The Roots are a Grammy award winning American hip hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals. Their debut album was released in 1993 and they have collaborated with a wide range of artists from different genres, including Roy Ayers and Cody Chesnutt. The Roots have generated a great deal of critical acclaim and influenced numerous rap and R&B acts. On March 2, 2009, The Roots began a tenure as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. (via Wikipedia)

About The Roots

Genre: Hip hop

Former Members: Ben Kenney (electric guitar)
Dice Raw (MC)
Kid Crumbs (Kenyatta Warren) (MC)
Rubberband (Josh Abrams) (bass)
Scratch (beatbox)
Hub (bass)
Rahzel (beatbox)
Scott Storch (electronic keyboard)
Malik B. (MC)

Current members: Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson (Sousaphone)
Kamal Gray (electronic keyboard)
Owen Biddle (bass)
Captain Kirk Douglas (electric guitar)
Black Thought (MC)
F. Knuckles (percussion)
Questlove (drums)

Name: The Roots

Record Label: MCA, Geffen, Def Jam

Years Active: 1987–present

Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Also Known As: The Legendary Roots Crew, The Fifth Dynasty, The Square Roots, The Foundation