The Roots | |
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![]() The Roots performing in 2016 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | The Legendary Roots Crew The Fifth Dynasty The Square Roots |
Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1987 | –present
Labels | |
Spinoffs | |
Website | theroots |
The Roots is an American hip hop band. It was formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2014, the Roots became the house band on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. They were also the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014.
The band is one of the few hip hop groups to use mostly live instruments instead of sampling and to produce electronically. They have released several albums that are very popular within the genre. Things Fall Apart is considered by many to be their best.