About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

Unquestionably hip-hop's greatest live band, and one of the best current live bands of any genre, Philadelphia's Roots move effortlessly through the history of funk, R&B, and hip-hop, mingling styles within and among songs but still sounding like themselves: a gritty band of socially conscious rabble-rousers eager to stretch out a song into a jam, eager to collaborate, eager to confound the expectations of sample-happy hip-hop purists. The two volumes of Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots survey the Roots' career, which began in 1987 when drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Thompson) teamed with rapper Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) to perform on Philly street corners. The Beginner's Guides, each nearly 80 minutes, compile tracks from throughout the band's career, including healthy doses of remixes, live tracks, and other non-LP tracks, all thoroughly annotated in ?uestlove's extensive, anecdotal liner notes. Highlights of Volume One include "You Got Me," the Jill Scott version of the neo-soul hit that was originally released with backup vocals by Erykah Badu; "What You Want," the collaboration with Jaguar Wright that appeared in the film The Best Man; guest appearances from Common, Mos Def, and D'Angelo; and Roots staples such as "The Next Movement" and "Star." The two volumes are equally essential: Beginners will understand the breadth of the Roots' achievement, while aficionados will love the depth provided by the previously unreleased tracks. No matter how long you've been a fan, however, the Roots always leave you wanting more. Steve Klinge, Barnes & Noble

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