The Roots

Released: January 17, 1995

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

Producer: Richard Nichols Grand Wizzards AJ Shine

[Hook]
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away

[Verse 1: Malik B]
The rhythm just sways, and like a sorceress I slays
Foes and rivals who wanna come this way
They better pay attention or a penchant
Not to mention suspension
From the microphone, plus detention
Trey-eight-o's will vacate those
If there's drama with my henchmen
So, lamp to my man Mussolini
Go get your whole staff, those decaf
'Cause half-and-half's couldn't cream me
The lyrics make your head knock
Malik B and Black Thought, the dreadlock
Mannn, trannns-gression, you'll catch lead
I crushin', poundin' on the drums like King Kong
We can ring your bellll, ding-dong
I styles with my vocabulary
The Roots, the one you call your ultra adversary
Now, you're all desert 'cause I'mma serve ya like a tray
To meet your doom, Malik's the broom, so you get swept awayyyy

[Hook]
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away

[Verse 2: Black Thought]
Yo, hello everybody, do I need introduct?
I be the mic mercenary, very un-clear to your ear
The exquisite pattern that you hear
Is known to be Black Butter, baby
Crazy cardiac, my attack on any fat rhythm
That I capture, kid, I snatch the mic from tykes
While I proceed and continue to tend to
Business, kid, this is how I do
I'm insane and go against the grain like [?]
Never on no nigga dick 'cause I'm just too hip
Plus, I rest where niggas pack and never act other than ill
Shit is real in Phy-double
So, if you want trouble, let's stomp
My mission is to flip on comp
You might aspire to be flyer than I, you must pay
Your dues, while I bruise niggas new for the day
Shall be swept away

[Hook]
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away
MC's who slept for days, must be swept away

[Outro]
There's somethings goin' on
Because there's somethin' goin' on, on
Yeah, something's goin on
Yeah, something's goin' on, on
Y'all know there's somethin' goin'
Because there's somethin' goin' on, on
She knows there's somethin' goin' on
Yeah, somethin' goin' on, on
Y'all know there's somethin' goin' on
Yeah, something's goin' on
Because there's somethin' goin' on
Yeah, y'all know what's goin' on

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.

more tracks from the album

Do You Want More?!!!??!

From the album

Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995)

The Roots popular songs

Swept AwayThe Roots

The Roots

Do You Want More?!!!??!