The Roots are the greatest hip hop band of all time, hands down. From the streets of Philadelphia to late night TV, they have conquered each and every stage they've graced over their twenty-eighty year career. Questlove is a cultural icon, an authority on hip hop, accomplished author, a real-deal DJ, and elite drummer. Black Thought is a great MC, occasional actor, lethal feature, and globetrotting hip hop representative. The Roots are what you should show your grandmother, or grand-daughter, if they ask, "What is hip hop music?"
They can keep it street without being too ignorant. They can get melodic without needing a pop radio chorus. They've thrown elements of rock, punk, jazz, funk, and much more into their timeless music. They've pretty much done it all at this point.
It's a difficult task to make a short list of The Roots' songs, because they have so many great ones. Let this be a gateway to their full albums, because The Legendary Roots crew have 11 of them that are pretty awesome.
Item #1
Dynamite
1999's Things Fall Apart was a part of the same Soulquarian movement that yielded classic albums from D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Common. This particular cut is the lone J Dilla production, and you can feel those drums move your head to the beat.
Proceed
The Roots second album was a definitive release for the 'jazz rap' tag. Smooth pianos conquered the effort, including "Proceed," which is as classic as the best released in '94.
Lazy Afternoon
Black Thought tells the tale of a lazy afternoon, sort of like Ice Cube did on "It Was A Good Day."
"Then I got up and ate, drank a brew and caught a page from the crew
Sayin' 'Where ya at? Later, meet us up at the Plat
Bring a sack, ayo it's Saturday, it's gonna be fat'
Now it's 3:37 and I still ain't left the rest
Electric Relaxation from A Tribe Called Quest
With the boom, tokin', smokin', coolin' out
As I parlay in my room cause it's a lazy afternoon"
The Hypnotic (featuring D'Angelo)
The Legendary Roots Crew invited the R&B Jesus on this Illadelph Halflife track. The result was smooth as butter.
Table of Contents, Pts. 1 & 2
Jazzy instrumentals and hard bars from Black Thought: that's what The Roots do best. This was the first real track off Things Fall Apart, and it set the tone for one great rap album.
You Got Me featuring Erykah Badu
Perhaps the most well-known song from The Roots is this melancholy joint with Erykah Badu. It's a gorgeous song that transcended hip hop, and just about everyone loves this one now.
Item #7
The Next Movement
You can tell the crew was really becoming comfortable with their roll right around the turn of the millennium. This video is a little goofy, but the song is legit as can be.
The Seed (2.0) ft. Cody ChesnuTT
The Roots scored a massive crossover hit with "The Seed 2.0." Alongside Cody ChestnuTT, this track is every bit as soul and rock'n'roll as it is hip hop. It was all over the airwaves at the time of its release, and still gets played because of its timelessness.
Break You Off (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
This one falls along the same lines as "You Got Me." It's a genius R&B-crossover that everyone will love
Don't Say Nuthin'
2004's The Tipping Point was not The Roots' best album, and Questlove will tell you that if you read his book. It did have a dope single in "Don't Say Nuthin'," despite sounding closer to mainstream rap than the band that released Phrenology two years prior.
