The Roots

Its video is their most high-tech and expensive to date and is currently seeing explosive airplay on VH1 Soul and MTV Jams, as the song climbs the American urban charts. [3] (http://abc.go.com/specials/nickjess_xmas.html). Most recently, the Roots have returned this summer with a new single, "Don't Say Nothin'". Jessica and Ashlee also performed the song together on Nick & Jessica's Family Christmas, which aired on ABC on December 1, 2004. It was the video for "The Seed 2.0" that finally earned the Roots a nomination for the MTV2 Award, signaling their more widespread breakthrough, at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, even after almost a decade of more underground, less commercial music videos. It includes a duet with her sister Ashlee on the song "Little Drummer Boy". The song even received some exposure on alternative radio stations in America, including MusicChoice's "alternative" station. Simpson recorded an album of Christmas songs, Rejoyce: The Christmas Album, for the holiday season of 2004.

"The Seed 2.0" performed even more strongly on VH1 Soul and MTV2, due to its almost alternative rock sound. [2] (http://www.dessertbeauty.com/index.asp). If anything, "Break U Off" has a nu soul feel, thanks to Musiq, which enabled it to do well on VH1 Soul, MTV Jams, and urban radio, as well as MTV2. Jessica also has her own line of edible body creams called "Dessert Beauty". Similarly to fellow alternative rappers, Outkast's more recent singles, both Phrenology singles display a more commercially-friendly side of the Roots while still being far from mainstream hip-hop in their sound. She also appeared and sang at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28. Phrenology contained the singles and music videos, "Break U Off" (featuring Musiq Soulchild) and "The Seed 2.0" (featuring Cody Chesnutt). [1] (http://www.livedaily.com/news/6570.html/1) On May 1, 2004 Nick and Jessica attended the Kentucky Derby along with many other celebrities.

Though The Roots were no superstars, they vastly expanded their fanbase, leading to high hopes for their follow-up, the long-awaited Phrenology, released in 2002 (see 2002 in music), which was similarly acclaimed, though sold somewhat less than Things Fall Apart. In August, 2004 Jessica ranked number two in a countdown of blondes on a cable television network. In 1999 (see 1999 in music) The Roots' Things Fall Apart (named after Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe) was a breakthrough commercial and critical success which made it on many best-of lists for the year. However, a pilot for a sitcom on the ABC Network was rejected by network executives in May 2004. Preceded by the moderate hit "Clones", 1996's Illadelph Halflife (1996, 1996 in music) included some samples but still did not sell well. When introduced to Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Simpson responded: "You've done a nice job decorating the White House." She also appeared on VH1's Divas Live show in 2004 as well as a variety show with Nick Lachey on the ABC network called the Nick and Jessica Variety Hour on April 11, 2004. Do You Want More?!!!??! included no samples and was recorded live; sales were slim among mainstream audiences, though it was very popular among devoted hip hop fans and some alternative rock audiences. The success of the show, however, helped sales of In This Skin.

With significant hype, The Roots soon signed to DGC and released their major label debut, Do You Want More?!!!??! in 1995 (see 1995 in music). She often appears as a stereotype of a dumb blonde, notably when she asked whether the Chicken of the Sea tuna she was eating was chicken or fish and thought that buffalo wings were made from buffalo. Their debut album, Organix, was released on Remedy Records. The couple star in the MTV reality show Newlyweds, which began in 2003 and has run for three seasons. Moving (rapper) and Hub (bassist) and earned themselves a respectable fanbase in Philadelphia. Simpson and Lachey were married on October 26, 2002. Originally composed of Black Thought (rapper) and ?uestlove (drummer), The Roots soon added Malik B. (It also appeared on Now That's What I Call Music! 16, a compilation of popular songs that displaced her sister Ashlee's album, Autobiography, from the number one spot on the chart.) A cover version of "Angels" by Robbie Williams also appears as a bonus track.

The Roots are an influential Philadelphia-based alternative hip hop crew, known for uplifting lyrics and live instrumentation. The third single, a cover of "Take My Breath Away" by the band Berlin, went top 40 on the US Top 40 Mainstream Charts; it was not included on the original album, but appeared as a bonus track on the "collectors' edition" of In This Skin, which was released on March 2, 2004. While the Diane Warren song "The Sweetest Sin" reached the US Top 40, the second single "With You" enjoyed more success, going top 20 in the US and Australian singles charts as well as going top 20 in the world adult charts. It reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 album charts and made the Australian album charts in 2004. Her third album, In This Skin, was released in 2003.

"A Little Bit" was released as a follow up single but failed to achieve much success apart from going top 20 in Portugal. The title track reached the top 20 in the US and Canada and top 40 in Australia and Switzerland. Her second album, Irresistible, reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200 after its release in 2001; it also reached the top 20 of the Canadian album charts. "Where You Are" is a duet with Nick Lachey, then of the '90s boy band 98 Degrees, and the couple met when she was supporting the band in 1999. Destiny's Child also appeared on the song "Woman in Me".

"I Wanna Love You Forever" also made the top 10 in Canada, and "I Think I'm In Love With You" reached the top 20 in that country. Her first single "I Wanna Love You Forever" reached the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1999, while her second single "I Think I'm In Love With You" reached the top 40 and "Where You Are" reached the Hot 100. In 1999, Simpson released her debut pop album Sweet Kisses, reaching a peak of 25 on the Billboard 200. Tommy Mottola of Columbia Records obtained a copy of the album and, thinking she had potential as a pop singer, signed her as such.

She and her father sold copies of the album after her performances. While waiting for the album to be released, she toured the Christian Youth Conference circuit performing with Kirk Franklin, God's Property and CeCe Winans. Jessica Simpson was discovered singing at a church camp by a head of a small CCM record label and recorded an album over three years, although it was never released due to the label folding. At the same age, she made an unsuccessful application for the Mickey Mouse Club.

Jessica started singing at 12 as part of her Baptist church choir. She is the daughter of Joe and Tina Simpson and has a younger sister, Ashlee, who launched her own music career in mid-2004. Simpson was born in Abilene, Texas and raised in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas. She stars with her husband Nick Lachey in the MTV reality show Newlyweds.

Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American pop singer who rose to fame during the late 1990s. The Dukes of Hazzard (projected release, 2005). 2004 "Angels". 2004 "Take My Breath Away" #20 US.

2004 "With You" #14 US, #7 UK. 2001 "A Little Bit". 2001 "Irresistible" #15 US, #11 UK. 2000 "I Think I'm in Love with You" #21 US, #15 UK.

2000 "Where You Are" (featuring Nick Lachey) #62 US. 1999 "I Wanna Love You Forever" #3 US, #7 UK. In This Skin Collectors' Edition, with bonus tracks and DVD (2004). In This Skin (2003) #2 US, #36 UK.

Irresistible (2001) #6 US. Sweet Kisses (1999) #25 US, #36 UK.