The Roots

Blending elements of jazz, neo-soul, and hip-hop with impeccable live instrumentation, The Roots established themselves as the world’s premier rap band at the turn of the century.

• Rapper Black Thought and drummer Questlove co-founded The Roots in 1987 while attending the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
• The group released its debut album, Organix, in 1993. Future multi-platinum producer Scott Storch would leave his position as Roots keyboardist in 1995.
• In 1999, The Roots dropped Things Fall Apart, an exercise in soulful alternative rap that Rolling Stone lauded as one of the 500 greatest albums ever made.
• The Roots took home their first Grammy in 2000, winning Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “You Got Me”, featuring Erykah Badu and Eve.
• The Roots are perhaps best known for their role as the house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a gig they landed in 2009.