RIP Malik B of The Roots

[formerlurker]

Malik B, founding member of The Roots, dead at 47

The Philadelphia rapper’s death was confirmed by his cousin

nypost.com

Sad. The Roots are on my hip hop Mt.Rushmore and Malik B is a big part of why that is.

Step Into the Realm my friend.

 

[formerlurker]

They day I became a fan. Live in person. Horrible production but the lyrics stuck with a 28yo white guy from CT who needed to make some changes.

 

[Mike Honcho]

I didn't realize until now but the song Water was a song dedicated to Malik, referencing codeine ("water") and urging him to overcome his addiction.

Come on—over, over the water / Come on—over, over the water

Very dope hook from Black Thought. He is telling Malik to come “over the water” as in overcome his trials with his drug addiction. “Water” can be interpreted as a body of water, and getting over to the other side is like getting back on the other side. “Water” is also slang for Codeine in...

genius.com

 

[formerlurker]

I didn't realize until now but the song Water was a song dedicated to Malik, referencing codeine ("water") and urging him to overcome his addiction.

Come on—over, over the water / Come on—over, over the water

Very dope hook from Black Thought. He is telling Malik to come “over the water” as in overcome his trials with his drug addiction. “Water” can be interpreted as a body of water, and getting over to the other side is like getting back on the other side. “Water” is also slang for Codeine in...

genius.com

That's not even close to how I connected to his lyrics, 343 but that's the beauty of them.

 

[3rdbass]

RIP. The Roots were cool as they were totally different having a full band. I wasn't a huge fan, More into Tribe, Gang Starr, Phaycyde, Wu tang, leaders, mos def, and Public but I definitely respected their music. I wonder if he died from his addiction.

 

[M.S.G.]

R.I.P.

People forget that for those first few Roots albums he was bar for bar a perfect musical companion for Black Thought, his addiction issues allowed him to be unfortunately swept away from the music scene.

Everyone lauds Black Thought as one of the greats (I never thought so, and think he's incredibly overrated as a solo artist) but Malik B would outshine him on a regular basis on their early work.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Did the roots retire from doing anything other than being the house band for Jimmy Fallon? I remember seeing them a few times , especially at UConn in 04 with a full band which was awesome

 

[XLCenterFan]

The Roots are beyond simply hip-hop/rap...they are pure music. A talented group of musicians, and I always loved their style.

 

[Mike Honcho]

That's not even close to how I connected to his lyrics, 343 but that's the beauty of them.

Fair - kinda messed up on my part to dwell on his troubles.

I loved his flow on Mellow My Man

 

[OkaForPrez]

R.I.P.

People forget that for those first few Roots albums he was bar for bar a perfect musical companion for Black Thought, his addiction issues allowed him to be unfortunately swept away from the music scene.

Everyone lauds Black Thought as one of the greats (I never thought so, and think he's incredibly overrated as a solo artist) but Malik B would outshine him on a regular basis on their early work.

No offense, but this is the angriest anyone has ever made me on the boneyard.

 

[M.S.G.]

None taken, but name something he's released on his own that is comparable anything some of the consensus top 10 emcees of all time have put out? I've always viewed him as a "cameo killer" and he's in the vein of a Canibus for me. Absolute showstopping performances, however, please remember that any Roots album released is NOT a Black Thought solo album.

 

[OkaForPrez]

None taken, but name something he's released on his own that is comparable anything some of the consensus top 10 emcees of all time have put out? I've always viewed him as a "cameo killer" and he's in the vein of a Canibus for me. Absolute showstopping performances, however, please remember that any Roots album released is NOT a Black Thought solo album.

I also don’t enjoy his solo stuff, but I do consider him one of (If not) the greatest for what he’s done with the roots. I guess I don’t deduct as many points.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

While I agree Malik B. was the glue for the early Roots projects. Black Thought is an incredible emcee in his own right. His 10 min freestyle on Funk Flex a couple years ago proved that to any doubters.

To each his own though.

 

[M.S.G.]

In reference to the past 2 posts, I do totally get what you're saying. On my podcast I did my top 50 emcees of all time list and I had him at #21 but everyone's list is so subjective I try to avoid arguments about it.

That freestyle was pretty godly, but again I'm just a bit harsher a critic. When I'm looking at truly stacking emcees up I weigh: impact, body of work, and longevity.

 

[OkaForPrez]

In reference to the past 2 posts, I do totally get what you're saying. On my podcast I did my top 50 emcees of all time list and I had him at #21 but everyone's list is so subjective I try to avoid arguments about it.

That freestyle was pretty godly, but again I'm just a bit harsher a critic. When I'm looking at truly stacking emcees up I weigh: impact, body of work, and longevity.

Post your list as a separate thread. I'd like to see it.

 

[M.S.G.]

I'll send you a PM, threads about rap music usually aren't too well received. Take a look at it and maybe we can turn it into a thread.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Agree with Top 10/20/100 lists are always subjective. My top 5 list constantly changes based on what mood I am in.