The Roots

The Roots, an influential American hip-hop group, formed in 1987 by rapper Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson in Philadelphia, are celebrated for blending live instrumentation with hip-hop and jazz influences. Starting with their independent debut Organix (1993), the group gained critical acclaim with Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995) and Illadelph Halflife (1996), but it was their 1999 breakthrough album Things Fall Apart—featuring the Grammy-winning single "You Got Me" with Erykah Badu—that cemented their legacy. Known for their evolving sound, The Roots continued with the politically charged Phrenology (2002), Game Theory (2006), and Rising Down (2008), showcasing their introspective lyricism and experimental approach. In the 2010s, How I Got Over (2010) and the concept album Undun (2011) explored themes of struggle and redemption, followed by a collaboration with Elvis Costello on Wise Up Ghost (2013). As the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Roots have expanded their mainstream reach while maintaining their reputation as “hip-hop’s first legitimate band.” In 2014, The Roots returned with their fourteenth studio album ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin.