1. "Thought was razor fucking sharp on this album..." In response to Reply # 0
so many good songs. I used to play The Hypnotic on a constant loop. No Great Pretender was classic Malik B. As far as favorites, I rate this just a hair under TFA, personally.
...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft
2. "My favorite album by The Roots" In response to Reply # 0
96 was the last great year for hip hop IMO and Black Thought had a top 5 performance during that year. Lauryn Hill, Nas, André Benjamin and Bun B are the other four. The length of the album didn't bother me because each song was good to great. This includes One Shine which had no rapping and Ursula Rucker's spoken word outro. The chemistry between Thought and Malik was at it's best on this album. The features by Bahamadia, Raphael Saadiq, Common, D'Angelo and Q-Tip were on point too.
Favorite cuts: Section, Clones and No Alibi
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3. "It's 3rd for me behind TFA and DYWM?" In response to Reply # 0
It's dope lycially but musically it's quite dark which makes it a tough listen at times. But Malik B was doing his thing and Black Thought was steady killing it. Great album.
IH is my personal #1. Then TFA, DYWM, GT, Phren, Organix (the rawness just does it for me), Undun, Tipping Point, HIGO, &TYSYC, and Rising Down... as far as their solitary studio albums. There's another list I have with these albums plus the one's they've done production for, but I'll save that for another time.
"I'm twenty-two, catch In the prime of my life, I don't have time to be a wife"
10. "ever since they performed on the NY Live show in 96 i was a big fan..." In response to Reply # 0
....in a year of so many amazing albums, Illadelph stood out as one of the best ...those beats were fucking INSANE ..still some of my all time favorite production
TFA Probably has more life in it if that makes any sense but I love the darkness of IH. And it has my favorite Roots song ever. No Alibi. Black Thought and Malik B. Man...that was a combo for yo ass.
15. "This was on constant rotation for years" In response to Reply # 0
Got dayum I love Malik B on this album. BT killed it as usual, but I've always rode for Malik..... and one shine became our go-to instrumental for the late night , blunted cypher sessions with tha crew.
23. "The album that really showcased the group that they would gel into" In response to Reply # 0
?uest mentioned that Illadelph was the album that was a pushback against everyone who doubted them or thought they weren't 'hip-hop'.
They might have been fun on DYWM, but they were hungry on this album.
Thought took a big leap forward in his technical skill and lyrical abilities. He has a variety of flows, from the rapid-fire, rappidy, rappidy flows on Concerto of the Desperado and UNIverse at War to the laid back flows on The Hypnotic and What They Do to fun, upbeat stuff like he did on Clones.
The guest spots were all top notch from Bahamadia and Common to Q-Tip and all the MC's on Clones and I think Illadelph was also hip-hop's introduction to D'Angelo on The Hypnotic.
Musically, ?uest admitted to stealing the sonic palate from the Wu-Tang Clan and while the influence is clear, especially on UNIverse At War and Episodes, he and the other producers were able to add the R&B influenced tracks like The Hypnotic and What They Do and other styles like Clones and Push Up Ya Lighter to showcase the musical versatility and range of influences of the band.
It also shows their wit and intelligence (What They Do) and fun side (Clones) and hardcore sides (UNIverse at War) which are elements that they would use on their albums later on.
It's probably my third or fourth favorite album by The Roots, with Phrenology, undun, and Things Fall Apart being the other albums in that top four.
Lately, I've been listening more to their later albums like How I Got Over or Game Theory, but I need to go back to this album and digest it all again.
24. "Damn ... Game Theory ranks that low for you ?" In response to Reply # 23
>It's probably my third or fourth favorite album by The Roots, >with Phrenology, undun, and Things Fall Apart being the other >albums in that top four.
Phrenology undun/illadelph halflife Things Fall Apart Game Theory DYWM How I Got Over Rising Down The Tipping Point Organix ... and then you shoot your cousin
The highs of Game Theory rank up with their best, but the first half isn't nearly as interesting to me as the back half.
This is the first of their 'serious' albums and while the ideas are interesting, I'm just not into music as a form of protest anymore.
26. "This is quite strange to me..." In response to Reply # 25
>The highs of Game Theory rank up with their best, but the >first half isn't nearly as interesting to me as the back >half. >
False Media, Game Theory, Don't Feel Right, In The Music, and Take It There is as strong of a start to any of their album in my opinion. Every song is a banger and the sequencing is great. Thought is in top form and the R eturn of Malik is great.
>This is the first of their 'serious' albums and while the >ideas are interesting, I'm just not into music as a form of >protest anymore.
You consider this album "protest music"?
Sure, they did a great job of covering topics but this is far from a PE or dead prez type of album.
To me, this is the album where everything came together. The actual live band sound of Phrenology is here. The topics of Illadelph are here. The incredible sequencing of Things Fall Apart is here. Thought is not only in top form but the songwriting is better than it was on previous albums.
I feel like this is one of hip-bops most underappreciated albums at this point.
27. "RE: This is quite strange to me..." In response to Reply # 26 Thu Sep-29-16 08:21 PM by obsidianchrysalis
>You consider this album "protest music"? > >Sure, they did a great job of covering topics but this is far >from a PE or dead prez type of album.
I don't really consider it protest music, although In The Music and False Media and Don't Feel Right touch on social issues.
But the press I read about the album labeled as 'angry' which I never picked up but is why I called it protest music. > >To me, this is the album where everything came together. The >actual live band sound of Phrenology is here. The topics of >Illadelph are here. The incredible sequencing of Things Fall >Apart is here. Thought is not only in top form but the >songwriting is better than it was on previous albums. > >I feel like this is one of hip-bops most underappreciated >albums at this point.
I don't know why I don't like the first half, but it never really caught on to me, even though I liked Don't Feel Right more than some people on the boards, IIRC.
You're right that this album is like Things Fall Apart in that both Thought and ?uest had highlights on this album and that the 'band' aspect of the group is showcased on Baby and Here I Come, but for whatever reason I just couldn't get into the album. It's still a **** album, but I wanted more of something from this album which I didn't get.
I don't feel that the album is a post-2000's classic, but I wouldn't argue with someone who felt that way.
And I'm also perplexed by his opinion re: first half/second half. I've historically heard people claim the opposite, they love the first half but it falls off later. I happen to love both but I also find the first half to be the stronger half.
30. "My taste is 'unique'" In response to Reply # 29
The album doesn't really get going until In The Music, at track 5.
Dilla Vol Won(derful) is dope and one of my favorite intros by them.
But False Media, Game Theory and Don't Feel Right usually get skipped by until I reach In The Music.
The album through Living in the New World (5-10) is amazing and include some of their best songs ever.
Clock With No Hands is okay. I like the vulnerability Thought showed on that track, but the beat seemed a little off. Just my personal taste.
Atonement was dope and for whatever reason Can't Stop This didn't do it for me.
But while illadelph doesn't have the highs of this album, that album is more consistent IMHO.
undun seems like the best blend of concept, musicality, and social message that they've done and Phrenology is the band at its best. Things Fall Apart is the album that the group really gelled and balanced the fun and skill that reflected their early career.
It's a good album, one of their best and it got a lot of play when it came out and still does every three months or so. But the first half just doesn't work for me which is why I ranked it below the other four albums.
>Not sure I would label your taste as "unique" *shrugs* >
I was being tongue in cheek with the 'unique' adjective. I typed unique because my tastes are kind of high and low brow. Like I'll listen to Radiohead and The Roots and then follow it up with Carly Rae Jepson and Katy Perry's Roar. I'll like Aquemini and Apocalypse '91 over ATLiens and Fear of a Black Planet.
My tastes aren't intentionally eclectic or hipster or more sophisticated than anyone else's, but it's just been rare that I meet someone who has the same hodgepodge, contrarian, and stubborn taste in music.
34. "Word. To each their own." In response to Reply # 30
Your description of your likes and dislikes on Game Theory is legit pretty much the opposite of mine haha. I mean I love the entire thing but I love Clock w/No Hands, Game Theory, Don't Feel Right, etc.
>It's a good album, one of their best and it got a lot of play >when it came out and still does every three months or so. But >the first half just doesn't work for me which is why I ranked >it below the other four albums.
Haha it's probably my favorite Roots album and I don't play it anywhere neaaaar every 3 months but that's dope. I should listen to it today I think.
36. "RE: Off the top of my head..." In response to Reply # 31
Top 10. Couldn't do only 5
Supreme Clientele (2000) Stankonia (2000) Train of Thought (2000) The Fix (2002) Madvillainy (2004) Late Registration (2005) Beauty and the Beat (2005) The Further Adventures of Lord Quas (2005) Game Theory (2006) Hell Hath No Fury (2006)
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