“Rising Down” - The Roots CD Review
“When Things Fall Apart” was released in 1999 it didn’t take much to figure out that the album was an allusion to Chinwe Acheba’s classic book by the same title. “The Tipping Point,” released in 2004, likewise was an allusion to a book popular at the time by Malcolm Gladwell. “Rising Down” refers to a seven-volume treatise by William T Vollman entitled “Rising Up and Rising Down.” Although The Roots take the title of their albums from very highly intellectual books, their latest album is another fine example of what down and dirty, basic, bare-bones, hip-hop should be.
The Roots are organically consistent. Although the band has changed over the years (they even have a tuba player now and Hub has retired), the continually provide rap music that feels like it did when we first fell in love with it. Blackthought (Tariq Trotter) is probably the most underrated MC around. Probably because, even though he’s the lead rapper, he’s not the leader of the band–That’s Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson. On this album, even though their are over 10 guest appearances, Blackthought clearly delivers the tightest and most dense rhymes. He outshines Mos Def, Common, and even Kweli.
I like “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)”– it has no hooks, just straight rhymes for 75 bars. “Singing Man” is an insightful song about a twisted youth probably heading to a shooting rampage. This song is likely a nod to Virginia Tech were The Roots were supposed to play during the week the tragic shooting rampage took place. And although “Unwritten” is only 37 seconds long, I find myself listening to it over and over again. And “The Show” is something that has been getting me out of bed for the last few mornings. (I really want to post some rhymes but it would take up half the page and J would get mad about the space.)
Bottom line: Pick up “Rising Down.” And if you can, they will be touring with E. Badu for a few months. I’ll be at the Chicago Theater, May 30th to hear ‘em.
Filed under: Music
I’m so sleepy today because I saw this show last night. Pretty good. That was my first time seeing the Roots live. They were awesome! They only performed 45min since they were opening for Erykah. I really wanted to hear them longer.
And they can go much longer. I saw The Roots last year and Lupe Fiasco opened for them. They played about three hours.
EJ - Try to catch em again for the full show. Its def worth it.
One of my fondest Roots show memories is when I saw them back in ‘99 in NY and they introduced the writer of the hook for “You got me”. No one knew her yet but they made sure the audience knew the label pressured them to go w/Badu’s vocals & image for the video rather than the unknown Jilly from Philly i.e. Jill Scott. Jill ripped it.
I don’t listen to the Roots but this review is fantastic:
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2008/05/01/fear-my-dear
That was a good review and sums up exactly what the group is going through. it frustrates me when Blackthought doesn’t get his due as a lyricist or ?uestlove as a producer. Game Theory was PHENOMENAL album. ALBUM. The Roots have always had great albums.
Despite their struggle with record companies, I can’t see this group not putting out an album every year or so. If a label is fool enough to dump them, I’m not worried. They will find a way to put out wreckas in the stow.