The Roots - Break You Off ft. Musiq

What this video is

Released in 2002 as a single from The Roots' critically acclaimed album Phrenology on MCA Records, 'Break You Off' ft. Musiq represents a defining moment in the neo-soul and conscious hip-hop crossover of the early 2000s. The Roots — Philadelphia's live-instrument hip-hop collective led by Questlove and Black Thought — bridged hip-hop and soul at a moment when the Okayplayer movement was asserting an alternative to…

Why it matters

A landmark crossover between East Coast conscious hip-hop and neo-soul, 'Break You Off' demonstrates The Roots' role as bridge figures between hip-hop's underground intellectual tradition and R&B's mainstream emotional register. Directed by Chris Robinson at the apex of his hip-hop video output,…

The director

Chris Robinson (born September 28, 1967, Edgewood, Maryland) is an American music video, commercial, and feature film director. He launched Robot Film Company in 2000 and became one of hip-hop's most prolific video directors. He won the 2007 MTV VMA for Best…