Questlove and Black Thought of The Roots discuss the formation of the band, choosing their name, their musical influences, and their early experiences in the Philadelphia hip-hop scene.
The crew's live breakbeat performances on the streets of Philadelphia captivated audiences and led to opportunities for more gigs and exposure.
The crew overcame challenges and surprises in their early days, finding inspiration from various sources and embracing a simpler approach to music.
Deep dives
Formation of the Crew and Recording the First Studio Album
In this podcast episode, the speaker reflects on the journey of forming the crew and their early experiences on the streets of Philadelphia. They discuss the formation of their first studio album and the excitement surrounding their rap career. They highlight the importance of mentorship and how it shaped their vocabulary and skills. The speaker also shares anecdotes about their early performances and the impact their live breakbeat performances had on audiences, even in unexpected venues like strip clubs. The episode concludes with the introduction of their record label and management, which sets the stage for their future success.
The Influence of Hip-Hop Icons and Quest for Excellence
Throughout the podcast episode, the speaker emphasizes their aim to be better than the rappers in the local Philadelphia hip-hop scene. They draw inspiration from iconic hip-hop groups like A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets, aiming to match their excellence and creativity. Their dedication to mastering their craft is highlighted by their commitment to freestyling, incorporating live breakbeats, and continuously improving their skills. The speaker also reveals their initial desire to incorporate complex samples and references into their music, but ultimately embracing a simpler approach based on the unique drum and bass sound they had developed.
The Power of Live Breakbeat Performances
One of the key aspects that set the crew apart in the early days was their live breakbeat performances. The speaker recalls the impromptu street performances on South Street in Philadelphia, where they would drum on buckets while their bassist played upright bass. Their unique approach captivated audiences, as they recreated popular hip-hop beats with their instruments, leaving people amazed. These performances caught the attention of local hip-hop radio DJs, leading to opportunities for more gigs and exposure. The speaker also discusses their evolving performance repertoire, including covers of influential songs and their own renditions of popular tracks.
Challenges and Surprises Along the Journey
The podcast episode sheds light on the challenges and surprises the crew encountered during their early days. They reflect on being underestimated by other rappers and getting unexpected gigs at venues like strip clubs and white clubs, which initially seemed closed off to rap music. The speaker shares their struggle to find their sound and original songs, ultimately finding inspiration from various sources like average white band and jazz records. They also discuss the delicate balance of pursuing their aspirations without their parents' knowledge and how they managed to keep their music career a secret until the release of their album. Overall, the episode highlights the determination, persistence, and adaptation that fueled their journey.
In episode 2 of this season long interview with Questlove, we continue the story of the formation of The Roots as Questlove and Black Thought cycle through names, start performing live and eventualy end up in the studio for the first time where they begin work on what will become their first album Organix