ENDEIT
The Roots
Photo: Aaron Matthews from Thornhill, Canada., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

group · 1987–

The Roots

American hip hop band

Formed
1987
Philadelphia
Country
United States
Record labels
Universal Music Group, MCA Records, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Def Jam Recordings
Discography
19 albums

Biography

The Roots is a jazz group, formed in 1987 in Philadelphia. Members include Questlove, Hub and Black Thought. Record labels: Universal Music Group, MCA Records, Geffen Records and Interscope Records. The discography here lists 19 albums, from “Organix” (1993) to “The Roots Come Alive Too: DYWM30 Live at Blue Note NYC” (2025). Honours include Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (1999), Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance (2010) and Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (2010).

The Roots are an American hip-hop band formed in 1987 by rapper Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, having served in the same role on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014. The regular members of The Roots on The Tonight Show are Captain Kirk Douglas (guitar), Mark Kelley (bass), James Poyser (keyboards), Ian Hendrickson-Smith (saxophone), Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson (sousaphone), Stro Elliot (keyboards and drums), Dave Guy (trumpet), Kamal Gray (keyboards), and Raymond Angry (keyboards). The Roots are known for a jazzy and eclectic approach to hip hop featuring live musical instruments and the group's work has consistently been met with critical acclaim.

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Members

Questlove, Hub, Black Thought

Discography

Studio and live albums

Organix 1993
Do You Want More?!!!??! 1994
Illadelph Halflife 1996
The Roots Come Alive 1999 · Live
Things Fall Apart 1999
Phrenology 2002
Nagoya Blue Note: September 7, 2004 2004 · Live
The Tipping Point 2004
Game Theory 2006
Rising Down 2008
How I Got Over 2010
Wake Up! 2010
Betty Wright: The Movie 2011
undun 2011
Live Au Festival Rock En Seine 2013 · Live
Wise Up Ghost 2013
…and Then You Shoot Your Cousin 2014
The Roots Come Alive Too: DYWM30 Live at Blue Note NYC 2025 · Live
Montreux Jazzfest 2003 · Live

Awards

  • 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
  • 2010 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance
  • 2010 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album
  • 2011 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album
  • 2011 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What are The Roots's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Organix (1993), Do You Want More?!!!??! (1994), Illadelph Halflife (1996), The Roots Come Alive (1999) and Things Fall Apart (1999).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.