Root Down by Beastie Boys Lyrics Meaning – Unearthing the Cultural Layers Beneath the Beats

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Beastie Boys's Root Down at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I kick it root down
I put my root down
I kick it root down, I put my root down
So how we gonna’ kick it?
Gonna’ kick it root down
Yeah, how you wanna’ kick it?
Gonna’ kick it root down
So how you gonna’ kick it?
Gonna’ kick it root down
Gonna’ break it on down, gonna’ kick it root donwn

It’s not a put down
I put my foot down
And then I make some love, I put my root down
Like Sweetie Pie by the Stone Alliance
Everybody knows I’m known for dropping science
I’m electric like Dick Hyman
I guess you’d expect to catch the crew rhymin’
Never let you down with the stereo sound
So Mike, get on the mic and turn it out
We’re talking root down, I put my root down
And if you want to battle me, you’re putting loot down
I said root down, it’s time to scoot down
I’m a step up to the mic in my goose down
Come up representing from the upper west
Money makin’ putting me to the test
Sometimes I feel as though I’ve been blessed
Because I’m doing what I want so I never rest
Well, I’m not coming out goofy like the Fruit of the Loom guys
Just strutting like the Meters with the Look-Ka Py Py
‘Cause downtown Brooklyn is where I was born
But when the snow is falling, then I’m gone
You might think that I’m a fanatic
A phone call from Utah and I’m throwing a panic
But we kick it from the root when we break it on down
Jimmy smith is my man, I want to give him a pound

I kick it root down
I put my root down
I kick it root down
I put my root down
So how you wanna kick it?
Gonna kick it root down
So how we gonna kick it?
Gonna kick it root down
So how we gonna kick it?
Gonna kick it root down
Break it all down gonna kick it root down

AdRock don’t stop, get on the mic with the tic and the toc
I’ll fill you with the fuckin’ rim like brim
I’m walking down your block and you say that’s him
There goes the guy with the funky sound
The Beastie Boys you know we come to get down
Because I’ve got the flow where I grab my dick
And say oh my God, that’s the funky shit
So I’m going to pass the mic and ’cause a panic
The original nasal kid is doing damage
Every morning I took the train to high street station
Doing homework on the train, what a fucked up situation
On the way back up hearing battle tapes
Through the underground, underneath the sky scrapes
Like Harlem world battles on the Zulu beat show
It’s Kool Moe D vs. Busy Bee there’s one you should know
Enough of that, I just want to give some respect due
M.C.A. grab the mic and the Ma Bell will connect you
Bob Marley was a prophet for the freedom fight
“If dancin’ prays to the lord then I shall feel alright”
It feels to play a little music
Tears running down my face ’cause I love to do it
And no one can stop this flow from flowing on
A flow master in disaster with a sound that’s gone
I’ll give a little shout out to my dad and mom
For bringing me into this world and so on

I kick it root down
I put my root down
I kick it root down
I put my root down
So how you wanna kick it?
Gonna kick it root down
So how we gonna kick it?
Gonna kick it root down
So how we gonna kick it?
Gonna kick it root down
Break it all down gonna kick it root down

Yeah, that shit’s on down
And that’s a record, that’s a record ’cause of Mario
And that’s a record, that’s a record ’cause of Mario
And that’s a record, that’s a record to Mario

Awww, now that’s a record, buddy

Breaking down Beastie Boys’ ‘Root Down’ is akin to digging through layers of vibrant urban sediment. This track, a standout on their 1994 album ‘Ill Communication’, serves not just as a buoyant celebration of hip-hop culture but also as a sampling smorgasbord that echoes the group’s journey through the soundscape of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.

Scratch beneath the surface, and ‘Root Down’ reveals itself as a complex tapestry woven out of references to jazz greats, hip-hop battles, and personal narratives, all set against a backdrop of the Beastie Boys’ irrepressible energy. This depth makes the song an indispensable case study in understanding the evolution of hip-hop as a genre.

Digging the Roots: The Beastie Boys’ Connection to Their Musical Ancestry

When the Beastie Boys insist on ‘kicking it root down,’ they’re doing more than establishing a rhythmic battle cry. They’re also acknowledging their foundational influences. References to artists like Jimmy Smith and bands such as The Meters place the Boys within a continuum of sound innovators and genre-benders.

It’s a form of historical homage; an indication that while they may rock the mic with their own distinctive swagger, they’re always conscious of their musical DNA – stretching from the bebop and funk tunes that sculpted their unique sonic palette to the rap legends they aspired to emulate.

Battling Beyond the Beat: The Competitive Spirit of Hip-Hop

‘Gonna kick it root down’ is not just a stand-alone declaration; it’s a gauntlet thrown. When the Beasties announce their readiness to ‘battle’, placing ‘loot down’, they tap into the competitive energy that fueled hip-hop’s growth from street corners to global stages.

These lines are an ode to the rap battles of old, where words were weapons and reputations were forged and broken in the space between beats. The Beastie Boys might be seen as ‘class clowns’ of rap, but ‘Root Down’ reminds listeners of their capacity for lyrical combat.

The Hidden Meaning: Roots in Personal Identity and Place

Despite their global stardom, the Beastie Boys never forget their ‘downtown Brooklyn’ beginnings. ‘Root Down’ can be interpreted as a tribute to these origins, an emblem of pride for the place that shaped them, the struggles faced on the ‘train to high street station’, and the transformation into icons of hip-hop.

This piece underscores a quintessential New York narrative, highlighting the significance of locality in the story of hip-hop – a genre deeply rooted in the bass lines of specific boroughs, blocks, and buildings.

From Dick Hyman to Bob Marley: Intertextuality in ‘Root Down’

The Beastie Boys mastered the art of referencing, dropping names that span genres and epochs. By aligning themselves with ‘electric’ jazz artist Dick Hyman, invoking the reggae prophet Bob Marley, or giving props to Harlem’s hip-hop scenes, the Beastie Boys present a rich, referential dialogue with the broader musical world.

This cross-pollination elevates the song beyond braggadocio, turning it into a curated gallery where the legendary and the contemporary coexist within the grooves of the beats. It’s a hip-hop mosaic cemented by the Boys’ unwavering reverence for their inspirations.

Memorable Lines: The Reinforcement of the ‘Root Down’ Mantra

Certain lines in ‘Root Down’ resonate with an almost anthemic quality. Phrases like ‘So how we gonna kick it? Gonna kick it root down’ emerge as spirited slogans, embracing the tangled roots of music, culture, and identity. They are choruses that don’t just stay with you; they burrow deep.

Whether it’s ‘I’ll give a little shoutout to my dad and mom’ or the surreal ‘walking down your block and you say that’s him’, these lines linger long after the last note has faded, embodying the intimate and the iconic in equal measure.