Listen to Intro (feat. Joe Young, Dr. Cornell West, Harry Allen, Wendy Goldstein, Jal Silk, MC Power, B.R.O.T.H.E.R. ?uestion & Chuck D) by The Roots

Intro (feat. Joe Young, Dr. Cornell West, Harry Allen, Wendy Goldstein, Jal Silk, MC Power, B.R.O.T.H.E.R. ?uestion & Chuck D)

The Roots

R&B/Soul

152

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Featured In

Listen to Illadelph Halflife by The Roots
ALBUMIlladelph HalflifeThe Roots
Listen to Hip-Hop/R&B Throwback featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTHip-Hop/R&B ThrowbackApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to The Roots Essentials featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTThe Roots EssentialsApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Hip-Hop/R&B Hits: 1996 featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTHip-Hop/R&B Hits: 1996Apple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Inspired by A Tribe Called Quest featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTInspired by A Tribe Called QuestApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Ep. 1 .wav Playlist featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTEp. 1 .wav Playlist.WAV RADIO
Listen to The Ummah: The Producers featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTThe Ummah: The ProducersApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Jill Scott: Influences featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTJill Scott: InfluencesApple Music R&B
Listen to Raphael Saadiq: The Producers featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTRaphael Saadiq: The ProducersApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Al Green: Sampled featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTAl Green: SampledApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Firsts: Virgil Abloh featuring The Roots
PLAYLISTFirsts: Virgil AblohApple Music

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
The Roots
The Roots
Performer
Joe Young
Joe Young
Vocals
Dr. Cornell West
Dr. Cornell West
Vocals
Wendy Goldstein
Wendy Goldstein
Vocals
Jal Silk
Jal Silk
Vocals
MC Power
MC Power
Vocals
Chuck D
Chuck D
Vocals
Questlove
Questlove
Vocals
Harry Allen Jones
Harry Allen Jones
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
The Roots
The Roots
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Bob Power
Bob Power
Mixing Engineer
The Grand Negaz
The Grand Negaz
Producer
Kelo
Kelo
Producer
Questlove
Questlove
Producer
Tom Coyne
Tom Coyne
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When rap music began
Most people saw it as a fad, like hula-hoops or pet rocks
Each of the band members will begin to see if years of hard work
Will pay off
We would go behind the scenes, through the hopes and frustrations
Of a young band trying to make it in the music business
See coming from a hip hop standpoint, there are no drummers
Also, the relationship between the group and the record companies
Will be tested
Totally artistic, totally vehicle, incredible, um, kinda all the dynamics
That people really haven't seen before
That just really struck me
I can see peoples faces changing, the longer they played
Particularly when they started playing, the old school jams and everything
My brothers and sisters, I present to you
Live and direct from Philly
My people
Are treated as though they are disposable
They're not maximized as product
You know, not to mention as artists
The Roots
Written by: The Roots

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Chrome Web Store
Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2025 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out