistry.
If there’s any criticism to be made of bands within Hip Hop, it’s that what they gain in musical backing, they lose in the emcee’s prominence on the mic. The Roots are a stranger to that fault since they’ve been fronted by the lyrically vicious, flow sharp as katanas, emcee Black Thought, who put enough weight on the rapping scale that Questlove could just tap his drumsticks together and they’d be fine.
Celebrating a twentieth anniversary for these artists is an awe filled realization. It’s a testament to their longevity, a longevity which isn’t present among most mainstream Hip Hop acts. To remain as relevant and as talented as they were in 95′ when Do You Want More?!!!??! dropped is a feat unparalleled.
I look forward to hearing anything The Roots drop and I’m definitely excited for their upcoming documentary, a snippet of you can watch below.
Art by yours truly, Arthur Banach, check me out on instagram @wildhxir
