The Roots - No Great Pretender

[oneshotcannon]

With 31,737 views we get to hear the song without putting up with those stupid ass advertisements

[KamakaziNtaka]

this could be rendered psychedelic rap. cause it's making me feel kinda funny trippin me out.

[TheTwenty7thLetter]

This is a song that makes you wish all albums were made this way. It's a smoky, expansive and well-sequenced album.

[remainingnameless]

'96. Was there a greater year in hip hop or a more epic crew than The Mighty Roots??!!?!!

[GMaugis1]

sickest bassline

[MrCloudsteppa]

ill

[dschultz6072]

man i miss malik

[rennyren77]

is that actual beatboxing i hear from rahzel or scratch? omg

[Redboy1ism]

This song feel so good. I digg the hook too. Malik is so ill. This is a song that I'll cruise the city at night , playing on repeat. Street and jazzy. He perfected that " ILLY PHILLY " flow " Early " . I can hear it in a lot of rappers from Philly that came after him.

[deezportz]

@Redboy1ism i luv this song..its da truth...

[Nextlevel91]

"For inquisitives who wanna try and test me, what protects me, will make you shake like epilepsy" - Black Thought

[gmjigga]

Such a sick bassline.

[polumenta]

This song makes me wanna cry...possibly the smartest hiphop album ever..

[ivckins]

@doddoso

true. also most people have poor taste n are ignorant especially with music. makes sense they dont listen to the roots and makes sense they post dumb shyt

[bigelow345]

"I tilt the Earth from off the axis and the center, next I'm in the womb like a placenta". That was a dope line.

[nebdar]

@bigelow345 Word, Black go hard.

[akn0ledge]

We all search for sanity but I think, that it was lost again

[meinLiebsterFeind]

been a favorite song of mine since I had to wear the cassette out -- heard about the album from an ad in SLAP magazine waaayy back ~!

[envyops]

Malik B had bars. Damn.

[KrfNYC2]

@envyops Word. He's mad underrated. Him and Black Thought togther is a dope combination.

[eldudereeno77]

What shithead disliked this? Lil' Wayne was it you?:)

[vvubanga]

@eldudereeno77 hahahaha u know it

[speeches]

everytime he states my start shine the brightest and the farthest. I point up...Especially while im driving. Great metaphor... Peace to the Roots

[kev84ful]

this song till this day kill off most if not all radio mc's Black Thought gots content and context.

[cavs102000]

This is The Roots best album in my opinion. the flavor of this has its own taste and is original from a band that keeps comin up with ideas that is keeping Hip Hop and other parts of music FRESH!

Keep it comin yall!

[IggyDaKid]

@cavs102000 without a fuckin doubt homie....this album was so perfect....like Aquemini, Midnight Maruaders, Moment of Truth.....fuckin perfection

[MrWindmills]

the definition of what hip hop is.

[7nahnu]

I probably have listen to this one track a zillion times, word. "no great pretender" one of the freshest battle track on wax hands down no doubt. Salaams my brotha malik b, one of your own from motown. We love you!!!

[UPTBlockObama]

@7nahnuis "one of your own" referring to his/your faith? just curious no offense meant

[7nahnu]

@UPTBlockObama Yes i was referring to his faith as i know it to be unless i was misinformed or he has changed it. Of course there is no offense taken am glad you asked and noticed my little phase there. PEACE 2U!!!

[UPTBlockObama]

@7nahnu i do believe he partices Islam, I thought you where referring to Motown and thought you might have knew something I didn't. peace and blessings to yo as well!

[oxmoreb79]

How could you dislike this?! #getouttahere

[PFCMThomas]

at least one person is a great pretender.

[lgheel]

Malik b and TairyHesticles are legends! Thanks for uploading

[RugerTheRebellious]

the roots one of the greatest group alive. this was one of the songs that put me on hip hop

[wayneisagook]

wow man i really wish that they could play this stuff on the radio instead of stiff like lil wayne and drake and shit

[jseward228]

Malik B is underrated. If you dislike this MIDDLE FINGER U. He said " Pay Attention Like you Pay Tuition , And Stop All The Bull Ishin' "

[jseward228]

Malik B is underrated. If you dislike this MIDDLE FINGER U.

[DAGENERALWALKAT]

ONE OF THE HARDEST PHILLY JOINTS ANDHIPHOP JOINTS EVEEEEEEEEEEEER PEACE ROOTS!

[arqueware]

@amich970 Thought isn't on this track; It's only Malik B.

[arqueware]

M. Illitant, Lieutenant; liquid dope

[Classic905]

Illadelph Halflife = bombbbbb

[battlerags]

George Bush put the only dislike on this song.

[mhaze210]

Black Thought's lyrics are way too smooth over these classic 'Roots' beats.

It actually started feeling hypnotic in the beginning...i started imagining myself just slowly cruisin down a street at night, in the passenger seat.

idk why, it was just so vivid.

[DetectiveBlacksmith]

@mhaze210 I feel the same way hahaha!

[MIZARC215]

who wanna test me

make you shake like epilepsy.....classic

[MIZARC215]

This is from my fav roots album and this is my fav song off of it....Shout out to West Oak Lane and my fellow wall writerz PRstar and SNUKA. (Black shout em out @ the end of the song)

[12107170]

Malik b most slept on Mc ever. We all came here to listen him and everybody talking about Black Thought???? Most slept on MC EVER. EVER.

[trevytrev123]

malik b / black thought ... slept on mc's

[74Gamecock]

klazzik hip-hop..........man

[notseen2010]

Yooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! this takes me back.

[cdc0186]

this album was made for just drivin and chillin out. love it, good post

[RealHipHopTunes]

love the beatboxing here, malik b tears it up

[mhaze210]

I always imagine this song opening a film (opening credits)...while the camera pans across a city skyline at night...slowly approaching the gritty streets, lit up by street-lights and buildings...

idk why...it just had that heavy dark feeling to it.

(or maybe its just because i want an excuse to hear this in surround sound)

[mhaze210]

this is possibly the rawest Hip Hop song in History.

[remainingnameless]

SIIIIIIIIICK. This beat and song is filthy filthy filthy. Malik B killed this shit!

[mrmccoy7]

this one of the Roots best solo songs Malik kills it ,of many. The Roots are a will always be the BEST RAPS REAL HIPHOP...

[lloney710]

I fade into space while smoking a blunt and listening to this.

[6angelo9]

by far their best album ever!..every song was dope..& i mean that..every song was dope from start to finish!..timeless hip-hop i miss it. 90's era for ever!..the generation today is missing out..shit like this goes right over their heads..if i ever had a baby boy or baby girl..this is what i would want them to listen to..cause i don't want them to look back and think it all started with dudes like drake & the gucci mane movement..let them know this what daddy and mommy use to listen to..haha

[TheRETROKID1980]

i want to see the ROOTS live high as hell on kush real hip hop

[Time4TheDeed]

how the hell do i save on the new youtube?

[paddyboy619]

shut...teh...fuck...up...niga

[akn0ledge]

we all serach for sanity but now its lost again

[TheDacy]

smoke another blunt, listening to this good old stuff...ye

[BiZmOeT]

my fav! thjis album was sick....

[shahizo]

'Buy out Tommy and Helly Hansen.."

niccaz dont know nothin but them Helly Hansen

[nappysoul]

I saw them in 98' or 99. Ive been lovin the roots since the release of 'do you want more' since the lp 'organix 'was strictly overseas until later. I remember that we couldn't touch that joint. Black Thought holds a mic like no other and I hope he never puts it down. Long live the Mighty Roots Crew!!!

[mattafh]

Organix was off the chain , sounds so fresh and new... this album was very street and studio sounding apposed to the band sound they ussualy roll with, but this joint is bangin. II really like No Alibi for years now.

[doddoso]

wow no stupid comments on the Roots videos...unlike all other vids. this means that who listens to these guys is a little bit smarter than the rest :)

[Bluexhox]

@doddoso Somehow Listening To This Kind Of Hip-Hop Brings Out The Best In Intellectual Sensiblities For All You Enjoy It. The Roots Are Nothing Short Of Legendary...:)

[88OHA]

@doddoso true word!

[JameGumb21]

i might say that this is the most underrated hip hop album ........listening to it straight through is an incredible experience. i don't know if i've ever heard another album maintain its mood so well throughout an entire album....not to mention the rhymes are fuckin dope

[TairyHesticles]

Madvilainy and Endtroducing come to mind, but as far as consistency throughout an entire album, this one might be the best I've heard.

Of course, you'd also have to throw in Do You Want More?!!!??! in there for consideration as well.

[HCRBandit]

Yeah Do you want more was also insane and consistent..

[HCRBandit]

So damn true man.. This album straight through is just pure hot fiya.. I bang this atleast once a day. Black thought is truly one of the illest him and Malik B aka M-illitant! Gotta love them. Ive been down w/ the roots since day one. I feel you!

[TairyHesticles]

Have you ever seen them live? Its quite a show. I still haven't seen a hip hop show by anyone else that brings that much energy.

[HCRBandit]

Yes I've seen them live many times. They came to my school for their "Things fall apart" album.. I was in hip hop heaven. I don't think theres another act in hip hop who can top these dudes but this rapper WALE from DC who actually got his start w/ Black Thought puts on a pretty good live show. He's a mix of roots crew like hip hop and go go music. Look up sexy lady and the wale. Good stuff but the roots will forever reign supreme.

[TairyHesticles]

I saw them 4 times back a few years ago when Malik B. was touring with them. I just saw them this summer at Summer Camp in Chillicothe, and Black Thought has gotten even better. He is just incredible.

[HCRBandit]

Damn I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of seeing them w/ Malik B aka M-illiatant on stage. I'm seriously jealous. I must find a roots show soon.. It's been awhile.

[TairyHesticles]

Yea, they're touring like crazy right now. They love to give out free signed shit at the end of their shows too, so get a close seat.

I have a drumstick signed by Ques

[HCRBandit]

Damn drums sticks signed by Questlove?!? Now that's proper. I know they were on tour w/ Ms. Badu earlier this yr. They played at Radio City and I missed it.. I hope they come back to the city soon.. I need me some Roots crew stuff!!!

[jerrymill89]

@HCRBandit malik b was nice they were a better group with him although they still dope

[Thabake02]

This is one of the best hip-hop songs ever on one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. Malik B. had a lot to say, especially in that second verse.

[HCRBandit]

Yeah Malik killed it on that second verse. I really loved him and thought as a duo on the mic. I always wondered what happened w/ him?

[MIZARC215]

@HCRBandit That's my mans,, just saw him last week...he kool