Hub (bassist)
Encyclopedia
Leonard "Hub" Hubbard is a former band member of The Roots
and played bass for the Philadelphia outfit from 1992 to 2007. He played on all of their records until his departure from the group, including 1999's Things Fall Apart
and 2004's The Tipping Point
. He is known for always having a chew stick
in his mouth, both on and off the stage. Hub's smooth bass lines and distinct style make The Roots stand out in their field of music. Hub studied classical upright bass at Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
Hub played his last show with The Roots on August 31, 2007.
welcomed back Hubbard. The band played "Mellow My Man" with Hub before stepping back to watch him solo. Following the solo, Hub shook hands with everyone and watched from sidestage for the rest of the show.
Hubbard was invited back for the Roots Picnic on June 5, 2010, where he played a song with the Roots as current bassist Owen Biddle stepped aside once again. The song ended with a five minute bass solo.
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
and played bass for the Philadelphia outfit from 1992 to 2007. He played on all of their records until his departure from the group, including 1999's Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart (album)
Things Fall Apart is the fourth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released February 23, 1999 on Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Electric Lady Studios during 1997 to 1999, coinciding with recording for other projects of the Soulquarians collective,...
and 2004's The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point (album)
The Tipping Point is the sixth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released July 13, 2004 on Geffen Records. It is named after Malcolm Gladwell's book of the same name , and it serves as the follow-up to Phrenology...
. He is known for always having a chew stick
Teeth cleaning twig
A Teeth cleaning twig, twig toothbrush, bush toothbrush, tooth twig, chew stick, or chewing stick is a tool made from a twig from a tree with antimicrobial properties.-Twigs used:...
in his mouth, both on and off the stage. Hub's smooth bass lines and distinct style make The Roots stand out in their field of music. Hub studied classical upright bass at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Hub played his last show with The Roots on August 31, 2007.
Comeback
Leonard Hubbard was invited to the Roots Picnic concert that was held in New York on June 8, 2008. To his surprise, he was asked to play and borrowed a bass from The Dap Kings. The current Roots bassist, Owen Biddle, stepped aside as Black ThoughtBlack Thought
Tariq Trotter , better known as Black Thought, is an American hip-hop artist who is the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots and occasional actor...
welcomed back Hubbard. The band played "Mellow My Man" with Hub before stepping back to watch him solo. Following the solo, Hub shook hands with everyone and watched from sidestage for the rest of the show.
Hubbard was invited back for the Roots Picnic on June 5, 2010, where he played a song with the Roots as current bassist Owen Biddle stepped aside once again. The song ended with a five minute bass solo.