Released: July 26, 1994

Songwriter: Scott Storch Leonard “Hub” Hubbard ?uestlove Malik B Black Thought

Producer: Kelo Saunders ?uestlove AJ Shine

[Intro]
(Laughter)

[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Yo, I'm every MC, it's all in me
That's the way it is, the way it's gotta be
Indeed as I distort, I proceed, indeed
Getting hotter than sacks of boom in my room at the Ramada
For tanks in your memory banks to fill up
I provide the static, a scratch to match, while you catch the vibe
Most can play high-post, but yo, that don't mean shit
Because my clique will make a motherfucker sick
I'll flips, redder than pork, comin' to New York to mix
(It's Bob Power) With the snares and kicks to fix
Rhythmically, you got ta be, static-y
Magically I appear, spark a L and drink a beer
With Air Smooth, takin' niggas loot with dice
Then shoot, The Roots, poetic, courageously kinetic
Vagabond, versatile and various, trust rap styles
Of mine are blunt, pain is in the mind, so I'm fine and five
Foot seven, inches in height
My mission to strike mics, enlightening tykes
Frightening, like lightning
Fluorescent, incandescent, effervescently
I represent, Foreign Objects and Ill Elements
Very relevant, plus intelligently managin' matter
That's makin' tracks fatter, revolve around
Saturn like rings and brings swings, when I stings with bass
Then distort up in your face like mace
Bustin' your dreams like gats with loaded magazines
I'm on the rap scene, repellin' fellas like a vaccine
As I, rocks from under, blunderin' I'm not, lyrically
Ya get, shot, get caught, so distort with Thought, for real
It's the illest out the Phi, short for Philidelph-iada-fly
Money makin', move fakin', I isn't
Niggas can not front, I'm poetically exquisite
Wicked, with the visit while you're wonderin', what is it?
Dig it, yo, my mellow, um, what up for the night?
(Malik B., get on the mic, get on the mic)
Like that y'all, and yo, I'm flowin', my part of the song
It's goin', it's goin', it's gone

[Interlude]
(Laughter)

[Verse 2: Malik B]
Now, go get your dictionary and your Pictionary
'Cause much affliction with my diction friction slips and carries
Words and herds like some cattle in the steeple
People, there's no equal, or no sequel
So policies of equalities get abolished
Demolished, distortion of the static's gettin' polished
Urges of splurgin' words will just be merged together
Damn, it's quite clever, however
You never can sound alike, lyrics don't be poundin' like
These, troops, who be's, Roots
Insult ya, mellow by culture, rhythmatic vulture
Approach ya with Magnetic shit that's Ultra
I make MC's dangle like a bangle, strangle from every angle
My lingo jingles and it jangles under Kangols
Nahh, them niggas don't wanna tangle
'Cause Roots get loose, negros get juiced like the mango
To be particular, extra-curricular, for pleasure
Measure, in any weather, value more than the treasure
Baby, you're sayin' maybe, then comin' to flex
Now you wonder what's next

[Outro]
(Laughter)

The Roots

The world’s premiere hip-hop band, The Roots were formed in Philadelphia in 1987 by MC Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and drummer and bandleader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. Since those early days, the band has weathered changes in personnel and record labels while performing hundreds of shows a year and releasing a string of well-regarded (if not always top-selling) albums.

While the musicianship of Thompson and the other band members, as well as their seemingly limitless repertoire, gets most of the attention, real hip-hop fans know that the rapping skills of Black Thought (along with former group member Malik B.) are the group’s hidden weapon. Thought, one of the few MCs brave enough to go toe to toe with Big Pun, handles any groove the band throws at him with aplomb, style, and flash.

Today, The Roots are seen by millions every night as the house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a move that has given the group the chance to indulge its not-insignificant comic side.