The Roots

Released: August 28, 2006

Featuring: Wadud Ahmad

Songwriter: Black Thought Dice Raw Kamal Gray James Poyser Hank Shocklee Eric Sadler Chuck D ?uestlove

Producer: James Poyser ?uestlove Kamal Gray

[Intro]
"And we will weaken ourselves for what is really the issue. And then, behind that all lies a very personal, intuitive belief: that I don't think old men ought to promote wars for young men to fight."

[Hook: Wadud Ahmad]
America's lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children are on Ritalin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
Pilgrims, slaves, Indian, Mexican
It looks real fucked up for your next of kin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—

[Verse: Black Thought]
If I can't work to make it, I'll rob and take it
Either that or me and my children are starving and naked
Rather be a criminal pro than to follow the Matrix
Hey, it's me, a monster y'all done created, I been inaugurated
Keep the bright lights out of our faces
You can't shake it; it ain't no way to swallow the hatred
Aim, fire, holler 'bout a dollar, nothing is sacred
We gon' pimp the shit out of nature
Send our troops to get my paper
Tell 'em, "Stay away from them skyscrapers
Ain't long 'fore you get y'all acres"
I'ma show 'em who the glo-bal gangster
Sentence me to four more years, thank you
I'ma make you feel a little bit safer, because it ain't over—
See, that's how we get your fear to control you
But ain't nobody under more control than the soldier
And how could you expect a kid to keep his composure
When all sorts of thoughts fought for exposure again?

[Hook: Wadud Ahmad]
America's lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children are on Ritalin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
Pilgrims, slaves, Indian, Mexican
It looks real fucked up for your next of kin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
America's lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children are on Ritalin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
Pilgrims, slaves, Indian, Mexican
It looks real fucked up for your next of kin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
America's lost somewhere inside of Littleton
Eleven million children are on Ritalin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
Pilgrims, slaves, Indian, Mexican
It looks real fucked up for your next of kin
That's why I don't rhyme for the sake of riddling
False media—we don't need it, do we?
False media—we don't need it, do we?
False media—we don't need it, do we?
False media—we don't need it, do we?

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.

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