The Roots have detailed plans for a deluxe reissue of their celebrated 1995 album, Do You Want More?!!!??!. Responding to fans’ 26-year-old answers to the seminal jazz/hip-hop fusion album’s titular query (“yes!”), the expanded reissue will feature a number of previously unreleased demos and alternate mixes of tracks from the album.
The Roots’ Do You Want More?!!!??! Deluxe Edition is due out on Friday, March 12th in a variety of digital formats in addition to 3-LP and 4-LP vinyl packages. Pre-order your copy here.
As the pioneering Philedelphia hip-hop crew noted in an announcement of the reissue, “It’s been 26 years since Do You Want More?!!!??!, the groundbreaking second studio album and major label-debut by The Roots. Originally released on January 17, 1995 via DGC Records, Do You Want More?!!!??!, brought The Roots’ neo-soul bohemian zest to life and established them as leading figures of hip-hop-jazz. The album which peaked at #22 on Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, features their singles ‘Distortion To Static,’ ‘Proceed’ (considered one of their most signature recordings), and the rap ballad ‘Silent Treatment.'”
In addition to the more commercially successful singles, tracks like “Essaywhuman?!!!??!” helped establish the nature of the trailblazing hip-hop band. Part soundcheck, part call-and response, part musical flex, the freeform track at once flaunts The Roots’ hip-hop bonafides and engrained jazz musicality, a fruitful sonic space largely unoccupied at that time.
The Roots – “Essaywhuman?!!!??!”
Previously unreleased tracks set to be included on the deluxe reissue include “In Your Dreams Kid (I’m Every MC)”, “The Ultimate (Original ’94 Version)”, and “Pffat Time” as well as a number of remixes and extended takes on “Proceed” and “Silent Treatment”.
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While Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter have only grown in esteem since the release of Do You Want More?!!!??!, it’s hard not to feel a pang of sadness for the late Malik B., the co-founding The Roots MC featured on the album who passed away in 2020 at the age of 47.
While the Roots family mourned Malik’s loss in 2020, the group has had a big year despite the pandemic-imposed obstacle. In addition to continuing their stint as the house band on The Tonight Show, the ever-prolific Black Thought continued to devise and release exciting collaborative projects and Questlove kept fans entertained with regular quarantine DJ sets, played a voice-acting role in Disney/Pixar‘s Soul and, most recently, took home both the audience prize and the grand jury prize for documentaries at Sundance Film Festival for his directorial debut, Summer of Soul (…Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised).
Listen to a pair of newly released alternate cuts from the Do You Want More?!!!??! deluxe reissue and check out the full tracklisting below:
The Roots – Lazy Afternoon (Alternate Version), “Silent Treatment” (Street Mix)
[H/T Consequence of Sound]