The Roots, ‘End Game’: What You Need to Know About the New Album

Rumoured 2025 release date for new music from the jazz-inspired hip-hop supergroup sparks fan curiosity

Last updated: 1st August 2025

Lovers of the art of rhyme will understand the importance of The Roots. The hip-hop collective has been contributing to the music scene for more than 37 years, and this experience undeniably shows in their work.

The Roots’ The Next Movement was a heavy inspiration for Kendrick’s Squabble Up video.

The rumoured release date for their new album is quickly approaching, sparking curiosity among fans.

Thanks to Kendrick Lamar, a new generation is becoming aware of the Philly crew following the release of his music video for Squabble Up. Viewers began searching for Easter eggs, and visual clues led to the crew’s video for The Next Movement.

Who are the Band Members?

Arguably led by the best lyricist in the game, Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) himself has continued to practice his craft, releasing three albums and three extended plays in six years.

Stream The Roots’ music online.

The group was founded by both Trotter and drummer Questlove (Ahmir Thompson) after they met at Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Other members include Stro Elliot (multi instrumentalist), Captain Kirk Douglas (guitarist/vocalists), Damon “Tuba Gooding Jr.” Bryson (tuba player/sousaphone), Dave Guy (trumpeter), James Poyser, Kamal Gray, Raymond Angry (keyboardists), Mark Kelley (bass player), and Ian Hendrickson-Smith (saxophonist/flautist).

Latest Album News and What You Need to Know

The Philadelphian group’s last album, released more than a decade ago in 2014, (…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin). This gap has left the culture rightly crying out for new music.

Common & Pete Rock on the Questlove Supreme Podcast.

So, why now? A recent album (The Auditorium, Vol. 1) by Common and Pete Rock was a catalyst for the ensemble to get things moving. The Roots are constantly working on new material, and have currently recorded more than 263 songs.

Band member Questlove interviewed the duo for his podcast, highlighting that they have been watching from the sidelines: “Not to be outdone, my band has been sitting on the sidelines watching all this action happening and, you know, it’s made us…I will say that it’s made Tariq (Black Thought) into the muthaf**ker wrote seven songs in one day! We have not done that since our second album.”

Hunger to Make Music

There is an obvious hunger and desire to present new work, and with many songs recorded, we can expect an experience to remember.

Black Thought’s legendary freestyle on Hot 97 FM

The drummer elaborated on the process, and how Thought (Tariq Trotter) is on a roll: “I mean, back in, like, Do You Want More?!!!??! days, ‘Riq would write, like, six or seven songs in a setting. This album is definitely, like, it’s probably what he’s working on right now as I speak. It’s inspiring.”

“But then, I think after the Hollywood Bowl performance that we did, I think that lit something under Tariq. I mean, I can say in the last two weeks, he’s knocked off at least eighty percent.”

Sneak Peek and Album Expectations

Having teased the project for some time, the group have confirmed some details. For starters, they plan to narrow the tracklist down to approximately fourteen songs.

The Roots – Misunderstood ft Erykah Badu and Tierra Whack on Hot 97 radio.

The album’s lead single was broadcast back in 2022 as a taster. Funkmaster Flex debuted Misunderstood featuring Erykah Badu and Tierra Whack on Hot 97. The DJ influenced the band to release new material, “I challenged The Roots last week, and they delivered big time,” said Flex of the track, which is produced by Questlove and Jorun Bombay. “The knock on this is crazy.”

True to his word, Flex accurately portrays it as an outstanding performance. A full blown Black Thought lyrical escapade is employed with metaphors galore and expressive wordplay over a drum loop of rolling snares and punchy bass lines.

Badu signals the first save point on the chorus before Whack dishes out an equally impressive verse as the instrumental continues.

Fan Reaction

It’s not surprising that followers of the band are excited about forthcoming music. Their considerably long-hiatus has many returning to earlier work. A fan on Reddit said he hopes “they bring back that raw, organic sound from “Things Fall Apart.”

Others were dubious, highlighting that Thompson has made promises about new work for “the last two years.” One thing is for sure, group members are far from rusty given their efforts outside of The Roots.

Release Date

When asked about the launch date, Quest said he expects it to be released on a date of significance saying, “I know the exact date when I want to release it, and it’s not 2024. But it’s a very seminal 2025 date that will make sense once it comes out.”

The drummer is likely referencing the 30th Anniversary of Do You Want More?!!!??!, a remarkable body of work long cited as a masterpiece within the genre. It dropped January 17th 1995. However, the date has now passed, so either the project is delayed, or he is referencing another milestone. What do you think?

Stanisland Magazine