The Roots - Rising Up (live on Late Night w/David Letterman)

[Mrprincejannisg]

@MultiGmurphy As Rakim & Eric B. told us in the 92'! ;)

[chillyh93]

best band ever! go PA!

[aham2maha]

Wale! eggo!

[Faunce07]

You want a memory that will never fade? See The Legendary Roots Crew live in concert. Nothing in this world can compare.

[ElegantCobweb]

That groove...

[MultiGmurphy]

Don't sweat d technique..

[jbrownieusf]

Oh my goodness!!!! These cats are ridiculous! Anybody hating on this isn't a real fan of music. Their skill is on another level!!!

[drzliljoe03]

Chrisette Michelle... WOW!!

[TheJosuebonhomme]

Who are playin bass???

[jonkolar]

@TheJosuebonhomme Owen Biddle. Roots producer and (then) new bass player.

[TheJosuebonhomme]

@jonkolar Thx man! Be bless

[SuperHipHopGuru]

Black Thoughts out fit makes him look like a Black Panther.....Dope!!!

[zbuki56]

wtf was that... now will really all the songs sound same to me... ;)

[OnkelMickwald]

How can that guy with the sousaphone play that damn thing while doing that funky dance!?

[pedrohgromero1]

@OnkelMickwald I couldn´t even hold it while dance huahuahua

[OnkelMickwald]

@pedrohgromero1 Few could hold it and stand up straight... :P

[pedrohgromero1]

@OnkelMickwald Yeah LOL

[noelmpz]

OH MY LIL FUNKY JESUS!!! THAT WAS HOOOOT!!!!

[MrBONANG1]

Dope!!!

[SALAUTAinternet88]

real instruments ffs, music is made by this not digital sounds

[Dope999]

?uestlove. Nuff said

[FruitShaped]

Great percussions! <3

[jeerzeekid]

LAWD, Have Mercy!!!

[allenwood100]

@elected134 EARGASM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JBWIOOP]

I'm pretty sure the original Roots members were Black Thought,?uestlove,Scott Storch, Kid Crumbs, and Josh Abrams. Both Scott and Josh were white. So everyone get off this Black vs. White shit.

[brian1679]

this happens!

[manubree]

tnx robert, E



[manubree]

fellas...does anybody know the name of the guy on bass, please?

[RobertMGarrisonII]

@manubree Owen Biddle

[RobertMGarrisonII]

@manubree 

[RobertMGarrisonII]

@manubree Owen Biddle

[richay772004]

@manubree owen biddle

[mrblackmagichimself]

The Roots are THE TRUTH.

[qstenson]

they rocked that show...black thought in MY top 10 lyric wise....

[obiwashere]

wale been repping dc since the start. people hate for no reason

[bluesy007]

That beat is HOT!!!

[chrisacopland]

SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD. UGH. Overwhelmingly good.

[ZzOoAaRr]

"Good rappers ain't eatin, they olsen twinin." Damn Wale went off. Can't say I was surprised tho XD

[Johanofsweden]

Haha. That's random with a sousaphone!

[chinoiserie]

damn that tuba player is killin it on that stage

[MrIndiemusic101]

@chinoiserie its a sousaphone 

[spacedog1973]

Wow.. Oh My God!..Heh YeeaH!! Gotta love seeing Letterman appreciate some real Music played by fantastic muscians, all.  Everyone was on top of their game that evening. Letterman should feel honoured and priveledged

[5374philly]

yo! BIG UP to the roots, yall the best hip hop group in the world. Shout out to my ol` heads James, Frank, ?uest, and HUB on the bass.

[darkchief3]

the legendary roots crew! and props to my boy wale as well

[critic7337]

I'd like to see Lil' Wayne or TI even try to keep up with the Thought's flow. Brotha must work his ass off to get that kind of breath control and execution. It's hard to even take Jigga seriously after hearing this.

[000MidnightSun]

@critic7337 lil wayne is so fucking wack. so is ti and that sort of shit

[nycpinoysanity]

0,30 secs and 3.15.. What makes them them the Roots.. They are a breathe of fresh HIP HOP music .. soulja boy should quit already.

[tvisbad47]

See this is the way new hip hop should sound like.

[RikJamezBich]

I love that guitar player. Hah

[BAEism]

SOUL

[Kyletbassist]

Lettermans reaction is perfect

[robinhofan1]

The drums, god damn nice.

[KillenEMsoftly]

i need to see them LIVE

[ShackNastyVideos]

holy shit! go to 0:30 and watch that beat fucking DROP

[cablechannel]

funkiest joint in town. So fresh, make me wanna play cowbell all day long.

[unspokenrespect]

Thats ill

[woodside4life]

that just kicked my ass

[ILLDEFF1]

3 justin bieber fans dont like real music

[aiFresh96]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO ELSE CAN DO IT BETTER

[3DSpirit]

Beautiful! Watching all the drum sticks moving together!!! Much Love!

[samicta]

THiS iS REAL HiPHOP. 'nough said.

[Goodguyofla]

hahahaha

[tandersn9]

wow the double time ending gave me goosebumps

[3DSpirit]

LOVE!!!

[MrB1U]

Oh my god; four minds playing as one.

[aunicornist888]

I wasn't really feeling the album version, but I gotta admit this performance is pretty dope. I guess what they say about good bands being better live is true.

[royhaworth]

I just have to see these guys live some day. Anyone know if they're playing in Europe this summer?

[trapkeep]

It's stupid how good this is. Like I'm almost mad.

[ck10203]

damn, drumsticks are flying everywhere

[dannypoissant]

Not to sound racist, but isn't funny how the only white guy in the whole band just happens to play bass? haha love it

Black Thought is a genius

[harp1a]

@dannypoissant

Looks like one of the drummers is white, no? Tho I guess he's not as much a member of the Roots as the bassist, probably just brought on for this song/tour... ?

[mrdonovan213]

@harp1a no his name is owen biddle he's their full time bassist now after replacing hub.

[harp1a]

@mrdonovan213

We're misunderstanding each other. Somebody had said that the bassist was the only white guy in the band, and I pointed out that one of the drummers looked like he might be white, but that drummer probably isn't as much of a member as the bassist is. I'm no Roots expert, but I've seen them in concert with Owen Biddle.

[fatbackfunk]

@harp1a Yeah that percussionist is Daniel Sadownick(Screaming Headless Torsos) he's toured with the Roots but not a full time or core member.. The guy is an absolute beast.. And yes Owen is mos def a full time/core member of the group.. Outstanding bass player..

[RustySacks]

@dannypoissant hey they going by talent not color

but i see what you mean its sort of ironic

[Royal9186]

nasty go-go beat.

[hujjer]

Oh, 3:35 she wanted him to kiss her hand, but David didn't get it. You can see, she wasn't very happy about it.

[JtheLioness]

It just don't make no sense...I love these dudes...so live! Black Thought is the realest!!!!

[dunn5102]

the beat is better on the record

[jbk1286]

the whole song is great but black thought's second verse is unreal

[Dagit66]

"Wow, prrretty cool... Oh wale nice to see you"

Haha good stuff all round.

[knight7se7en]

Unfiltered musical integrity is almost hypnotic..........

[monumentious]

instead of arguing just listen to this killer jam by these guys. And be thankful that we at least have some talented musicians for this generation.

[ericrazy1]

unreal. WOW.

[JBWIOOP]

Smh at all these comments about what's "Hip-Hop" from disgruntled Rock and "Underground" Hip-Hop stans. You all love to put barriers around artist who have MUTUAL respect for each other. 90% of the names being thrown around here have collaborated with each other COUNTLESS times, not to mention a few of them being close friends. And all this B.S about Hip-Hop not having real musicians make me chuckle. You morons are SOOOOO ignorant.

[SlyHobbit]

Lol, Dave really looked hyped. As well he should have been, this was a very neat performance. Great music

[DeleteThisMF]

Wow Chrisette as well. Yes yes yes REAL hip-hop lives. Live instrumentation. Learn the rules all you morons sweating sub par MC's

[SlyHobbit]

Agreed 100%. Its SO encouraging to see that there are actually REAL MUSICIANS in hip hop. 99% of these mainstream hip hop folks don't know SHIT about music. I always have to stop from busting a gut in laughter when I hear someone listening to some hip hop and being like "Wow, you heard dat bass man?" and "Man, that bass is off the chain" when its actually very, very, VERY simplistic stuff that a 3 year old could play if given a real bass guitar. Peoples minds are so watered down now days...

[DeleteThisMF]

Preach my bro. Preach.

[hummerstyle]

2:23 - 2:26 WOW

[eviltwin22825]

I love Wale but I wish he hadn't been in this particular performance because Black Thought is just SO DAMN GOOD live... no rapper or hip hop group I can think of can even touch the Roots live

[ImmaHussuluh]

I get what you mean, but his part in the studio version of Rising Up is just so vital. Cause that's when it all breaks down into go-go, and with Wale being from DC... it all just fits.

[ImmaHussuluh]

Ah wait, just remembered that the go-go rhythms are on when Black Thought raps too. But still, Wale contributes and does it well.

[critic7337]

That's right, this is what you call hip-hop kids. Not Kanye West.

[stinglykabee02]

Have you listened to College Dropout?

[critic7337]

Yeah. "Mr. West" and Lil' Wayne and all those guys have taken hip-hop to an all time low. Jay-Z, TI, and those guys are ok, but they can all take lessons from the roots crew.

[Kfunkshun]

Thank You! One person that understands that Jay-Z isn't one of the people killing hip hop. I listen to mostly underground rap and non-mainstream but jay is one of few guys on radio I can listen to

[frankcastle139]

Kanye is hiphop. even if he's an asshole. i assume you know that Common, Talib Kweli, Jay Z are hiphop right? well all 3 of em have a lot of Kanye production on some of there best records. remember Get By, Lucifer, the whole finding forever album? Kanye's a dope producer, he just shouldn't have touched the mic.

[nyiawung]

"good rappers aint eatin'

they olsen twinin'"

[javierchu81]

esto es de lujo!!!

[RollingStone000]

Now that's a fucking percussion section right there!

[canon9212]

@RollingStone000 thts GOGO for u babey!!..thts the percussion!  DMV ALL DAY!!

[RustySacks]

@RollingStone000 yeah, they kilt it!

[BerryBearParis]

@RollingStone000 100% wit 'cha!

[bluesy007]

@RollingStone000 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[DarkHalo08]

Leave it up to the Roots to keep HIP-HOP alive!!!!! Legendary is not just a slogan IT'S THE TRUTH!!!

[mslebruce]

CHRISETTE KILLED THAT SCAT! & I LOVE WALE'S VERSE! "They Olsen twinning." lmbo!

[hotwheelz20072]

Sooo fresh!

[jediashton93]

and so clean

[Saspurs326]

is that wale?

[pb0o6]

looks like it dont it?

[semperfi7197]

@Saspurs326

Correct, that is Wale...

[djkikis]

the studio version sucks!!!!!! they shouldve done it like this....

[mlt0403]

I love the whole jazz melody they have for this song, The Roots are so sick

[alexuslovesmusic]

Wow, now that's real hip hop. I feel refreshed :)

[yurmom23]

Black Thought looks like a Black Panther in that outfit haha

[UnVirtuous47]

this makes me want to do music EVEN more!!!

[Married2musiC]

daaaaaamnnnnn

[blaccstacy]

amazing

[SunnyCool]

holy sheeet, the whole percussion just tears it up it's just insanely good.

[neopandorex2]

rockin that black panther stance ahaha

[frankcastle139]

The Roots are the hardest working group in show biz.

Theyre either recording or touring nearly every damn day of the year.

Oh yea, and now theyre a house band for a TV show 5 nights a week?? and still do concerts on the weekend and are working on the new album... AND if youve seen them live as I have a few times you know theyre never anything less then 100% energy

and Black Thought is one of the deadliest MCs of our time

[trezeguet500]

You're wrong frankcastle. Seen the Roots live in Dublin which was their last show after 3-months long European tour and they gave 120%!!:)

Only joking well said mate they're unstoppable. Can't wait for the new LP!

The Roots. How I Got Over. October 20, 2009. Cop that!

[behtashbg]

@frankcastle139 black thought is THE deadliest mc of ANY time

[endofsomething]

@frankcastle139 Very true. More bands should look up to The Roots, no matter what music they play. The Roots are TRUE hip hop.

[evildisco420]

@frankcastle139 hear hear!

[28g34ajbsd]

@frankcastle139 Amen.

[BumbaRasclot]

@frankcastle139 now that james brown is gone questlove is the hardest working man in showbiz

[BAGAKOOS]

roots crew!

[don2070]

I hadn't seen this until now, but what a great performance. These guys are so underrrated and Dave Letterman's response says it all. Everyone needs to see these guys live

[SweeeeeeeetBabyJesus]

for any1 who's interested, the roots got the concept for this song from

80's Go-Go music. Check out Trouble Funk "drop the bomb" or anything Rare Essence 1983-1987

[DarkHalo08]

Great performance!!!! The Legeandary Roots Crew is the best!!!!!

[RoboLos3000]

ADAM ZOMBIE IS THE FUTURE

[fatbackfunk]

just stellar..!! love it..!! Great song..! and Daniel Sadownick on percussion too..that guy is a monster..

[Soldier13]

David Described the roots best, "Wow Oh My God, A lot goin on there"

[jasonbittencourt]

can you hear the guitar?

[DarkZekeX]

I can, but its not distorted, that may be why it isn't sticking out so much in the mix of sounds

[dfdfdsffd]

Drum section did work back there

[SpencerMA89]

wale brought the gogo with him

[pablotabloz]

Interesting that The Roots are now on Letterman's previous show Late Night.

[ledpaul713]

Sousaphone! get busy

[richgilb]

Sousaphone ftw!

[aeissler84]

how can anyone say anything bad about the roots?!?! If only some the garbage that is out there now would take a lesson from them,..........??

[youngcorporate21]

This some good stuff right here. For Real.

[piepersnv]

their so good live mainly because thats how they originated and became famous. but yes, many other rappers are horrible live.

[kylereinhard1]

Maybe it's just that the standard for live hip-hop has been set really, really low by other hacks, but The Roots seriously amaze me with how good they are live. Wow once again.

[LongestJohnSilver]

that rhythm section is chopping wood back there. a fucking machine! ?uest Love can do no wrong

[grassrootz]

Yes>>>>YES>>>>>YES!!!!!

[saschamaj]

One word: LEGENDARY

[redline843]

ahh...music! Roots is funky as fuck.

[keviwevi]

one word. Amazing.

[blahha80]

awesome

[joliecide]

chrisette's scat singing is fab! hub's leaving didn't really make all that difference innit? owen biddle's just as good i think...

[TheLawson001]

WALE!

[mmmfilipino]

this is the sickest shit, hands down.

chrisette + the roots = hot damn!

[luvoftruth]

Black thought gotz to be hands, down one of a very few that light up the mic! This kats amazing! The Roots are the shit period!

[eai1911]

Str8 up Hip-Hop keep it going fam! The Roots will get my money anytime they have a show in the D.

[PherpLPrincess]

Wow. I hate that I missed them on DL. I would love to see The Roots live!

[krutarth108]

hey, see them live before you die!

[DaylightRobberyCA]

i agree.

[sharaifjones]

INCREDIBLE!!! The Roots do the best live show, period.

[insertclevername14]

Maybe...but I think Rage Against the Machine is slightly better

[metallicaroc]

Lmao my man they're totally different spectrums. The musicianship behind The Roots is much more professional than that of Rage no matter how much I love them.

[stjb375locs]

chrisette = beautiful, the roots = hot!

[vinnienickoloff90]

Whos the other rapper? Not Black Thought but the other guy?

[wtc4life]

That's Wale

[SwaggMajor174]

WALE, DMV STAND UP

[Mfab122]

Flyer than the rest of em

[KDaMiZZ]

dope and all that...

but what wuz he wearin???

wale usually be freasher then that...even if they had to match wit dah black..

[arturo51880]

What happenend to the original bass player?

[mightymellow01]

must be a temporary guy - he's still in the band

[robchrist91]

no, hub left and owen biddle is the new bassist.

[GCdude]

HUB quit and that is Owen Biddle who is the new bass player for The Roots. He's from Philly and he helped produce the album Game Theory"

[SoapSudz101]

hub came on and played a show w. them recently tho so he might come back. hub was much better imo.

[OneMoTime08]

David is SO on the level! i love it! =)