The passage describes how the author and Tariq, both musicians, attended the same school as Boys to Men. They recall humorous experiences involving glitter, contests, and school life. Later, the author auditions for music schools and encounters a pivotal moment with a woman who mistakes him for a drummer in a Spike Lee commercial. This inspires the author and Tariq to start performing on the streets with buckets, quickly finding success. They later incorporate a bass player, and this marks the beginnings of the band "The Roots."
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Boys to Men won contests by using glitter in their hands.
2. The narrator and Tariq attended a school with notable jazz musicians.
3. The narrator auditioned for Juilliard and the New School in 1992.
4. The narrator appeared in Boys to Men's music video for the song "Motown Philly".
5. The narrator and Tariq started performing on the streets with buckets, making money.
6. Wawa is significant for those from Philadelphia and the Tri-State area.
7. The narrator and Tariq used their earnings for affordable date nights.
8. The narrator's friend, a bass player, joined them in their street performances.
9. They formed the roots through stealthily loading drums into a station wagon.
Is there anything else you'd like to know?