The Roots

The Roots are a Philadelphia hip-hop group formed in 1987 by MC Tariq «Black Thought» Trotter and drummer-bandleader Ahmir «Questlove» Thompson, distinguished from the start by their commitment to playing hip-hop with a live band rather than sampled beats and turntables. That approach placed them at the center of the neo-soul and alternative-rap movement of the 1990s, blending jazz, funk, and soul musicianship with dense, socially conscious lyricism.

Black Thought's rapping, often paired in the group's early years with fellow MC Malik B., is widely regarded as some of the most technically skilled and lyrically substantive in hip-hop, anchoring songs like «You Got Me» and «The Seed (2.0)» alongside the band's genre-crossing instrumental palette. Across decades and lineup changes, The Roots built a catalog spanning conscious hip-hop, soul-inflected collaborations, and soundtrack work, including contributions such as «My Shot (Rise Up Remix)», «The OtherSide», «What They Do», «Sleep», and «The Fire».

Since 2009, the group has reached a vastly wider audience as the house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a role that showcases both their musicianship and comedic sensibility. Despite the shift to television, The Roots remain a defining act of live-instrument hip-hop, respected for their musicality, longevity, and refusal to separate artistic ambition from mainstream visibility.