It is safe to say the Roots have come a long way since forming as a group back in 1987. Since then, they have released ten albums, toured around the world and landed a residency as the backing band to Jimmy Fallon. With all the glamour surrounding this crew in recent years, it is sometimes easy to forget where these Philly representatives came from. Today we get a chance to look back at the development of the innovative hip-hop band, as a 1996 radio program recording is recovered called Music Makers, documenting the band’s release of Do You Want More?!!!??!.
The program was originally aired on National Public Radio and hosted by Chuck D of Public Enemy, getting an inside look at the Roots touring schedule. As you can tell from the track listing below, the band ran through a ton of interesting topics relevant to the times. Furthermore, this is yet another piece of incredible history in the development of a hip-hop group with such longevity. [via]
Listen to the radio documentary below. You can also download it at Funk It.
Disc One:
1. Music Makers Introduction
2. Hip Hop 101 Introduction
3. Geffen signs The Roots
4. Harry Allen on Hip Hop
5. Hip Hop in America
6. The Roots have extended Hip Hop
7. Silent Treatment Script
8. The Roots and Geffen
9. Tower Records Philly
10. Wendy Goldstein on The Roots
11. About Ahmir
12. About Tariq
13. The Roots at Irving Plaza
14. Richard Nichols
15. About Hum
16. Joe Simmons in the Studio
17. Introducing Rahzel
18. Ahmir has concerns about Geffen
19. The Roots meet Geffen West
20. The Roots on the Jon Stewart Show
21. The Roots meet Robert Smith
22. The Roots and Genius
23. Heatseekers
24. Adidas Celebrity Store
25. Back On The Van
26. Promotional Consultants / Van drivers?
27. The Power of The Roots Show
28. Selwyn Hinds on Hip Hop
29. Public Enemy
30. Back at the Hotel
31. Jamaica House
32. Hip Hop 101 credits
Disc Two:
1. Music Makers Introduction
2. The Roots and Geffen Records
3. The Roots on the Bakka Boys Show
4. Notorious B.I.G.
5. The Roots in West Hollywood
6. Rahzel’s Roots
7. Rahzel Does P.E.
8. Distributor Luncheon
9. Nuo Smith on America
10. About the Silent Treatment Video
11. Soundcheck Problems
12. Meeting with Frank Sacramento
13. Soundcheck Static
14. Soundcheck Groove
15. Dinner at Acapulco’s
16. Shannita Williams on Biz Markie
17. Geffen on The Roots
18. The Roots at Luna Park
19. Silent Treatment
20. Wendy Goldstein on Music Videos
21. The Business
22. The Ghetto Joni Mitchell
23. Modern Day Sharecroppers
24. The Roots in San Francisco
25. Hotel or Motel?
26. The Roots at Bimbo’s
27. About Black Thought
28. Hip Hop Road Life
29. Sprite Commercial
30. The Roots remain an enigma
31. Hip Hop 101 Credits
