The Roots, Explained with a Single Chord

[@williamgeorge2580]

Twenty five years ago? Hmm. Yeah. A quarter century. I guess that's right. Twenty five. And now I'll go lie down and have cry.

[@diggingthegreats]

😂😂

[@trinitylegacygroup2481]

I remember it like it was yesterday

[@librasky]

😭

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

life is too short

[@thescoobymike]

Things fall apart

[@alo.5141]

Illadelph and Things Fall apart STILL stand the test of time more than 25 YEARS later!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Jacqueal]

Things Fall Apart is my favorite Roots album largely because I saw them live at NYU right before they released it. Changed my life.

[@MrDecksels]

For me, it definately changed the way I listen to Hip Hop. Nothing was the same after hearing that album.

[@otisthetowndrunk]

Same, except Illadeph Halflife was the album and time frame.

[@jerrystackpaper]

I recommended you to my music teacher, you truly figured out how to simplify music without dumbing it down which is crazy, perfect content

[@dreddiknight]

I did the same!

[@ByDobson]

Things Fall Apart is crazy because it’s one of the greatest albums ever released in any genre, and you can still make an argument for it not being the Roots best album

[@Vani_VforVillain]

Crazy but true cause I still say Illadelph Halflife is the best Roots album and I was born in '98.

[@KhayJayArt]

Haha ur old

[@bluegroove777]

​@@KhayJayArt lol laugh while you can. you will be one day too. Btw questlove was born in 1971 so age aint slowing him down

[@vinson9932]

Illadelph Halflife best album hands down!

[@ChainSwingerHxC]

@@Vani_VforVillaini was born in 99 and listened to the roots AFTER that album. it's funny how jus a year can make it feel like some people have totally different knowledge and understanding of the same things

[@kylebradley8172]

Man, you have a gift. You’re a grown musician’s Bill Nye.

[@kevtd23]

Lloyd, where you at? You introduced many of us at the Leggett CCC center to The Roots and I'm grateful. That and Nas, Del, and so many other greats.

[@roievans9859]

This was one of those CD's you could play, front-to-back. This was the soundtrack to many after bar gatherings.

[@gabself]

That's so cool, I've been obsessed with that song and that chord for years

[@JoshuaDb_The_Witness]

Man this is REALLY well done. Im a bassist/multi instrumentalist - bass has always been my bread and butter - and Hub is the reason why.

[@neagah13]

And this is why The Roots is the best group in hip-hop with the best discography, amazing video like always!

[@HerveBoisde]

Tribe are arguably better. But I’ve seen the Roots live (before they became Fallon’s studio band) and they were great

[@Mystic-Philly]

Hell Yeah!!!! Philly 215 267, the 21 Pound, Stand Up!!!!! Been blessed to work with these guys!!! The jam session that actually birthed these additional artists, including Jaguar Wright, Kindred Family Soul, Jasmine Sullivan, Floetry, Bilal, Jazzyfatnastees, and many more was The Black Lily….. at the famous 5 Spot in Philly and The Wetlands in NYC…. The beginning stages began at Ahmir’s home.

[@crnkmnky]

🎶❤

[@EddieG1888]

RIP Leonard "Hub" Hubbard, the low end of The Roots.

[@learlawliet6197]

Rest In Peace 💔💔💔💔

[@michaelruiz74]

MTV needs to give you your own special!

[@joshandrox]

Digging The Greats = the DJ's DJ channel. Love the content man

[@T_R_O_Y_McClure]

Things fall apart is one of the best hip hop albums ever. Can i also point out that the day it was released (2/23/99) we also got the slim shady lp, prince amongst thieves, and to a lesser extent, war zone by black moon. Great day for hip hop

[@colevandervaart4739]

Thanks for making this incredibly definitive and detailed video, so that I can start crawling forward. Thank you!!!!

[@kobejamal]

would love to see you breakdown d’angelo’s black messiah. you’re doing god’s work with this channel.

[@vicsmooth27]

Amazing video! I remember being a child and You Got Me video came on tv and I was in awe. Growing up in NY all I knew in hip hip was Bad Boy, The Lox, DMX, etc. then to hear the Roots music, definitely changed my life. 20+ years later and I’m still in awe of these guys.

[@bagelssmellgreat]

So thankful you're finally hitting on The Roots. Yes, I want more!

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥 Check out the Soulquarian series - including the other Roots video linked at the end of this one!

[@Vani_VforVillain]

It's crazy bro how you done covered a bunch of my favorites artists and songs and dug deeper with your research and knowledge I never knew about. I was 1 year old when Things Fall Apart dropped in '99. I'm 25 now, and how the hell would I know anything about what you just articulated? 😭

[@joecolon3381]

❤

[@Ribs4Lunch]

The world is lucky to have had The Roots. And Black Thought is a top 3 MC all time. I said it.

[@coolman000099]

I am so happy I found this channel. You are AMAZING

[@DaveDTitan]

There is one person you seem to leave out when you talk about this collective, and that person is DJ jazzy Jeff. He is on the next movement Shrek, and he also collaborated and produced on most of the artist you named. You should check out his production on Jay lives instrumental, a charmed life. his influence on the Philadelphia. Sound should not be ignored.

[@NotMuchThanks]

You got me singing JUUUUST THE TWOOO OF UUUUUS over that chord

[@trinitylegacygroup2481]

You’re onto something buddy. Let’s take into account the song right after The Next Movement which is Step Into A Realm, where Malik B (RIP🙏🏾💪🏾) goes absolutely OFF and takes us further into the theme of the album. If The Next Movement was saying “We’re about to take you on a journey,” then Realm was saying, “And here we go!” Just an awesomely incredible album.

[@monz7951]

Love your work, love the Roots and also just wanted to say we deeply miss Hub, genuinely one of my fav bassists growing up. Rip. Big up for the videos man 🙌🏼

[@eespecialeventsdj]

Thank you for doing this video!! My mind has changed over the years about this chord! Also thank you for digging into the cadences. The Db acts like a tritone-sub! Great job bro!

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@jesseshort8]

Happy Easter Brandon.

[@Davidcfillion]

Another GREAT video, thanks for breaking this down by using this amazing track. I have always loved music but these videos really are making me appreciate music on a new level and help me understand the why I love music.

[@chrisbullock6477]

Much appreciate your coverage of The Roots, and your care and respect of their style of Hip Hop.

[@billhoult3262]

It is insane that every single video of yours is about an artist or album that i like and listen too, and yet i always learn something new. Top music channel on youtube rn!

[@TedTalksBass]

God this channel is too good

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏

[@brandonshaw5882]

This is one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time. I played this so much in my Discman back in the day when it came out.

[@EddieHazel87]

The Neapolitan chord. Phrygian vibes. Plus some harmonic minor because of the major/dominant V chord in a minor key.

[@verb26]

More than just one! That whole album is something else, all together! The soundtrack to my senior year in HS. Thanks for covering it!

[@leonjj39]

Roots one the best live show in the 90's rap and a jam session unbelievable. 1st time hearing Next Movement, this keeps ringing in my ear . Thanks for the breakdown

[@jimmyd5289]

Not sure how, but I knew it was gonna be THAT chord. Thanks for this, and very well done. MUCH respect sir!

[@bpt11]

Dude I swear it's like you make these videos just for me and my musical interests thank you for making this content please keep doing what you're doing you are so good at it

[@jpaw1325]

Killer video. I love how you boil it all down to the tritone sub. Strong metaphor.

[@ACSanchezium]

Man, this took me back to music theory class in high school. So cool! Great vid man! I am sad to say, i havent listened to this album yet, but i damn sure am now.

[@timpanini]

It’s crazy how much i enjoy your videos and this channel. And you only talk about that kind of hiphop that i love! Wow! Love from Sweden

[@skolenimation]

Recently discovered your channel through a friend and your videos on Daft Punk. Went down a rabbit hole and watched a bunch of videos for other artists and really opened up a world I knew but never appreciated. Hip hop. Hearing the creation of samples and inspirations made me want to explore more to find some gateway songs. Long story short, saw The Roots, Digable Planets and Arrested Development together in concert for the first time last night and I was blown away and was able to appreciate it on a whole other level because of your videos. Thanks!

[@arielarnau3413]

This video is dope ... but we'll come back to that in just a second.

[@diggingthegreats]

😂😂

[@MrBarney2107]

Another important aspect of this track is that the D flat/C minor section is 14 bars long, but each switch from D flat to C takes up 4 bars. This means that the other section breaks in 2 bars earlier than you expect, which makes the change sound much fresher and more interesting - I've been listening to this track for 20 years, and it never gets old. I guess this is another jazzy influence?

[@unworthyServant08]

Thank you so much for covering this! When I first got introduced to beatmaking back in 2004, I quickly grew fond of the Roots, especially ?'s drums and Hub's basslines. I own pretty much all of their albums, and I too think they are (or maybe were, at this point??) underrated hip hop heroes. There's no band or act as unique as they are, and with the breadth of experience they have. As luck would have it, The Next Movement was the first of their songs that I got into, then pivoted over to Illadelph Halflife, and then it was history from then on!

[@q-dawwg626]

You explain and take myself and everyone that subscribe to your channel because you have an amazing love for music and giving the artform of HIPHOP a universal platform. To which I say THANK YOU brother.

[@devwhite22]

Well said and perfectly edited; WELL DONE! Thank you for sharing these jewels of musical history! #RESPECT

[@morgangleave8518]

Man I love this video. I really dig how the music is broken down, and it makes so much sense to me, with making my own sounds - and why the C Harmonica is my favourite to play! Thank you!

[@DPSFSU]

Things Fall Apart is probably my favorite album, ever. Do You Want More is up there as well.

[@alexanderclaylavin]

Malik B rest in peace

[@stevenlyle6390]

Great video! I always love your music history breakdowns, and it's very cool to see you bring in some music theory with it.

[@SCMESD]

I love how you incorporated Stetsasonic. The HipHop Band! Illadelph Half-life and Things Fall Apart were my albums.

[@Ramos-Lavina]

There ain’t too much YT content that I’d consider auto-like ‘able… but your content is definitely in that category for me 💯💯💯

[@stevechase2232]

You are a masterful rabbit hole maker! Informative and creative!

[@unstopology]

Bought the album for "You Got Me", found out the whole album was amazing! Revisiting it, with this new knowledge, makes it so much better.

[@coltondillard7811]

So I wake up on my birthday hoping to find something cool to watch and BAM there you are. Freaking sweet

[@diggingthegreats]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[@dreddiknight]

Damn, I remember my piano teacher showing me the tritone substitution a few years back! I have to go and get out all my Roots albums now too! 🙂

[@fla.one_]

As a crazy Roots fan that as Mo Metta Blues as bible, I approve this message and gotta thank you for the content you create!!! TEACH THEM!!! 🙌🙌✨

[@bryanbalment7993]

Full disclosure: I'm completely illiterate in terms of musical theory. But Things Fall Apart is one of my favourite albums of all time and that chord on The Next Movement is one of my favourite things about it. I still don't really understand the theory, but it's pretty cool to know that it exists.

[@nullnullnull_03]

Love this channel!

[@Xolanidj]

I love the breakdown. Yea, Questlove is a living music encyclopedia! Yes, Black Thought is one of the best emcees to ever do it. If you are a person who does any kind of music performances, you better study The Roots!

[@xAntoIRL]

This chord pumps energy into my bones idk y

[@gheefreak]

I love watching music theory videos because I can kind of here where they're going before they get there, and I haven't been a musician for like ten years. It reminds me of skills I used to have.

[@TeagueChrystie]

You've done no wrong - nothing even close, it's all been great - since you started, but this one was *particularly* well constructed.

[@keiththomas111]

I met quest love dad in Yeadon he had a flea market there look just like him🥁 Don't forget there Organix album with Malik B also they had the 5 Spot jumping in Philly on Bank Street if you know you know also with Kindred the family soul I was there for all that good times and music 🎵🎶😊

[@tenormadness]

Bringing me back to my undergrad days with that cadence talk!

[@boogiedownbronx73]

From what i know they never moved to London. They supposed to sign a deal that felt through so they went on a promo tour in Europe. Released their first songs through Gilles Petersons label Talk Loud Records, as well as independently releasing their first album Organix, before signing a million dollar deal with Geffen.

[@Shades-of-76]

According to Questlove on Talib’s PP podcast they spent a year in London back then. I loved Talkin Loud stuff, Galliano, Young Disciples, Incognito, 4hero 😎 Didn’t know The Roots released on it though, thanks for the heads up. I actually caught Gilles DJing again just a fortnight ago. Class as always.

[@chloemchll3774]

Just found the channel w this video. You got a subscriber from it. Love seeing this sort of mixed approach (a little music theory, a little historical context, etc) being applied to hip hop.

[@goatmade8933]

The breakdown of using the 7s and music theory resolution. Love this channel!❤

[@dave_s_vids]

I've figured it out, you're the Rick Beato of hip-hop! Love it, keep going please!

[@ryanlafond9488]

this dude's a genius

[@MrDecksels]

I think a video on 'Act Too (The Love of My Life)' wouldn't be a bad idea. It's hard to explain, but there's just something about this song that makes it stand out on the entire album. It almost feels like a hymn.

[@SuperChocolateCocoaBear]

The begin of "The Next Movement" is pure Hip-Hop Bliss, and I have to rewind it a few times before I let the song fully play. Whoooo!

[@FillyNouch]

Maybe I'm lost in the sauce, but could that tritone substitution actually mean that the song uses the Phrygian mode? I always have difficulties telling those two concepts a part from each other. Love your videos btw keep doing what you do!

[@tobbetobster9930]

Another one of my faves, was lucky and copped things fall apart on vinyl a few weeks ago

[@brendanokellymusic]

Great video as usual. I learned a few things. Thanks for the chords ...

[@sharondalewis1620]

This is literally my favorite Roots song

[@Btone33]

@Diggingthecreats First I enjoy your videos. I love history as a whole! Second I love Jazz, My Dad was A Quasi Beatnik from the '60s and Hung out with some amazing people. some Who I've met in life. This is a very enjoyable perspective about hip hop and The Roots! Thanks

[@discobeatsrock8720]

…and I dig you. Great stuff man

[@marknesium]

very very nice breakdown!!!! kudos.

[@limeyamos]

the kick drum on Clones off Illadelph is one of hardest hitting bass drums ever

[@kidusfantaw1323]

I can't thank you enough for putting me on the soulquarians in general

[@5RRRtarRiver]

The levels where you use wordplay “the roots” band and the root notes. Circumspect. Deep. Cheers!

[@spaggio]

Great job

[@juanrojas7505]

excepcional episodio!! the roots are legends. greetings from chile

[@dad_fi]

This all this your killing it thank you

[@bisiesto29]

Those chords, man! 🔥🔥🔥

[@els1f]

We talking tritone substitution today!?🙌🙃 Goddamn these videos are amazing!

[@Milan-vi1bq]

Musiq soulchild also did a sick reinterpretation of this song a year later on his debut album, called "L is gone"

[@bmuhamad]

Interesting take on the origin of The Roots. Thanks.

[@JasonMazzis]

Excellent analysis 💯

[@franckateba2970]

I'm feeling the vibe on this one

[@Cyktar]

You the goat bro I procrastinated listening to this for like 5 months and I finally did and ts crazy bro 😭 N good vid

[@curtisb6860]

Love your channel bro! Can we get an episode on 9th Wonder?

[@diggingthegreats]

Absolutely, on the ever growing long list of stuff to cover 🔥

[@Hidd3nAudio]

@@diggingthegreats Can we have the Heliocentrics at some point too?

[@Ilya-hl8jx]

But in the roots song there is a Db and not Db7. There is no B - 3rd of the G chord. It does not function like tritone sub

[@cartermyers9554]

The roots probably are my favorite rap group and I love how you are analyzing them and helping me understand them. More people need to make videos on them.

[@SCMESD]

Thank you for the chords. Truly appreciate that.

[@djbonne1]

Very nice mah friend...thankxx

[@iamernieg]

Any idea why the Dallas band “Camp Wisdom” hardly gets, if any, recognition for Erykah Badu’s “Mama’s Gun” album???? I love what The Roots did on there, but I definitely love what Camp Wisdom did also….. Don’t wanna stir up any drama, but I’ve just always wondered that.

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

Great theory B !!