When some people hear the words “rap” or “hip hop”, they
might conjure images of young blacks and Latinos with expensive cars and extravagant
jewelry, dressed in sports attire, and surrounded by a bevy of scantily-clad
women. Perhaps, others might visualize parties in which only one man behind a
pair of turntables is responsible for the event’s success. The fact of the
matter is that few, if any, would think of a band of up to eight different
musicians that play their own instruments.
The Roots, a legendary alternative rap group from
Philadelphia, have established an amazing career marked by a willingness to shatter
the stereotypes that sadly characterize hip hop culture in the eyes of many
badly informed observers. Led by drummer ?uestlove and MC Black Thought, the
collective’s discography totals eleven group album and three collaborations
(with rapper Jay-Z and singers John Legend and Betty Wright) throughout twenty
years. The hallmarks of their distinctive style are their use of acoustic
instruments, the way that they mix different musical genres, and their poetic
lyrics with existential themes.
Despite having never sold a platinum album, their single “You
got me” was awarded a Grammy in 1999, and since 2009, they have been the house band
of the NBC talk show “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”. Although it is a shame
that some people know them from their role on the show and not from their prolific
recording output, the media exposure that they have achieved as a result of
supporting a popular comedian has considerably expanded their audience.
The albums they released in the nineties create a relaxing
ambience, something that many thought hip hop music could never do. However,
this does not mean that the band limited itself to soft songs during this
period. “Respond/React”, “Distortion to Static”, and “Adrenaline!” go back to
hip hop’s essence with their abundance of complex rhymes and pulsating beats. “What
they do” criticizes rappers that compromise their integrity in an attempt to
get rich and please the masses. Musically, the track combines hip hop with
melodic jazz guitar lines and smooth neo-soul hooks. Its accompanying music
video, a satirical look at hip hop clichés, is one of the best of the decade.
Even after twenty years in the business, the group keeps
finding ways to innovate within its unique mix of rap, jazz, soul, and rock.
Their last album, Undun, was released
on December, 2011, and immediately hailed as a classic by many critics. A
concept album that narrates the final 24 hours in the life of a young thug (in
reverse chronological order), it just might be their most profound and
elaborate creation. Every song is a story within itself, but listening to them in
succession gives the listener a complete perspective on a troubled and complex
character. The music, which tends to be somber and dark, creates a
contemplative and melancholic atmosphere that provides the ideal background for
Black Thought’s introspective rhymes.
Each one of the Roots’ albums displays the qualities that
make their music so special, but their tendency to experiment assures that they
all have their own personality. As a result, their legacy is not only centered
on their abundant creativity, but in the fact that they have never exploited
trends to try and increase their appeal. This disposition to set their own path
and establish new musical tendencies has brought them a lasting and successful
career in a field where one can be forgotten a year after selling millions of
records.
In January, ?uestlove announced that the band is recording
its twelfth album, as well as a collaboration with famed English rocker Elvis
Costello. Also, last week Black Thought revealed that he is currently recording
a blues album - his first solo record, and another chapter in the impressive
trajectory of the Philadelphia collective.
Alexis Herrera
Alexis Herrera
