The Roots (Rap)

Biography

This Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA-based rap crew was formed by MC Black Thought (Tariq Trotter, 3 October 1972, USA) and drummer ?uestlove (b. Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, 20 January 1971, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). The duo later added MC Malik B. (b. Malik Abdul Basit-Smart), bass player Hub (b. Leonard Nelson Hubbard) and keyboard player Scott Storch (b. 16 December 1973, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA). Specialising in old school freestyling, many comparisons to Digable Planets or Gang Starr’s jazz-flavoured hip-hop followed the release of 1993’s debut mini-album Organix, which featured guest vocals from MC Kid Crumbs. However, like Stetsasonic, the Roots quickly established itself as a self-contained musical unit, relying on the musicians’ own talents rather than samples or session players.

The band was started in 1987 when Trotter and Thompson were students at Philadelphia High School For The Performing Arts....

Read the Full Biography of The Roots (Rap)