>good question... i bet these musicians in the bands, know
>each other. and word goes around....who's good, what works..
>etc. Im sure these cats have to be inspired by the roots. they
>started it, if they say not theyre lying

I thought that it was Stetsasonic that were the first to have a band in a hip-hop group.

It is quite possible that those rappers are inspired by The Roots, though.

Or maybe they just like live instrumentation like the rest of us.