The Roots, comprised of Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, Malachi "Malik B." Jenkins, and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, had already established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the hip-hop scene. Their debut album, "Organix", released in 1993, garnered critical acclaim and laid the groundwork for their subsequent releases. However, it was "Things Fall Apart" that catapulted The Roots into the mainstream, earning them widespread recognition and cementing their status as one of the most innovative and respected hip-hop groups of all time.