The Roots - Concerto Of The Desperado

[@darylbrown199]

Illadephalflife. One of the greatest rap albums ever. Yeah i said it!

[@toddricfryson972]

No lies here....

[@chet732003]

Agreed. It's in my top 5

[@leedclinton5026]

Indeed

[@ThePezstar]

Wow what a hot take

[@shawnperico7221]

That shit blew my mind!!!the first joint was nice but that second joint took shit by storm

[@R24W86]

"...It's the hip-hop purist, that leaves you lost like a tourist inside the chorus..." Black Thought, one of the illest MCs alive

[@jayvee6206]

THE illest!

[@WhoseIAm7]

Along with Phonte, and RIP! Ruck

[@seanrocke-ni4gc]

Underated as fuck

[@arturomartes8696]

"Life is a heist...and the strong get a percentage.." Truer words never spoken.

[@TNT_12]

Easily one of the best lyrics I've ever heard. Only a true lyricist can think of something like that

[@AA_360]

Black Thought's verse in this is hands down one the best verses of all time!

[@devotheambivert9875]

This is the epitome and embodiment of real hip-hop to the fullest. Tariq is top 20 lyrically of all time in my opinion. Sometimes I want to put him in the top 10. But, you got cats like Tech N9ne, DOOM, Elzhi, Kool G, Pun, L, Kweli, GZA, and others who are legit competition of Tariq's on the lyrical side. Black is unquestionably one of the all-time greats with the bars,syllables, and substance. Don't get it misconstrued. Legendary Roots Crew is on my top 10 greatest of all time groups list indubitably tho.

[@peterboyden]

everything he spits is one of the best ever

[@theiriscen]

Black thoughts is the poet Andre 3000 is the teacher Prodigy is the hustler Sean price is the enforcer

[@jontiruell1934]

Both verses are Black Thought's haha

[@JJJOOOHHHNNNLLL]

"In the glow of the moon over the melancholy metro.." he said "AN' UFO, not a UFO.. A lyrical work of art!

[@vincentwashington4106]

The Roots are the most creative, innovative, and authentic Hip Hop group...ever!

[@mawandemdutywa2571]

RZA was crazy with the Wu movement too thoug

[@jkingenglish]

Hehe groups break up but the roots are like we are the roots you're are just some branches that couldn't survive winter

[@enriquejacoby592]

along with atcq

[@paracleteconsult8677]

Enter: 1. the Wu; 2. A tribe called quest; 3. The Fugees. Not arguing, just a short list.

[@WallTrapMedia]

@@paracleteconsult8677 Shit, no group was more creative than Outkast are you serious? Out of all the groups you named their production was the most organic and loosely sampled. Music icons such as Babyface and LA Reid said they were amazed an how great Sleepy Brown and Rico Wade could play live music and Andre and Big Boi both grasped a great organic production technique displayed on albums such as the masterpieces: Aquemini, Stankonia, The Love Below and SpeakerBoxx. They ascended past the confines of rap music and had elements of Funk, Acid Jazz, Jazz, Breakbeats, Rock-N-Roll, Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Boom Bap, 808 Bass, ATL Bass, Trap, Electronica, etc...RZA, Q-Tip they relied heavy on other artists interpretations. SouthernPlayalisticCadillacFunkyMusik is live sheet music. This Concerto track is heavy but Bombs Over Baghdad trumps any song musically any of those groups have ever produced. That song broke the sound barrier. I didn't think it was possible to do that and they came back with Hey Ya and I Like The Way You Move on some Jimi Hendrix, Barry White, ATL ghetto trap, dopeboy,Cadillac, Beastie Boys, African Bambatta, Soul Sonic force shit with those sounds. I'm from Chicago but alot of hip hoppers hate on Kast because they were from the South but they surpassed all of those groups creatively. Their idols was Tribe and I'm 43, so I remember Ben a I'd watching Yo! MTV Raps during the crack-epidemic listening to I Left My Wallet In El Segundo and I remember wen Wu went national with CREAM but Outkast should be compared to group's like Earth, Wind and Fire, Sly and The Family Stone, Parliament Funkadelic, etc...Also, I can tell ya'll hip-hop crates aren't deep enough because Ultramagnetic MC's influenced every group you named sans for Tribe and Bone was totally organic. Up Top in the Mid West we don't playa hate and don't have a coastal bias so this is my opinion but it's pure.

[@emarvelous1]

This is rare. This is raw. This is real. This is hiphop!

[@iamthenati]

Maaaan. Black Thought always goes in with every song he appears on, but he spazzed the fuck out on this joint.

[@davidsmoots9502]

Hell yeah this was one of my favorite jams by the roots 👍🏿💯

[@sanyatesGRIA]

20 years later and this song still banging

[@casualdr3w]

...and now, 30 years later and this song still banging...

[@houseofwu3116]

STILL bangin!!

[@MrFinch-ni5mk]

​@@casualdr3w My thoughts exactly after listening to this masterpiece in 2024

[@itsrelativ3967]

I use to listen to this song every day riding the bus to my high school.

[@DVZNMedia]

+E-LIVE THA WIZ man, you already know

[@PsiPhir]

word. everyday walking 1.5 miles to work.

[@JuanGarcia-kd5nf]

Psiphir I hear ya that .same here lol

[@j50t]

your really telling your age homeboy!!!

[@dpa552__]

E-Live Da God yup..used to do the same with some Jeru and and Wu mixed in

[@Amari19_]

Black Thought painted a lyrical masterpiece with this one

[@jayrivera6455]

this by far is ONE of the greatest beats EVER!!!!! I love The Roots...Black Thought killed it

[@kanyonkutta]

This is where he began to cement himself as top tier lyricist

[@LiveEffectsNetwork]

2024 still a Timeless Classic!

[@pharaohdodson7561]

Off of "ILLADELPHIA HALFLIFE", The Roots dopest album imo...

[@kems305]

Pharaoh Dodson I must of listen to the album at least 50 times! a definite hiphop classic

[@smackaleto215able]

Pharaoh Dodson one of the best albums in hip hop in my phone until I die this album was underrated should have won album of the year black the greatest mc ever try to compare him with anyone he will eat them alive late night with Johnny his freestyle is a freestyle not that written shit

[@desktopshorts7411]

Me & my boy worked this warehouse job in high school & this cd was stuck in the stereo of the company van - best car problem I've ever had!

[@timgerie5310]

I would have to agree with you on that one. I am theee biggest Roots fan, back to even the Scott Storch, "Organix" days. And my personal favorite of their albums was indeed "halflife" . And I shortened that cause I wanted to say this- this comment and every other one that comes from me. Was thought of, written out and sent via Illadel Pistolvania. 215 Stand Up!!!

[@HelpMeFindTheseSongs]

Things Fall Apart is my favorite. Illadelph is still hot too.

[@101Licious]

Black thought is so blessed. Not only that, his lyrics & flow are a 10/10, he even has the perfect voice. Smooth & Dynamic.

[@PutumaGqamana]

They peaked on this album ! This song embodied everything I remember about the album. The superior rap skills, the supreme hip-hop beats, even though those beats were created from live instrumentation, which was still a novelty act at the time, etc. I mean I love Things Fall Apart too, but that follow-up album was cruising on the plateau that had already been set never to be passed. The Roots never really fell off to me, they just reached a plateau they never exceeded here on Illadelphalflife. Afterwards, they diversified and stopped exclusively feeding the B-boy as much, and started to catering to all music. For that, I ain't mad.

[@buhdahwee]

totally disagree. their music matured in ways i never thought possible. with each new album they push the limits of their creativity. Roots crew. #legendary

[@PutumaGqamana]

Within the hip-hop aesthetic ?

[@buhdahwee]

Putuma Gqamana i would say they created their own brand of hiphop, a more organic approach to it. But still undeniably hiphop.

[@PutumaGqamana]

I see how that argument can be made. I just reserve my judgment on it; on the part on how it remains/doesn't remain hip-hop. Even Questlove admitted not wanting to be limited musically, and I give them that. After all they are classically trained musicians, and they were that before they got into hip-hop. I just insist, right or wrong, that they peaked on creating a hardcore, boom-bap hip-hop aesthetic, albeit with live instrumentation, on Illadelphalflife. I feel as if they won the argument, contained in all their previous albums's intro snippets, and once they won, they decided to abandon that quest (no pun) and to just make music beyond hip-hop. Hip-hop has its confines after all, and many hip-hop artists have been fighting those restrictions for as long as hip-hop existed. 'But I see how some would insist that even the forays into musical elements beyond still retain a hip-hop aesthetic. I guess, it's an argument we can never really conclude. Me, I'm on the other side (of your argument), but not necessarily opposed.

[@jnoone39]

Putuma Gqamana Baidawi Ishere If only every one else on you tube could conduct a debate like this without the cussing and immaturity.

[@aidanfox8219]

The Roots at their best.

[@OKAYPLAYER75]

My all time favorite Roots album....they were so cold on this album it's criminal. This was a great video and a great song....

[@nativesun9865]

Sorry Bruh! Just to correct you, This IS a great video and always will be foreva a GREAT SONG!

[@OKAYPLAYER75]

+NATIVE SUN hahaha good looking out

[@PopePlatinumBeats]

Greatest Philly Act ...held it down for like 30 albums straight

[@happymbele1663]

Black Thought most underrated Mc alive

[@isaiahwinbrone]

The roots represents philadelphia pa 4real

[@DeezNutz1130]

Black Thought!!... " The glow of the moon over the melancholy metro..... my poetry ascends like a UFO"... I remember that line from when i first saw the video on rap city and still feelin it now!!!

[@jerrywilliams2325]

Classic! If only Hip Hop of today was in this art form, it wouldn't be that bad. I'm glad that I was in my mid 20's during this era of music. And back when the Roots was the only "Hip Hop Band" Turntables were courtesy of Rahzel the human Beatbox! My era of rap music. Flavor!!!!!

[@ItachiUchiha-ry2ju]

Jerry Williams i was born in 94 and im enjoying it now. im an mc still holding it down and i know a lot of other mc's still holding down the real hip hop.

[@omniframe8612]

Rest in Peace to Malik B. Also never peeped actor Jaime Hector aka Marlo from the Wire in the background.

[@dward1911]

I didn’t. Rewinding now

[@dward1911]

Damn the hair threw me off

[@PsiPhir]

Their hip-hop artistry is exquisite

[@djspinister775]

Still listening in 2020!

[@alo.5141]

Rest easy Malik B.

[@Lean6]

This is an absolute classic and musical masterpiece. I can't say enough about it. Everytime I think I have outgrown Hip-Hop, tracks like this remind me how impossible it would be to outgrow genuine and pure Hip-Hop.

[@angrymarksdotcom]

This video is prophetic. We're desperately trying to dig up the hip-hop that's been lost.

[@topha937]

i miss the 90s The roots. the fugees. outkast.Goodie Mob wu tang. and ATCQ are the best hip hop group

[@robbevanhaverbeke1914]

don't forget tribe called quest

[@alexandergonzalez50666]

robbe van haverbeke ATCQ bro said

[@LATIGRE]

And lot more like Luniz,Pharcyde etc.

[@ItachiUchiha-ry2ju]

boot camp clik

[@ItachiUchiha-ry2ju]

not many people know of goodie mobb im impressed.

[@CoverBoy_Official]

illadelp halflife was the best roots cd ever and you people know it!!!

[@TheHumanBallsack]

Agreed, and 96 was the pinnacle of Hip Hop

[@bryansmith2479]

Top 5 Hip hop album of all time ive said this since it came out and stand by it today

[@byron4622]

What an amazing beat, and some sick wordplay to go with it. This album is full of great beats

[@marsco-op2002]

Wow. Those were the days!

[@damiensteele7300]

Pure hip hop at its purest and excellent

[@munyaradzimunodawafa7745]

the lyrics of blackthought, nas , rakim, kendrick,andre 3000,mos def, talib kweli,immortal technique, krs-one should be inscribed on all institutions of learning

[@tarusprentice7782]

Very slept on. Very classic. I have 25 years and counting

[@vincentwashington4106]

One of my favorite Hip Hop albums...so nice, I bought it twice

[@staygold15]

This is the Soul of Hip Hop

[@reginaldwilliams169]

I love the 90s

[@capitalcitymusicman4625]

I HAD TO GO BACK TO THIS AFTER THE FUNK FLEX FREESTYLE

[@derrickcross8630]

Legendary 😮‍💨🔥

[@legacyns1]

Still my favorite hip hop song of all-time.. period point blank..

[@ChristopherDSims-mq5tl]

His epic freestyle is getting a lot of hype right now, and that's understood. But, this song to me reinvented the way an MC is supposed to rhyme. So flawless and organic.

[@righteouskongo1]

2019 still bumping.

[@HamzaDavis]

"I'd rather Ultra Magnatize Your Brain." Peedi mentioned Ultra Mag on their new album as well.....Shout out to the Roots for constantly bringing the fresh and shouts to Ultra Magnetic MCs for Critical Beatdown!

[@greekhop]

I worked at a skate shop in Holland back in the day. My boss was this NYC graffiti pioneer, Quik, and he had these American Hip Hop tapes in the store, like them DJ Mixtapes and all that, with B&W photocopied covers. I spent the money I was earning on them tapes... this was one of them, it was a full on album instead of a mixtape though and despite or maybe because of that it got the heaviest rotation and never got old. Thats why I'm here today. Good times where had.

[@emarvelous1]

Also classic! True lyrical composure plus mic stamina- the essence of an emcee to damage ya-Jeru

[@1337Pwn4g3]

Damn I've been listening to this song for years but never saw the video. ILL!!!

[@h2junkey]

Never forget the first time I heard this back in ‘96! I was listening to Mike Nardone and King Emz’ show “We Came From Beyond”. The strings still gimme chills upon hearing!

[@tintbrail9723]

Listening to this now helps me see who i was in my 20's 💪

[@newpham957]

The beat compliments the lyrics so well. Only found this album two years ago, sick of the mumble rappers.

[@pavarik]

The concerto, of the desperado R-double-O-T-S check the flow If you know like I know then you know the motto That's all the fraud shit got to go In the glow of the moon, over the melancholy metro My poetry is set like a U.F.O. The maestro, the lyricist concerto My physical play the role of a vessel The level of my lyrics law manifesto My thoughts wrestle and attack with the killer instincts of a gorilla stronger than Samson Without vanilla my soliloquoy profess my ability to just stimulate you like the best sensimilla The halflife the Illadel-L-P-O-phila proceed hither is my death flower blow your tower to smithe- -reens to fiends catch another rhyme gripper Deeper than the meditations of a Hindu worshiper Unorthodox, hip-hop, minister Than a Serengeti cheetah my thoughts swifter you lose your balance when the sound hits ya So check for the, Fifth Militia A poet's under pressure stressin that you get the picture Even if it means you gotta hang over the banister I pull a microphone on any pistol brandisher And take advantage of ya because you amateur Styles gunning down your sound man and manager What?? This how we do it in the year for nine-six With this delivering attack on pointless rap shit Breakin MC's down to fractions, tell your squadron It's time to go to war, Respond/React [Chorus 2X] The implorer, the universe explorer Treat MC's like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah Leavin these niggaz open like a box of Pandora With styles that's newer than the world order Approximately three quarters of y'all are water I straight deport ya Then orchestrate your torture with roots of culture The pill brimmage to the line of scrimmage up against your image Where life is a heist, and the strong get a percentage It's ill as a war and within it I'm the Lieutenant that surrounds you like a peninsula to snatch the pennant You fold like Japan's futons and fans While I design a plan to make a rapper step like a pedestrian I crush a mountain into grands of sand Your pain stains the hand that held the mic inserted to the stand The desperado, that refuse to follow The Fifth aficionado, break you up into parts like vibrato I deep like the dark of the night Niggaz is sweet and sound silly when they talk on the mic They use the simple back and forth the same old rhythm that's plain I'd rather UltraMagnetize your brain It's the hip-hop purist, that leave you lost like a tourist inside the chorus, niggaz is bringin nothin for us As we breakin em down to fractions, tell your squadron It's time to go to war, Respond/React!

[@stewarteasy72]

I remember watching this video in the fall of 1996 when I was in 6th grade at that time. 1996 was the wild year especially for 2Pac and Biggie. But they never had a chance to make peace with each other. The Roots got my attention since Organix or Do You Want More????????!!!!!!! days. 1996 was the beginning hip hop's decline when a lot of great joints came out in 96 - Songs and Albums. I was 11 years old when this video came out and that was superior hip hop tune. Black Thought was nice on the microphone. Oh yeah, Rahzel is the genius behind the beat-boxing sound. After 1996, 2Pac and Biggie's gone, No Limit/Cash Money blew up and hip hop died down in 1999 before Nas put out Hip Hop is Dead in 2006. Great memories back then.

[@kingstongreen6041]

I was the only person i know who actually hit the store and found the Organix gem and was banging it...Thank you for that fam, i've never heard anyone mention it but me...Crazy

[@anthonyperry4162]

The lyrical supremacy

[@pieceApie]

The drums and violins in this song are so catchy!!! Incredible track right here! 🔥❤️🎼

[@anthonyperry8687]

The lyrics are amazing how they weave effortlessly the flow is liquid intoxicating

[@f.o.ffactzonfacts7439]

In the realm Of God's a God speaks Solely for the realm

[@michaeljackson7481]

CLASSIC

[@KeithCooney36]

Yeah this is Some of Black Thoughts best bars EVER! And that's saying ALOT!!!

[@iffyorange501]

Probably my favorite roots track. So Dope from back in the nineties n only now he’s getting his props. Smh.

[@ArgoBeats]

I usually do not pay attention to music videos... but, man, how dope is this video...

[@von2300]

This video makes you feel like you're in heaven

[@MurrayTrapp]

Still dope after all these years 2024 definitely needs Qtip!!!!

[@domju4970]

A masterpiece

[@jayallldayy2972]

Incredible word play.. the goat

[@jubesjr]

Black Thought...one of the most underrated MC's ever! Thoughts skillz was off the charts, don't know, cop Illadelph Halflife, listen and get back to me.

[@poopish23]

Black Thought is so smooth in his delivery and the only hip hop act with a real band. They are must see live ive seen them 7 times and are fresh everytime.

[@katarrovandalico]

Quiero compartir el hecho de que he sido impactado por esta banda. Esta canción solo sustenta la magia de la "Legenday crew TheRootsVEVO "

[@TheMasterBuilder7]

One of all time favorite tracks

[@trentyates418]

This beat is haunting. But I'm still rocking with it in 2020. Anyone else?

[@serv5000]

They don't respect the ALMIGHTY ROOTS CREW..AND IT'S A DAMN SHAME ONE OF THE BEST TO EVER DO IT..DEATH TO WACK RAP!!!!

[@peterjon777]

Goosebumps. So classic

[@spazzdineveryway]

I remember coming home to Rap City (volume on bangs), taping some videos on the VHS tape and then I was out the door to shoot a couple games of 21.

[@ivckins]

@AtomAntNoom not only is he underrated actually he is by far the single most underrated. truely he is a top 10 mc of all time and he is very unrecognized

[@ChikaHakozaki]

2019 and still listening 2020 almost here and will still be listening to this The world sleeping on this song.

[@falldogg8606]

In the glow of the moon over the melancholly metro my poetric is sent like an UFO..

[@cryptojames1118]

First song that brought me to The Roots. One. God bless brothers!

[@liviti]

Just too many quotables. Saying that I love this song is an understatement, to me it's the Roots masterpiece.

[@michaeljackson7481]

THIS WAS ONE OF THE ROOTS BEST ‼️‼️ALBUMS‼️‼️‼️

[@DirtyMekanic]

Do You Want More, Illadelphhalflife, & Things fall apart are classic albums in my book. I'm not knocking the rest of their albums but those three are definitely my favorites.

[@SNorth-gm9ph]

Long live the roots

[@dangermauz754]

The only hip hop act that rock n' roll acts can't accuse of not being real music! Boo-yah!! #facts

[@jasonhawkins6187]

Album still fire

[@kehindeoyegunle8920]

Mr Washington SPOT ON####

[@Wafflez-Man-YT]

Listenin to this in 2019 , great song...real hiphop

[@boondoggle4820]

This is insanely brilliant if you just appreciate the craft of rapping. This might be the greatest example of that ever captured in a single song.

[@aligned576]

MY FAVE HIP-HOP BAND!!! THEY R ORGASMIC LIVE!!! LOVE AMEL LARRIEUX SINGING OPERETTA IN THE BACKGROUND!! PHILLY 4EVA!!!!

[@smhunney8266]

this album will forever be a timeless classic. I used to play paparazzi from Xhibit right after this in my cassette mix tapes.

[@Beatjunkie562]

SWEET VIDEO.. MY FAVORITE SCENE WAS WHEN ALL THE MEMBERS WHERE FIGHTING OVER THE MIC FOSSIL...

[@cameronhill9267]

Then the broke it....Whack Mcs😂😂😂

[@Soulsonic562]

I don't know what you're talking about. As long as people have the capabilities of making music then good hip-hop can still be made, you're just not looking in the right places or you just gave up. Good sounds STILL EXIST. For example...Deep Rooted, Mr. Brady, Grap Luva, Masta Ace, Freddie Joachim, Pro Era, Joey Badass, Astro, De La Soul is coming out with a new album, Aceyalone has a new album out, Souls of Mischief's new album is dropping. I grew up in the 90s & didn't stop listening.

[@IkePhillipRuffin]

The song that forever made The Roots the GOAT for me.

[@Gali99759]

Banger 💯

[@reaper70723]

I'm so glad I'm 17 and can enjoy The Roots, true Hip Hop and Rap and it's complete finest. So dissapointed that most kids my age can't grasp the concepts this band has said... True shame, long live The Roots

[@shawndon3622]

Yo how the hell this Masterpiece has barely 6000 Likes?? FOH

[@Pilgrim_MC]

Dear Hip-hop, Please come back.

[@williamcapone5457]

not too many songs with a million views had less than 100 dislikes, Respect

[@Kryssthealien]

I just realized... Black Thought had been killing it for a looooong time. 🔥🔥🔥

[@veevee4461]

I know that's Quest banging those drums like that too 🔥🔥🔥🔥