Leonard “Hub” Hubbard was the bassist for the acclaimed hip-hop band the Roots from 1992 to 2007.Hubbard joined the Roots in the band’s early days, when they were still called the Square Roots and hadn’t yet released their first album.
He had a background in jazz and classical music, having studied at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School and at Carnegie Mellon University.
That fit in well with the Roots, who take an unusual approach to their hip-hop, mixing in jazz influences as they play real instruments in concert and on their recordings.
As he played in the Roots, Hubbard became known for his bass solos as well as for the trademark chew stick of licorice root that was always in his mouth.
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