Released: November 2, 1999

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

Producer: The Roots Richard Nichols Grand Wizzards

[Intro: Black Thought]
Ya naw'mean?
1, 1, 2, oh yeah?
People shouting out all different types of things they wanna hear, ya naw'mean?
Special request
Ah yeah
Feel this shit, feel this shit
We gonna go on a trip, a little trip through Roots history right about now, real quick
Ya namsayin'? This how we gon' get it down, ah yeah
Okay, back in the world again, ya know what I mean?
I want y'all to throw your hands up
I just said that 'cause I ain't really have nothin' to say right then at that point
But then I remembered that this the part where we send a special request, a special shoutout to all the ladies
LADIES! LADIES! LADIES! All the women in the house, let me hear y'all make some noise
Word up, word up, word up
This shit is going out to you, you namsayin'? We gon' have, uh, yeah
Y'all feel that? That cool out shit *trumpet solo*

One time, ladies, let me hear the ladies make some noise one more time
Where y'all at?
I'm tryna tell you

[Chorus]
Girl, you know that you need to stop givin' me the silent
Treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I wanna love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
All of y'all sound drunk, ya namsayin'?
Girl, you know that you need to stop givin' me the silent
Treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I wanna love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Taking you back, how many of y'all remember this joint right here?
Here we go

[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Yo, I had a Queen named Amina, height was 5'7"
Caramel complexion, body like heaven
Met her through the sister of my man Big Vince
Like some shit from out the flicks we been in love ever since
She called me her chocolate brotha, I call her my sugar sista
Coolin' out, spending time with a nigga
Yo, I never dissed her, painted my picture to hit
But because of it she wasn't with, she would be flippin' the script
Like, "Listen, yo, I'm Queen Amina, Amina's not your freak and
Your game's weak and keep tryin' to hit I could quit speakin'
Tariq, in fact, just 'cause you Black Thought don't get ya closer
I dig ya but won't see ya 'cause I'm so-called supposed ta
Most of them would, that couldn't be me, that's not my flava
It's not sweet like that, I'll, I'll catch ya later"
I contemplated, wonderin' if she was bluffin'
Steady pursuin' you and gettin' nothin' but the silent treatment

[Chorus]
Girl, you know that you need to stop givin' me the silent
Treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I wanna love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Girl, you know that you need to stop givin' me the silent
Treatment, baby
Y'all know this joint?
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I wanna love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently

[Verse 2: Black Thought]
Ayo, crazy frustration, about this whole situation
Patience was a virtue, but I wasn't used to waitin'
I want some Marvin Gaye healin', feelin' is real inside
I'd love to try, my love would keep you occupied
I'd, love to deal with it like that, for my baby's kitty cat
Kept it locked, Love Boat is docked at the shore
And what for? Later for groupies on tour
Why won't my sugar call me no more?
I mean, my Queen gets upset, rejectin' and physically neglectin'
Sayin' I was too complex and closed-minded
It's like I'm blinded by the skinnin'
I'm into women; because of that, this one's into communication
Temptation played the vandal, clippin' my brain, my mind
Strippin' this handle from physically scandalous acts
Yo! She knew what I wanted, but she fronted
Check it out, one time for y'all mind, you know I wasn't gonna say that whole part

[Chorus]
Girl, you know that you need to stop givin' me the silent
Treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I wanna love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
If you know the joint, sing the chorus for me, right here, this part
Girl, you know that you need to stop givin' me the silent
Say what, y'all
Treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I wanna love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently

[Outro: Black Thought]
Put me on and just, one time, alright, alright, uh
Hold that thought, we gon' continue to travel
We gon' continue to travel right about now, ya namsayin'?
Y'all feelin' that shit or what?
This shit is still going out, special dedication, LADIES! LADIES!
All the independent women in the house, make some noise and throw your hands up
If you out here having a good time tonight
That's word, ya namsayin', to the shorties that's underage...

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.