How the Roots Rebelled against Hip-Hop

The Legendary Roots Crew, a Philadelphia-based group that was formerly known simply as The Legendary Roots Crew, had been established in 1995. The RootsThe ) was a well-known hip-hop artist. Their live shows were second to none and they gained an international following, which would eventually propel them into stardom. A self-released debut album. Organize, showcased the band’s undeniable potential, but their major-label debut, Do You Want More?!!!??!The band’s debut album, “Underground Jazz-Inspired Hip-Hop With Live Instrumentation,” was released on January 17, 1995.

Listen to the deluxe version of Do You Want More?!!!??! here.

Unmatched by any other act

The Roots were different from any other group. hip-hop act of the mid-90s, an era when a large segment of the landscape was dominated by either New York’s boom-bap scene or the West Coast’s G-Funk sound. The Roots were unique because they focused on live instrumentation which was nearly unheard of in the era. With the impeccable timing and precision of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s drumming, Lenard Hubbard’s bottom-heavy bass work, and the keyboard virtuosity of the then-unknown Scott Storch, The Roots’ sound was truly one of a kind.

Some projects were more polished than others, but Do You Want More?!!!??! captured the raw energy of The Roots’ live shows and improv jam sessions. Previous hip-hop acts were heavily influenced (and infatuated) with jazz, including A Tribe Called Quest. Gang Starr, The Roots and Digable planets, The Roots continued the evolution of their sound, moving from a hip hop collective to a full-fledged group.

Production on the album was handled primarily by The Grand Negaz and drummer/bandleader Questlove, who crafted an album of gems, of which “Proceed” stands out as one of the best. It remains one of The Roots’ signature tracks, on which Black Thought brings his adroit lyricism to a jazzy, laid back groove. Elsewhere, with its infectious hook, “Distortion To Static” displays the group’s unique sound, while “Silent Treatment” will go down as one the best rap ballads of the 90s, with its vulnerable ethos and Black Thought’s effusive chorus.

Your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper

While the group’s later albums would see the group develop a more focused sound, Do You Want More?!!!??! captured their neo-soul bohemian beginnings with a jazzy delivery that can be heard on tracks like the funky “Lazy Afternoon” or “Mellow My Man,” the latter of which sees Black Thought and Malik B playfully trading verses.

The Roots are a band of talented musicians and lyricists who have mastered a wide range of musical traditions. Questlove is the musical director, and bandleader. Black Thought is a master at blessing the mic. Black Thought is joined by Malik B, his partner, and frequent collaborator Dice raw. He gives stunning lyrical performances throughout. Do You Want More?!!!??!.

His razor-sharp and quick-witted rhymes are multisyllabic, and he seamlessly blends the styles of Big Daddy Kane (his biggest influence) into his own lyrical voice. Delivering a tour de force performance throughout the album, Black Thought shows why he would become “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.”

Jam session all night

The Roots would expand on their subject matter and write some of the most memorable songs in their career, but this album was later. Do You Want More?!!!??! These young phenoms are captured as they invite us to join them for an all-night jam session.

Who would have thought that the very same band that dropped the experimental record would become the house band on late-night TV? The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? Black Thought and Questlove are two of hip-hop’s most well-known representatives in the mainstream, and yet they also continue to push the culture forward.

It was released in 1982. Do You Want More?!!!??! has aged extremely well – a testament to the vision of the group, who rebelled against popular hip-hop at the time to focus on their artistry. Not just a hip-hop-jazz classic, the album stands out among The Roots’ legendary canon for showing what a live band with an ambitious sense of experimentation could bring to a genre that was still finding its feet.

Check out the deluxe version of Do You Want More?!!!??! here.

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