Three-time Grammy Award winning hip hop legends The Roots have released ten albums and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music business. Their influence reaches far beyond the hip-hop world, though, as their recent collaborative tour with old-school post-punk rocker, Elvis Costello, proved. While their recordings continue to earn praise and awards, it’s in concert that The Roots really display their chops. Ticket holders to one of their shows are treated to a lesson in hip-hop that shows off the genre’s history and scope, with elements of jazz, rap, funk and even metal. There’s a reason The Roots are often called the best live act in hip-hop, and Rolling Stone magazine goes one better, calling the band one of the 20 greatest live acts in the world.

The Philadelphia-based band formed in 1987 and were mostly an underground act, playing local clubs and small venues. Their first album, “Organix,” was recorded to sell at live shows. Though they were not very well-known when they joined the 1994 Lollapalooza tour, the crowd response was huge, and The Roots have been gaining momentum ever since. The group’s third album, “Things Fall Apart,” was their breakthrough album, reaching the Billboard Top 10 and ultimately going platinum. The Roots are best known to TV viewers as the house band for Jimmy Fallon’s late-night show, but they still find time for what they do best: live concerts. The Roots continue to stay true to their literal roots.