Studio Album · No. 4

Things Fall Apart Songwriting Credits by The Roots

1999 MCA 18 tracks 68:54

Produced by Chaos, James Poyser, J Dilla, Kamal Gray, Questlove, Rahzel, Scott Storch, The Grand Wizzards  ·  Engineered by Bob Power

MCA Alternative Hip HopNeo SoulJazz Rap
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 18 of 18 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 18 / 18 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 18 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Roots carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
18 trackswritten by The Roots 0 tracksoutside writers
The Roots's roles on this album

Share of the 18 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer44%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

18
Tracks
25
Lyricists
8
Producers
1999
Released
Data Insight

Every one of the 18 tracks carries a member and eight carry nobody else, the deepest in-house writing since the self-released debut. Questlove is on 16, more than Black Thought here, which happens on no other album. It is also the last record with Malik B. on it.

Things Fall Apart came out on MCA in February 1999, is certified platinum and remains their best selling album. "You Got Me" won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 42nd Grammy Awards.

Track Listing & Credits 18 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Act Won (Things Fall Apart)
QuestloveSpike Lee Ahmir ThompsonShelton Lee The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)
2
Table of Contents (Parts 1 & 2)
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubMalik B.Dice Raw Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-BasitKarl Jenkins Questlove The Roots (Performer)
3
The Next Movement
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayHub Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayLeonard Hubbard Kamal Gray The Roots (Performer)DJ Jazzy Jeff (Featured Vocals)Jazzyfatnastees (Featured Vocals)
4
Step into the Realm
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayHubMalik B.Kenyatta Williams Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-BasitKenyatta Williams The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)
5
The Spark
QuestloveKamal GrayHubMalik B. Ahmir ThompsonJames GrayLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-Basit The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)
6
Dynamite!
Black ThoughtRehani SayeedJ Dilla Tariq TrotterRehani SayeedJames Yancey J Dilla The Roots (Performer)Rehani Sayeed (Featured Vocals)
7
Without a Doubt
Black ThoughtJB WeaverMelvin Lewis Tariq TrotterJB WeaverMelvin Lewis Chaos The Roots (Performer)Lady B (Featured Vocals)
8
Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubScott StorchDice Raw Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardScott StorchKarl Jenkins Scott Storch The Roots (Performer)Dice Raw (Featured Vocals)
9
Double Trouble
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubMos DefDice RawJames Poyser Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardDante SmithKarl JenkinsJames Poyser James Poyser The Roots (Performer)Mos Def (Featured Vocals)
10
Act Too (The Love of My Life)
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubCommonDice RawJames Poyser Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardLonnie LynnKarl JenkinsJames Poyser The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)Common (Featured Vocals)
11
100% Dundee
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubMalik B.Dice Raw Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-BasitKarl Jenkins Kamal GrayRahzel The Roots (Performer)
12
Diedre vs. Dice
QuestloveDice RawDiedre Murray Ahmir ThompsonKarl JenkinsDiedre Murray The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)Dice Raw (Featured Vocals)
13
Adrenaline!
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubMalik B.Scott StorchDice RawBeanie Sigel Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-BasitScott StorchKarl JenkinsDwight Grant Scott Storch The Roots (Performer)Dice Raw (Featured Vocals)Beanie Sigel (Featured Vocals)
14
3rd Acts: ? vs. Scratch 2... Electric Boogaloo
QuestloveKamal GrayHubMalik B. Ahmir ThompsonJames GrayLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-Basit The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)
15
You Got Me #39
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubScott StorchErykah BaduEveDice RawJill Scott Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardScott StorchErica WrightEve CooperKarl JenkinsJill Scott Scott Storch The Roots (Performer)Erykah Badu (Featured Vocals)Eve (Featured Vocals)
16
Don't See Us
QuestloveBlack ThoughtKamal GrayRahzelScratchHubMalik B.Dice RawJames Poyser Ahmir ThompsonTariq TrotterJames GrayRozell BrownKyle JonesLeonard HubbardMalik Abdul-BasitKarl JenkinsJames Poyser The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)Dice Raw (Featured Vocals)
17
The Return to Innocence Lost
QuestloveUrsula RuckerAnthony Tidd Ahmir ThompsonUrsula RuckerAnthony Tidd The Grand Wizzards The Roots (Performer)Ursula Rucker (Featured Vocals)
18
Act Fore... The End?
QuestloveBlack Thought Ahmir ThompsonTariq Trotter Questlove The Roots (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 46 contributors

Q
Questlove
Writer · Producer
On this album16 written
AT
Ahmir Thompson
Writer
On this album16 written
BT
Black Thought
Writer
On this album13 written
TT
Tariq Trotter
Writer
On this album13 written
KG
Kamal Gray
Writer · Producer
On this album12 written
H
Hub
Writer
On this album12 written
JG
James Gray
Writer
On this album12 written
LH
Leonard Hubbard
Writer
On this album12 written
DR
Dice Raw
Writer · Vocals
On this album9 written
KJ
Karl Jenkins
Writer
On this album9 written
R
Rahzel
Writer · Producer
On this album8 written
KJ
Kyle Jones
Writer
On this album8 written

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2002 100%
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2006 92%
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2010 100%
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2011 100%
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Frequently Asked Questions Things Fall Apart

Who wrote Things Fall Apart?
Band members are credited on all 18 tracks and eight of those carry no writer from outside the group. Questlove is on 16 and Black Thought on 13.
Who wrote "You Got Me"?
Black Thought, Questlove, Scott Storch and Jill Scott. Erykah Badu sings the hook and it won a Grammy Award.
How did it sell?
It is certified platinum by the RIAA, gold in Canada and silver in the United Kingdom. No sales figure is published on the cited pages.
Which singles charted?
"You Got Me" reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. "The Next Movement" reached the R&B chart but not the Hot 100.
Was it nominated for anything else?
Best Rap Album at the 42nd Grammy Awards. It did not win that one.
Who engineered it?
Bob Power.
How long is the album?
68:54 across 18 tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Things Fall Apart Wikipedia: The Roots discography Cover Art Archive: Things Fall Apart by The Roots