The Seed (2.0)

I'm definitely going to have to side with tobeforgotten on this one. Guys, The Roots aren't like Eminem or Q-Tip, their lyrics tend to actually be poetic and have hidden meanings. I don't think you can just accept the literal interpretation for this song.

I interpret the song to mean that they are attempting to unite the rock and roll and hip hop genres. In this case, they are trying to plant the seed of hip hop within the womb of rock and roll. He's having to do "fertilize another against my lover's will" because hip hop is resistant to integrating other musical styles. This interpretation is supported by the lines in the first verse that go:

"She don't want no rock-n-roll She want platinum or ice or gold She want a whole lotta somethin' to fold"

The lines are describing the hip hop culture obsession with money and "bling." Whereas, "I lick the opposition because she don't take no birth control" signifies that rock and roll is open and willing to integrate influences from other genres.

If you're still doubtful, just listen to the beats underlying the song. You have the heavy beats that are commonplace in hip hop and then the distinct guitar riff.

I think...that Black Thought..or Cody ChestnuTT, the narrator in general, is trying to leave his mark on the world. This is obvious, however, with "keep my legend alive." However, he's not just trying to leave his legacy of himself, but the actual legacy of music, more specifically, Rock & Roll.

However, he's..."fertilizing another behind my lover's back," thus making Rock & Roll the estranged child. Possibly noting the actual birth of Rock & Roll, which is 'the estranged child of Jazz'.

Absolutely brilliant song.

ROFL at hastalavictoria

i agree with the theory that the song is about the narrator leaving his mark on the world, through a child, and musically aswell.

"She want neo-soul, this hip-hop is old She don't want no rock-n-roll She want platinum or ice or gold"

i think this part was talking about the changes in mainstream, mainly hip hop music.

uhh duh. but that's my two cents :-)

"And what she finna have she don't know She want neo-soul, this hip-hop is old She don't want no rock-n-roll She want platinum or ice or gold She want a whole lotta somethin' to fold "

this also makes me believe that the song is about the birth of Rock N Roll. It sounds like the woman wants to have a kid like hip-hop, or neo-soul, but she DOESN'T want rock n roll. Haha I'm awful at explaining my points

I never thought about that. I just assumed he was talking about how he wants to keep his legacy alive by impregnating different women (sounds a lot like Screamin' Jay Hawkins' life), even though he is supposedly with this one girl "fertilize another behind my lover's back." And he's been tested for std's so he knows he won't be giving the girl(s) a disease. One thing I don't get though, is the line "I lick the opposition because she don't take no pill" just offhand, it sounds like he pleases the girl just with foreplay because she's not on birth control, but that goes against the point (or at least the way I see the point) of the song. Can anybody explain? I'm probably just misinterpreting the song. Awesome song, and totally original just like The Roots!

Alright, first, it's "I push my seed in her bush", not push. Everytime I hear this the idea I get is that the narrator is in love with one girl, but she doesn't want to have kids. But he wants his family legacy to go on, so he impregnates a girl that is not his lover. This leads me to my other correction. Instead of "I lick the opposition cuz she don't take no pill" I hear "I LIKE the opposition cuz she don't take no pill". The "opposition" is the girl he's getting pregnant and he's having sex with her because she doesn't take birth control.

... and he plans to name the kid rock n roll :p

@ deranged one 13. "The Roots aren't like Eminem or Q-Tip, their lyrics tend to actually be poetic and have hidden meanings." I agree with you one the Emninem one, but Q-Tip? C'mon. Perhaps you've forgotten along with De La Soul and the rest of the Native Tounges Crew, Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest practically invented intelligent hip-hop. I also think this song is about the birth of rock and roll.

@rid90 I apologize. I was totally thinking 50 Cent and not Q-Tip!

^^^ How the hell did that happen?!

Anyway, fantastic song. I hadn't thought about it in that metaphoric sense before, either.

Great comments, when I first heard the lyrics I couldn't believe the Roots would drop a message like that. But now I've read some deeper interpretations I get it.