The Roots

Formed in 1987 by rapper Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the nine-piece band from Philadelphia were originally named The Square Roots. Despite their revolving-door lineup, the group has released nine studio albums, including their latest How I Got Over, and collaborated with artists ranging from Jill Scott to Jay Z. In March 2009, the Grammy-winners became the house band on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. The Roots have also appeared in several movies, both in performance and as individual actors.