Since its out, lets talk about it.

this should prolly be in OK artist discussion

.....it might get badu'd

been waitin for this...

with only 6 more days to go.

....but that's been sorta the trend as of late.....seems like the days of ish leakin' months ahead are gone

the key is wait til the VERY last minute to go to pressing.

when an album is pressed...

its curtains

....i remember when GT leaked and i hit Trotter on the text and his reply was "it was about that time".......from what i'm hearin' shits amazing.......i hope y'all got those pre-order shipments movin' on the 25th cause we need that work

...i think of the "ones to look for" Gnarls was the only one that leaked outside of that 7 day window

Atmosphere took extreme measures to make sure it didnt leak and it did 6 days before.

same thing in this case.

i think its a good thing though... the anticipation is rough, but at least its still VERY fresh once the CD comes out officially.

>i think its a good thing though... the anticipation is rough,
>but at least its still VERY fresh once the CD comes out
>officially.


It use to be when the album was released people had already gotten tired of the leak & didn't even have the desire to go out and buy it.

...game theory leaked mad early


this was worth the wait

is someone gonna say sumthin' about the other tracks?????

i'd really like to know what

Lost Desire (feat. Malik and Kwe) and The Show (feat. Comm & Dice) sound like......

i can't stop playing it.

part of it sounds like it uses the same sample as boogiemonsters "old man jacob's well". the part at the end of old man jacob's well when it breaks down....anyone else hearing it?

you need to ask somebody about me. you some Newbie with a few posts. fool you coming at me with some turkey and Bread and you ain't no Miracle Whip to make a sandwich and you ain't no conversation to hang. (c) mistermaxxx

------------
Prodigy - H.N.I.C. 2
9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Formula

to do it yourself. thats just my theory

as is the rest of the song.

that track is fuckin NUTS

______________________________________________________________
Killers Born Naturally like, Mickey and Mallory. Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary(c) Talib Kweli


http://www.fudgefm.com/profile/soulsupreme

this what always happens...
people ready to call it the c-word off the first listen.

take heed to erick & parrish, squier...

______________________________________________________________
Killers Born Naturally like, Mickey and Mallory. Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary(c) Talib Kweli


http://www.fudgefm.com/profile/soulsupreme

this intro > tfa's intro

and if you know how i feel about tfa then you know i just said a LOT

ive played the fucking intro like 7 times...i dont mean to overhype it for anyone, its just saying a lot to me personally

ima go zone out

they were fuckin pisssssed

lol who was the one that was getting extra heated??? that the dude says Ahmir Ahmir, tell "him"...

dixpop lol

sets the mood straight, but its hard to tell exactly whats going on...

haha, so dude's the same in person as in his 5 posts of fury?

I gotta agree
the intro alone is worth the price of the cd

...

insane way to start the album.

can't wait to cop.




the revolution will not be inboxed.

just how i love my roots albums.
i was skeptical about all those guest listings.
after one listen, they have all proven me wrong.
what an album.

i havent heard nothing else but if this is a hint of whats on the album...me likey
http://videos.onsmash.com/v/fbWMqUzasZLTyu8p


the relentless pursuit of perfection

but you guys are making me want to search for this

...that I can't seem to find this right now.

-recycle bin crumple-

this is either a shock post or you are one elitist fucker.

agreed.

it all makes sense now.

>-recycle bin crumple-

*dead*

if you feel it aint banging, then its not my music."

come on dan...

"The Okayplayers that I do have a problem with are the
aggressive, dissatisfied
(to the point of being hateful), frustrated, narcissistic
ones (there is also a
passive aggressive/narcissistic variation of this archetype).
These bitter, third wave Okayplayers are usually (or
unusually) frustrated artists,
producers, journalists and bloggers who have yet to see their
work acknowledged in a way they feel is meaningful. Most of
these people have no way of nuancing their social
selves and are largely unknown outside the message boards of
a select number of online communities or the heads of their
bitter progeny. They're the backseat drivers, the
armchair quarterbacks, couch potato A&R's who won't shut
the fuck up.
Their refrains go something like this: "Yall gonna catch
a brick", "That's why
yall went wood", "The Roots are meh", " I
stopped listening to them
after Illadelph", "Thought is
boring"....yada.... yada...fucking yada.
It would be cool if these lames said that shit twenty times
and disappeared into
the hip hop abyss that is the comment section of rival sites.

Instead for these fucks, Okayplayer has become some weird
part of their
"Primal Scream Therapy". They are drawn here hour
after hour, day after day, year after year, to clear their
fucked conscience. For them, I pray and pray for their
downfall. They are the worst elements, lowering the bar of
support to the point that a regular fan feels comfortable
saying semi-foul shit."

that's for you Dan....

hate all you want.

you see my 10.

show me your 10.

>you see my 10.
>
>show me your 10.

10 what?

i didnt say the album was bad.
i said what songs are my taste & that ive deleted the album & left it at that...

10 albums dick wad

>>you see my 10.
>>
>>show me your 10.
>
>10 what?


Theres only 8 albums

HomeGrown and Come Live arent albums

a live album is still a album esp from the roots and homegrown had anotehr cd of alot of unreleased material

wow, where is that quote from? fuckin' brilliant.

it's from dixpop, check okayartist for the post on the roots on colbert...some good discussion on that post.

and you still got more posts than me?!?

I really need to step my game up. :D

all I can come across is a bunch of torrents that are obviously no good since they were added 2 weeks ago.

google + rapidshare/megaupload

I typed, "Google blog search" for someone who requested an album.

People reply, like, "Feds are watching! Don't say that!"

I'm thinkin, right, "Google" "blog" "search" are trigger words. foh.

(which is old material)

so 14 total tracks
with like 3 filler tracks,
and 'unwritten' is short as shit.

so the length of real music
is even less than that.

c'mon now.

i could see if it was a banger from top to bottom,
but it's not.
(for you 'but illmatic was only 10 tracks' niggas)

niggas wonder why they don't move units.
honestly,
how can consumers value your product
when you put out something half ass like this.

y'all on that swizz beatz.

well i was gonna leave it at a "smh" status and ignore your response.

but fuck that shit.


you really wanna enter the lions den with a defense of "and album that is 45 mins is the reason yall won't hit with the masses?"

that is your opening statement?

anything but that yo.

you a vet so i aint gonna off your head just that cause you are still under the entitlement of having your opinion...

im just saying....

the way you wanna start this off is

"the roots aint selling units is because the album length is too short for your taste...."

correct?

(floor is yours)

i mean,
i've seen you hail this as your best work to date.
when you hear an endorsement like that,
even from someone within the group itself,
you expect a little more effort.

just be honest with niggas and say
you just wanna put out an album
to either fulfill your contract
or increase the amount of material/buzz to tour off of.

but either way,
i guess the overall verdict will be out
after everyone digests it.

it'll go down as a blatant misstep, imo.

in response to your edit:
let's take this on an album by album basis.
hypothetically...
i've just been exposed to the roots for the first time recently...
i've liked most or all of the songs/videos that have leaked for this album....
i go to preview the album and notice it's lukewarm and short as shit...
what do you think my reaction is gonna be?

i mean if that's how it goes down in your world then so be it.

but that is some of the most ignant shit i ever heard.

i expect better from you monkey.

seriously.

i aint even gonna go back and forward on this anymore....

you think it sucks.

i think i put my ass in it.

its a dra---


naw....you win.

peace

it's just that there's so much bullshit floatin around
and gettin stuck in our ears now.

we finally get back to hearin that shit we feel and been missin
and we have expectations for the rest of the album,
especially when it's hyped up by someone with your level of credibility.

then you get what amounts to like 40 mins. of actual music
with like 15-20 mins. of it that you already heard (officially).

it's only one man's opinion,
but i'm disappointed.

Judging the quality of an album based on its length isn't really fair. Like, yeah, you can wish there is more, but u can't say its a bad album and won't sell because its short.

There have been plenty of Great albums lately that sold that weren't that long. hell, look at the first Gnarls album. 32 minutes, but all 32 were golden, and that is a great album. Even the second one isn't that long and its still good.

WOuld u rather they put out the same album with a bunch of terrible filler tracks (knowing the roots, they would still prolly be good tracks) just to increase the length, while taking away from the cohesivness of the album? No, i want them to release an album that illustrates their state of mind and artistic presence at that point in time, which is what this is.

Are the songs good? yes. Does having a Solid track list of good songs make it a good album? yes.

But ur prolly gonna blow off my comments because of my low post count, and thats about as fair as judging an album by its length. Yeah, i don't post much, cause i don't see much worth posting, but your post is so utterly unfair and rediculous that i felt i needed to speak up.

Dude only posts about the game and jay z...ain't really the deepest cat in the building.

and I never understood why people are pissed about how short an album is, you can tell none of them listening to Hardcore punk shit.

>you can tell none of them listening to Hardcore
>punk shit.

Questlove fro pick...$5
The Roots - Rising Down pre-order W/ tee...$26
Tickets to the Roots picnic...$50
some dude named Monkey Nuts catching feelings over so-called "I-R-R-E-L-E-V-A-N-C-E"....Priceless.

i thought you were gonna fire back
with a joke that wasn't run into the ground back in 97.

:)

>(which is old material)
>
>so 14 total tracks
>with like 3 filler tracks,
>and 'unwritten' is short as shit.
>
>so the length of real music
>is even less than that.
>
>c'mon now.
>
>i could see if it was a banger from top to bottom,
>but it's not.
>(for you 'but illmatic was only 10 tracks' niggas)
>
>niggas wonder why they don't move units.
>honestly,
>how can consumers value your product
>when you put out something half ass like this.
>
>y'all on that swizz beatz.
>

shit aint even a day old and already on some snark shit.

stick to it.

cause i dont wanna hear no "you know on second thought...." shit.....that i know is gonna happen (that statement alone will guarantee that im NOT gonna see that statement on these boards notime soon....)


but seriously...


he says this was nothing but a contractual obligation.


like he was there all them nights i stayed up in the same gear redoing "apoligize" til my eyes were in the back of my head.....

he right...

this was really a middle finger.

for what its worth..this rising up shit is hot


the relentless pursuit of perfection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j219PYApZWU&feature=related

you gotta be the first one online to diss the album. Especially knowing that you might read it? Sheeeeeit, you gonna have people grasping at straws to diss it.

lord...you don't like the album, it's too short for you...fine, but to say that is why the roots don't sell? some people are too stupid for opinions.

hes not on okp because he likes the roots. we know that.


hes just here to make spreadsheets of who fucked who in GD, accuse us of fakin car wrecks and gossip a bit.


i dont even see why you replied to him.
just dont.
lol.

____

are you questioning my fanhood?

lol @ replying to someone you supposedly share a computer with.

ever think that im at work...
and hes at home?
wow!
what a concept.

well, you prolly already knew that, but you just want a reason to go in.
its alright fam.

told you you wasnt ready for the hate they unleash in here.
lmao.


____

are you questioning my fanhood?

lol.
just stop it.


____

are you questioning my fanhood?

I think it is dope, some of the beats sounded a LITTLE similar, but maybe I'm just nitpicking. Saigon bodied his verse, btw. Definitely a jaw-dropper.

and it gets better with every listen.

nm




the revolution will not be inboxed.

the revolution will not be inboxed.

...why the hell is it soooo short!~!!!!!!!! dios mio!!!!

they need to do a remix with this track or something

>they need to do a remix with this track or something

what the fuck is wrong with you lessonheads?

Lupe is dog shit...


keep his bitch ass away from anything the Roots ever do.


------------
Prodigy - H.N.I.C. 2
9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Formula

i find someone who agrees with me...nice to know youre alive

he's a lightweight..

this shit is dark

I was feelin the album but this was that one track that I was like, aight, this is the one I'm gonna repeat 35 times, and then the shit just ends? WTF, I hate when that happens, if they remix anything, do it with this and lengthen it out!

if for no other reason to give mercedez more play

she's heaven every time

Listen to the lyrics

Be fearless...

"And the night I fought Sonny, I heard a few southerners at ringside say 'Sonny, knock that nigger out! The nigger talks too much!'
And we laughed, didn't we, because his seat cost two hundred and fifty dollars..."---Muhammad Ali

the vocal effects are sooooooo nice..

About to give it a listen - the first time in a long time I've gone out and bought an album I've anticipated before downloading it

?uest, any chance we'll be getting online liner notes this time? I don't want to be rude or anything but I miss them being in the booklet.

I work at Virgin Music and we've got it out today as well, I just hate my job too much to support it at all.

It's out today because tomorrow is Anzac Day - the long weekend means no deliveries until Monday.

yo is Birthday Girl on your copy? or is that just an itunes bonus?

16 listed tracks and the bonus at the very end.

i didn't think it would be out yet, but to my surprise...and i'm happy Birthday Girl is on it

was originally bracing to wait til 29th + 3 weeks shipping, while trying to resist listening to the leak
when i saw the local store website had it for 20, i ain't ever rushed there quicker in my life

I love 'The Show' with Common right now, thats my shit!
______________________________________________________________
Killers Born Naturally like, Mickey and Mallory. Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary(c) Talib Kweli


http://www.fudgefm.com/profile/soulsupreme

I'm really excited about this. The Roots fucking killed it.

Damn...just rub it in why don't ya :(

I'm so jealous. Don't mind me...


"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Great album as usual. Great album to perform...can't to wait to see them perform these tracks.

i have no idea why. it's just so goddamn haunting.

- P.O.R.N. kills all his spots. Quest said this dude has been rhyming for 15 years? How have we not even seen what this dude looks like let alone heard some of his other shit?? What the hell is this guy's backstory.... anyone?... Bueller? (Truck impresses as well btw)

- Not really any weak songs. Can't quite say no filler though, since some of these tracks seem more like interludes.

- Listen with headphones. Sonically, this is impressive as hell.

- Sequencing is great. Whoever ripped this is a fucking moron for adding gaps after each song, but i deleted that dead space and it flows beautifully.

- Some of the hooks are hit and miss.... mostly hits though.

- Would have liked more Kirk... or at least have him more present in some of the tracks.

- All the guests came correct.... but it does leave me yearning for the coulda-beens with Lupe, Jay Electronica, Blu, Phonte and Q Tip.

- Now its crystal clear why Birthday Girl was cut.

- I dunno if it was a good move for Quest to come out and say this is their best work.... because the expectations are then raised astronomically given their catalog. I dont know if it is... likely not, but only time will answer this.

- Riq Geez is still the GOAT

...P.O.R.N. really murks his spots...and Truck really fits nicely on his spots........


...all the guest on the album came correct but Thought brings that outta niggas...


...their best work ever???.....i can feel that Ahmir.......sonically this is really a damn near flawless album.....the spitters compliment the tracks and the beats definitely fit the spitters....


...all the concepts seem to flow seamlessly...



...fuck album sales.....keep doin' y'all ock......this shit bangs and it shows growth.....i tried to hold off but i had to listen.....my pre-order is already in though.....

>>>>P.O.R.N. kills all his spots. Quest said this dude has been >>>>rhyming for 15 years? How have we not even seen what this dude >>>>looks like let alone heard some of his other shit?? What the >>>>hell is this guy's backstory.... anyone?... Bueller? (Truck >>>>impresses as well btw)
this was the shocker to me. they were gonna make or break this album, and they made it, very impressed with these guest spots

>>>>Not really any weak songs. Can't quite say no filler though, >>>>since some of these tracks seem more like interludes.
agreed... "unwritten" shouldve been longer though

>>>>Listen with headphones. Sonically, this is impressive as hell.
I bumped on good comp speakers

>>>>>- Sequencing is great. Whoever ripped this is a fucking moron >>>>>for adding gaps after each song, but i deleted that dead space >>>>>and it flows beautifully.

one of the more cohesive albums I've heard in a minute, even more so then Game Theory was...

>>>>>- Some of the hooks are hit and miss.... mostly hits though.
agree... I still LOVE Get Busy and the scratched hook but I feel the hook couldve had a lil more enthusiasm from BT, like imagine Ludacris saying "northside, southside, etc.." it wouldnt sound so flat.

>>>>> Would have liked more Kirk... or at least have him more present in some of the tracks.
I gotta listen more to comment on this

>>>>>All the guests came correct.... but it does leave me yearning >>>>>for the coulda-beens with Lupe, Jay Electronica, Blu, Phonte >>>>>and Q Tip.
hopefully a remix of something will be coming!

>>>>>Now its crystal clear why Birthday Girl was cut.
I think it wouldve fit as a last song if they went that route, I can see why it was cut, but I think as the last track it would not have ruined anything

>>>>I dunno if it was a good move for Quest to come out and say this >>>>is their best work.... because the expectations are then raised >>>>astronomically given their catalog. I dont know if it is... >>>>likely not, but only time will answer this.

>>>>Riq Geez is still the GOAT
killed everything as usual

>>>>>>- Some of the hooks are hit and miss.... mostly hits
>though.
>agree... I still LOVE Get Busy and the scratched hook but I
>feel the hook couldve had a lil more enthusiasm from BT, like
>imagine Ludacris saying "northside, southside, etc.." it
>wouldnt sound so flat.


tariq is not an animated mc.

that's like wondering what rakim would sound like singing "who haa got you all in check"

i understand yall want inflections...but...dude is not animated at this late stage in his life (and i know its like "how come he was that way on the first two records...?" the answer is he was 19 and 20 when he made those records.

not 36.

still been blastin the shit outta that jawn for the past few months and won't stop soon...

Valid point on Thought and his inflection.

Though, I have to say I am thoroughly impressed on a number of these tracks, he's putting more feeling and nuance on it. I can FEEL some of his commentary...sounds less like he's in super emcee mode and more like he's putting himself into what he's saying.

kudos.

most of the comments on this board got it covered. the guest spots are on point, the tracks are sick, and riq is still on point of course.

- the dark mood of the album is well set. i am missing kirk, but he'll bring it live, i'm not worried.

- once again, the guest spots are on point, but considering the length of the album i feel like i haven't had a thorough enough dose of BT.

- i'm sure people are going to be complaining about how quest called this the best roots project to date. of course that claim will be debated, but i think its foolish for people to say stuff like "now the expectations are too high." i don't see how anyone's expectations wouldn't be high anyway, seeing that they are coming off of a great album in game theory.

rising down pretty good album then. it'll be interesting to see the reviews and such. we'll all need a week or so to figure out how good.

cuz i can't tell what the fuck is being said. hopefully that's in the liner notes or at least a summation of what was going on.

Thought I was the only one.

that beat + these flows.

i can't wait to see these live. PLEASE come with this heat in Memphis

for that 1

The booklet is very short and simple

There's not a lyrics, nor even a thank you section.

But at least the music is dope as fuck

I'm just hoping ?uest can spare some time to give us a little extra background on the album - that's why I love the old liner notes. Even if they're just on the internet, whatever.

i just gotta figure out a way to deliver it to yall....

AND YES THEY ARE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sometimes I comtemplate moving to a warmer place, then the lake and skyline give me a warm embrace" © Common

I would still LOVE to have a digital or paper copy of the FULL Game Theory liners.

Someone had mentioned perhaps releasing it in a future "Complete Collection of The Roots" type box set.

One can only hope!

I purposefully stayed away from most posts related to this album because I wanted to be spoiled.

However, after I viewed the video for Rising Up (complete with breakdancing) I became interested in hearing more.

What's the concept for this album?

sounded decent and angry.

Im on my second listen now (I should be typing my fucking 10 page paper due tomorrow) I think imma sleep with this shit on it is fucking dope as hell I really love this shit Ill have to get my copy on tuesday I want that shirt though dammit lol

umm, if you got a problem with 45 minute albums... then you better go download some more Lil Wayne garbage mixtapes.

All I can say is that listening to the album was the best 45 minutes of my week, thats for sure. definitely well done. wasn't left needing more

who is this lil wine you talk about? never heard of him.

all i have to say is this is a fantastic week for hip hop.

I def. understand why main stream critics like the folks at EW didn't feel the somber, down-trodden tone of the album. It most likely will not appeal to the mass music audience, and damn, was it a good choice to go with "Rising Up" as the single. And y'all already know how I feel about that track, being a Wale stan and all.

Personally, this is my type of music. And more importantly, this album really feels like it was made for the fans, aka, the non shit talkers here on the boards. If you're not down with this music, I feel sorry for you. As HV said above me, it's sonically pleasing and just a great album to play front to back.

"I Can't Help It": This track started out to be slightly unremarkable, and then P.O.R.N. ripped his verse, and the breakdown at the end was something beautiful.

"Criminal" is superb. When I first heard it this morning, I almost missed class because I had been listening to it on repeat completely losing track of time. I don't usually like rappers ending a verse with "fuck you," but hell, Saigon, I guess you're the exception.

While listening to this in headphones, I really started to pay closer attention to the songs that have already leaked. For example, 'Riq's verse on "Rising Down"? Incredibly real and on point.

Von said this above, but the intro, yeeeah. Have never really been a *huge* fan of Roots intros, but this one was crazy. I just wish the music had looped for about 10 more minutes.

I will play "Unwritten" for everyone I know. Every party I DJ this summer will be forced to hear this track.

Glad to hear Malik again and again. Because 2002 was my first real experience with a Roots album, it took me awhile to go back to the 90s' albums and pay attention to dude. Once Game Theory dropped, I really got my education and have appreciated Malik more and more. He's not really on Thought's level, but he's certainly still ahead of most emcees rapping today.

?uest, thank you for the end of "Lost Desire."

Com is still rapping in that Finding Forever tone. But 'tis cool, because his verse was eons ahead of that "Light 2008" bullshit he spit a little while back.

"I can't help that my heartbeat is a metronome." STFU, 'Riq haters.

And to the Legendary, thank you fellas. All dick-riding aside, you're still my favorite group in music and so far this album is remarkable work. I can't wait to run down to the record store and cop on Tuesday.

>"I can't help that my heart is a metronome." STFU, 'Riq
>haters.

that whole last verse on "the show" is incredible.
thought came through hard on this album, as per usual.

blackthought shut it down on both verses of the show

Similar vibe to Game Theory. I quite like it so far.

Or do you mean it sounds like it could fit on Game Theory the Album. Personally I don't see the comparison to the Game Theory track besides they are both incredible songs.

"The Pow Wow" Really love the intro, thought it leads into "Rising Down" nicely

"Rising Down" is a dope song. Probably my favorite of the tracks they released prior to the leak. Best I've heard from Mos in a while, Thought brings it, and Styles hold his own.

"Get Busy" we all know about. Love the scratching chorus. When I saw them perform this live I was going wild

"@15" Damn, Thought had mad skills as a young teen. Dope little interlude.

"Becoming Unwritten" Not much to talk about here. Just a quick instrumental.

"75 Bars" wasnt a fan at first, but when you listen to it as part of this album it sounds nice. Its no "Web" but it gets the job done

"Criminal" is crazy. LOVE the hook on this. Saigon sounds solid. I'd say its my favorite track on the album as of right now

"I Will Not Apologize" This may be one I could be skipping in the future. I was kinda hoping Kweli would have dropped a verse. Not feeling Dice too much on this one either.

"I Can't Help It" is one of my favorites on the album. This one stood out the most along with "Criminal" after the first set of listens. Porn drops a great verse (he's great on all his spots on this album) and this is my favorite Malik B verse on the album

"Singing Man" is another one I'm gonna have to give a few more listens before I can get into it. Last verse is sick though, awesome effects

"Unwritten" is cool. The chick singing is great, kind of reminds me of "Living In A New World" for some reason, maybe the length.

"Lost Desire" It's about time you guys got Kweli on a verse again. "Rollin With Heat" is my favorite song on Phrenology and I was feeling his verse on this one too. Malik B's verse is alright and the hook is pretty good too.

"The Show" Hook is kinda dull, but Thought and Common keep the track banging.

"Rising Up" is my favorite right now behind "Criminal." I'm just getting into Wale recently and I gotta say I'm really excited for an album from him. He seems like he's got a lot of crossover appeal between the mainstream and underground.


Overall awesome album. The spots are all great. I think this album follows up Game Theory very well. The past two Roots albums definitely have been quite the 1-2 punch. I gotta say that I was feeling Game Theory more after the first couple of listens a few years back, but this definitely has huge replay value like any Roots album. ?uest said the darks are darker and the lights are lighter, but I don't see much light on this, which is cool by me. Also, good call not throwing "Birthday Call" on here. Not just cause I didn't like it, but it definitely would fit anywhere on this album.

Favorite Tracks: Rising Down, Get Busy, Criminal, I Can't Help It, Rising Up

Can't wait to cop the hard copy on Tuesday. Great job as usual. The Roots and Kanye are the only artists I can always count on to bring a great album.

It's really interesting to see the band's evolution through the years, I must say. Every album brings a pretty dramatic difference in sounds and vibes. I only heard 75 Bars and Rising Down before this so most of this is completely new to me.

I've only listened to this once and I need to play albums through a lot to really make a justified opinion but from what I heard, it's pretty good. The two throwback tracks are wicked but what's up with the intro? I wanna know some back story on that conversation LoL. Hopefully there'll be something in the liner notes about it. All the guests absolutely killed it but by the end, I was fiending a bit more Black Thought. It's short already and every song has a guest appearance so BT doesn't get much time to shine. That's not necessarily a bad thing because again, all the guests made up for it but BT is rated very high in my mind as an emcee so I would've liked to hear more.

But overall, I liked it and I'll definitely be picking this up on the 29th. I'll let this one spin for a while. Game Theory took a loooong time to really grow on me and I have a feeling this one will too.

can't wait to go to the record store and throw this in. since tfa, there's nothing for me like opening up that new roots album, throwing it in the cd player, and then just laying back and listening to it all the way through. you know it's going to be quality, and you know that eventually those songs will all stand in their own right, but for that first listen, you just hear it all flow together as a whole. i can't wait.

i aint listening to the leak
it's only less than a week til it drops, so i think i can be patient
but man i cant wait to just chill and listen to it all the way through
there's nothing like chilling with a roots album for the first time

for some reason i decided to d/l the atmosphere one cuz i wasnt planning on buyin it but after listening to it i was like "i gotta purchase this shiiit"

so because the roots are my favorite i'm eager to buy it...and im trying not to listen to any of the singles i just wanna take it all in at once. tuesday tuesday tuesday.

you know its a pretty strong album when people are saying i will not apologize is the weakest track. rite from the versions on youtube ive loved that track, cant wait to hear it live.

from first few listens it seems like game theory +
and i loooved that album

of course this is all upon 2-3listens
so i might feel completely different about it next week

>of course this is all upon 2-3listens
>so i might feel completely different about it next week
>
>
>
thats how i'm feeling initially. i tried to avoid them but those songs were all over. i need to have a few more thorough listens though.

1. The Pow Wow
Chilling. Who exactly are on here? I hear Quest and Thought, who else?

2. Rising Down
@@@@@
This was insanely dope the first time I hear it. A month or so later, still feel the same way. If Mos spit that hard all the time I might be able to still call myself a fan, and Styles is in fact the hardest in the game right now. Meanwhile, 'Riq holds his own on a collabo with two greats. In other news, water is wet.

3. Get Busy
@@@@
Drums are HARD. I love it.

4. @15

5. 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)
@@@@1/2
Textbook example of how to rock the mic.

6. Becoming Unwritten
What is this?

7. Criminal
@@@
Feels a little soft in comparison to the rest of the album, if you ask me, and Saigon, who I consider to be one of the best doing it right now, doesn't come as nice as I hoped.

8. I Will Not Apologize
@@@
Uh, this too. It might grow on me.

9. I Can't Help It
@@@1/2
God it feels good to hear Malik rhyme.

10. Singing Man
@@@@

11. Unwritten
Huh?

12. Lost Desire
@@@@1/2

13. The Show
@@@@@

14. Rising Up
@@@@@
The best song on the album, IMO.

Overall, I feel like the middle portion brings it down a bit. Some of the tracks are a bit too soft for me, and some of the in house features miss their point.

@@@@

>God it feels good to hear Malik rhyme.
>

as well as the @ 15 interlude. Great way to tie it all in.

can't wait to bump this everywhere I can, to see how it all feels.

I'm diggin this ish. I love the ominous tones of many of the songs. (I would love to hear a project between ya'll and Reznor).

And its probably due the familiarity I already had to BT's verse on "I will not apologize", but I prefer his rendition live last year in Madison with DMB.

Props again. Album is solid. Can't wait to grab the vinyl.

>I'm diggin this ish. I love the ominous tones of many of the
>songs. (I would love to hear a project between ya'll and
>Reznor).
>
As soon as I heard, "I can't Help it" I immediately thought the same thing. There was a NiN-Industrial vibe on that track that gave me the impression.

TIGHT album. I'm coppin on Tuesday (along with GTA IV).

one of the weakest tracks
maybe it just cos ive been waiting for that track for ages and i love the live versions. some of my favourite roots songs like long time and double trouble i don't think sound anywhere near as good live, whereas this is one of those tracks that seems to be even better live.
oh shit, i can't help it just came on. i feel like i might make a post for every track here lol. its that good. and its 06:23, got in from a night out a few hours ago, not sleeping tonight. cant wait to get my copy.

Sucker for the afrobeat vibe & one of the better hooks on the record

EXACTLY!!!I love the whole album,but once i hit "I will not apologize " it gets repeated a whole fucking lot.Black thought is an animal on this album as usual,Dice and Truck do the thing,and Porn absolutely kills all his verses.

with "i will not apologize" on it...

i even start my listening experience at track 8... its my favorite

...let me "live" with this record. I will say this:

I'm really enjoying reading all of the thoughts and my favorite verse on the album is either Peedi's or Porn's on "I Will Not Apologize".

last year, after game theory or whenever it was, i hated the talk of peedi joining the roots but i wish he had more verses here now. he's a great foil for thought. but maybe he wouldnt have fitted into many of these beats, at least he hasn't been forced into songs cos hes a member i guess. gotta let porn, truck, kweli and everyones verses sink in first too.

not one track i think is weak here, probably better than GT, will have to give it time. sad to hear no black thought singing though i don't think? i really liked baby as a change of pace on game theory.

after rising up its birthday girl, the grand return ft. dice raw & wadud ahmad & then the rest of the phone convo...

grand return is sick too!

i knew nothing about this til now

Somebody needs to upload that without the talking at the end.

after my first listen. usually you hear a couple of tracks that might be bangers on an album and then the stuff you didn't hear is filler or not up to par.

i thought most of the songs i didn't hear were even better then the ones i did hear before the release. which is a good thing.

still gotta sink in. whats gonna happen when the roots stop releasing albums?

can't say yet if its the best album to date i guess its gotta stand the test of time.

funny how after all these years the roots have come so far but in a way are still right where they started.

MonkeyNuts:

Boy you done lost your mind? I gots to come out of lurker status and call you as the most triflin' muh-fuh to cross my path (both on concrete and virtual) in quite some time. Ya moms obviously didn't raise you right. To have an opinion is one thing; to call out a man's - or a group on men - work as irrelevant is more than foul. It's more than hater status. Only word for it is it's just "wrong"....

You call the album out based primarily on it's length? Boy, I suggest you go check the length on the Bob Marley catalog of albums - in original form - and check yourself. I will bet every one of Bob's masterpieces is shorter than this, save possibly Babylon by Bus. Come back and tell me Bob's work is irrelevant because of the length.... Quality of CONTENT, not minutes, do a classic make.

?uesto - As always, this jawn does not disappoint. I can't make a call if it's among your best work as I have only passed through it once. However.... unlike some, I have nothing but respect for good music. And as far as good music goes, the Legendary has never failed to impress me yet.

why u callin him out as a response to me? i got no complaints of the album. lol

>why u callin him out as a response to me? i got no complaints of the album. lol

its his 1st post, he doesn't know how to reply and shit

thanks for the support.
that was a first post if ever there was one.
i dont want this to be all bash on monk cause i went at him.
but he dont like some shit...
at least tell me its because of what we did...
sounds like he was predetermined to hate that shit before giving it a chance.
i expect that from maxx or dan

but not him! lol

Nuts is pretty dumb. Dude says racist shit all the time. He's pretty down syndromed.

>still gotta sink in. whats gonna happen when the roots stop
>releasing albums?


Dude,while i was on my second listen I was thinking the exact same thing.That will be a sad fucking day.

Thanks so much ?uesto for putting all the work in. This album is off the hook. Definitely since TFA. I honestly like most of the tracks that y'all didn't release here even better than the ones you did.

Thank you so much. Don't worry, I already pre-ordered and I'm super excited to get it in the mail, but a little bummed that it sounds like there aren't liner notes.

I hope y'all enjoy it as much as me. Can't wait to see the Roots + Erykah in Oakland!!! that shit will be live!!!

man i cant wait to hear this shit
tuesday cant come quick enough...

The outro to I Cant Help It felt most like a Roots song (fancy bells & whistles)
I have no issues with this album other than the fact that the group previously set the bar so high for themselves

like just imagine if Q-Tip was in press releases talking about "My new shit is gonna be better than your beloved Marauders", your appetite would be whet then you'd hear it like "yeah this is hot, but..."

the fact that I recognize it's good (I feel stronger about Rising Down than I did The Tipping Point the first time I heard that album) yet I'm not totally blown away (I felt stronger about Game Theory the first time I heard it) says that there's definitely space for this album to grow on me in time

It's very focused musically at its strongest moments, but it lacks that rawness where you felt the group had something to prove like Illadelphhalflife, Do You Want More, Things Fall Apart and Game Theory, and instead is just another solid addition to the group's catalog

Yeah, Thought is nasty with the words.
Yeah The Negaz have a crazy ear for melody

I dont take the creative process for granted, but it's almost like they're solid professionals who can do this with their eyes closed.

I hope nothing I said here was taken as an insult

Finally, I think we all *need* that Malik B contrasting element for whole albums for it to really feel like old times.

I fuck with this album though.

word'm up Young H

I can't stop listening to this album
and it's only right quest said what he said about it
what would he or any other artist/musician look like sayin anything different about a piece of work with their names branded on it
it's to be expected

this album is definitely gonna be one of the better albums this year regardless of genre, I hate to compare it to game theory so soon, but it's gonna happen regardless...I remember the feeling I had when I listened to that album and felt immediately it was a classic
imo that album just had a lot of different emotion to it and they really brought it, especially after that um album before it

this one is ill though...can't stop listenin to it

I'm saying...Game Theory was hard but this shit is just REDICKULOUS!!

Thought is fucking possessed. Like seriously. Cat is taking "monster" to an ENTIRELY new level.

*************************
MY VERY OWN HIPPIDY-HOP! I'M GOING TO LOVE YOU AND PLAY WITH YOU FOR EVER AND EVER!!!

Elmyra....the choice of a new generation

------------
Prodigy - H.N.I.C. 2
9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Formula

peter gabriel

I'm glad BG didn't make it, although I DO understand why it would be on there...

Anyways, aside from "The Show", "Criminal" and "Rising Up", the tracks come off a bit cacophonic...I'm not really trippin' on it because it seemed to put the focus on the emcees...if that was the purpose, mission accompilshed...

Other than that:

- Thought sounds hungry again (I didn't hear him say "YOU ARE NOW ROCKING WITH THE BEST" at ALL...that's a good thing)
- Common sounds out of place and it seems weird
- Mos did good
- "Rising Up" shoulda been the first single, but Def Jam ain't got the balls to do it, plus, it would embarass them...
- Wale's not bad...but this is all I've heard of him...
- *listens to end of "Lost Desire" and gives 15 that "AAAAAH!!! YOU DIRTY MOFO!!!" look*


Overall, it seems like y'all took a few more chances this time, and even if I don't personally like it, I can respect it...I couldn't say that about "Tipping Point", but it speaks volumes that I can say that about "Game Theory" and now this one...

I can't speak for anybody else, but respect will keep me supporting...


*2 kudos*...oh wait...wrong place...



























*waits by mailbox for pre-order package*



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

>I'm glad BG didn't make it, although I DO understand why it
>would be on there...
>
>Anyways, aside from "The Show", "Criminal" and "Rising Up",
>the tracks come off a bit cacophonic...I'm not really trippin'
>on it because it seemed to put the focus on the emcees...if
>that was the purpose, mission accompilshed...
>
>Other than that:
>
>- Thought sounds hungry again (I didn't hear him say "YOU ARE
>NOW ROCKING WITH THE BEST" at ALL...that's a good thing)
>- Common sounds out of place and it seems weird
>- Mos did good
>- "Rising Up" shoulda been the first single, but Def Jam ain't
>got the balls to do it, plus, it would embarass them...
>- Wale's not bad...but this is all I've heard of him...
>- *listens to end of "Lost Desire" and gives 15 that
>"AAAAAH!!! YOU DIRTY MOFO!!!" look*
>
>
>Overall, it seems like y'all took a few more chances this
>time, and even if I don't personally like it, I can respect
>it...I couldn't say that about "Tipping Point", but it speaks
>volumes that I can say that about "Game Theory" and now this
>one...
>
you thought GT was dope right? How many @'s would you give this jawn, if you could rate it at this point?

>you thought GT was dope right?

I prefer more of their melodic, yet thump heavy shit, so, much like Game Theory, there are parts of RD that I REALLY like and parts of it are 'meh'...

but I say 4 b/c of the respect...even the cacophonic joints ain't wack, it's just that the melodies move me more...

It took me a while to COMPLETELY accept Illadeph/Halflife...and RD seems to be their hardest record since then...

Hopefully DJ will recognize the importance of having history makers on their roster and leave them be and let them keep doing their thing. Above my personal opinions, I'm happy to see artists be able to do THEM and take the listener where THEY want them to go.



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

he's all over the place at this point

Wale D.A.N.C.E is one of my favorite rap songs ever and I've been bumping it less than a year

your tastes are suspect to me man...no offense...



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

that shit.

theres some artist you can always count on to inspire.

thanks roots

yall appreciated over here.

keep pushing

are the "track-by-track this is what happened and I feel compelled to give you interesting shit to read while you listen" liner notes back?


*waits for 15 to answer*



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

nope no liner notes... i bought it here in Australia.. no thanks or liners... very short book... altho the aussie version did have birthday girl and another track called the grand return

how is it? does it fit with the album?

it's pretty dope

the sound of this album fulfills my wish of how i want to roots to sound so whoa, thanks for making this album!


just a thought.........

MOS DEF executive produced by the legendard roots crew!!!!!!!!

give me some reasons, that dont require me downloading and listening to the album before next week, that'll make me buy the album on a whim next month.

relate it to past roots albums and be detail specific.

the rest of them albums is just poop stains

or until justin gets it
whatever happens first



i want my first time to be special
lol


____

are you questioning my fanhood?

its still special if you listen to it..now

and when you get yours..listen to it again ...with liner notes...

dammit.
lol

____

are you questioning my fanhood?

now i jus have to roll a spliff for the listening session..

This album lives up to the hype like I knew it would (was already coppin)...Congrats Questo.

DAMN THIS IS HARD

http://www.eyeweekly.com/music/ondisc/article/25360

2 Stars (out of 5)

Complaining that The Roots are too cynical is kind of like wishing Delta blues singers would cheer up once in a while. But when you sound as tired and anemic as they do on their endlessly grey eighth studio album (case in point: the Afrobeat-inflected but lyrically predictable “I Will Not Apologize”), you realize that maybe they’re not the canary in the coal mine so much as the paranoid depressive who gets off on telling you how the government controls people through SSRIs. Maybe the problem lies in the chorus to yet another dirge, “The Show,” about what keeps them on the road 300 days a year: “The show, the show / it must go on / I can’t stop / I won’t stop.” Old-school reference, or a cry for help?

With the weather warming up it is a lil harder to bump this album in the whip, it has that drivin home from work in February feel to it. The reason I LOOOVED Tipping Point is because when it dropped I blasted it all summer, duck down, stay cool, tracks like these were great to ride to, I think RD is necessary but I hope next album they have some fun

I only grazed through twice but the flow of the album went really well and no songs seem to directly stand on their out in an odd way, which is a dope thing... I was initially underwhelmed when I noticed the amount of guest spots by truck north and porn, but yo, they both got off... good shit, will fully bang out next tuesday with real copy

I'm gonna be a happy boy

to me...it sounds like the continuation of it

first impression... it's definitely at least on Game Theorys level..

probably better.. definitely crazier!

Guess everyone DID really used to try and rap like Kane..its dope anyways...damn Riq!

but I think it's a step backward. There are a couple clunky choruses that sound like they came off The Tipping Point, which take me out of some songs: "I Can't Help It" is dope--should be my favorite track, but the chorus doesn't fit, IMO. Same with "Lost Desire." The sing-songy-ness of these choruses sound out of place in their respective bad-ass tracks. Also, the "north side, south side, world wide" choruses in the first two songs are disappointingly repetitive. We've heard these songs before, we love them, but here, one after the other, it sounds like BT/Dice are running low on creativity, which we know ain't the case.

For me, Game Theory was compelling right away. "False Media" and "Game Theory" were two of the most progressive tracks The Roots had ever done--they moved, they gave the impression that GT was going to be unpredictable, like every single second, every snare hit, every sound effect drop, was all meticulously crafted. Rising Down, as an album, feels a lot less progressive, more cut and pasted. While I loved "Rising Down" when it was first released, I don't think it works as the jump off track--I think it should be somewhere in the middle of the album; that beat doesn't move, it doesn't give the album that unpredictable quality. I think "Get Busy" would have been a more gripping opener. Songs like "Rising Down" and "I Will Not Apologize" sound like cut and pasted, paint by numbers tracks without there being any real difference, musically, from verse to verse or from chorus to chorus. They are not bad songs (I still really like "Rising Down"), but they both get a little redundant. "Apologize" is a particularly slow burn, until Thought comes in and wakes the song up.

I would have liked a few more BT solo tracks. Practically every track is swarming with guest spots, and while BT holds his own, there are points where he sounds like just another featured artist. GT was his album, but RD comes off as The Band's album, with an arsenal of guests ushered in to do the dirty mic work. Thought is consistently one of the strongest emcees on the album, but there are some guests that get a little lost in the shuffle; I agree with those that said Common sounds out of place on "The Show."

All this said, it's unquestionably a solid album and I suspect that I'll be listening non-stop for a while. I like it much more than both The Tipping Point and Phrenology. "Get Busy," and "Singing Man," are the two I'm feeling most right now. "Criminal" is also very interesting, but I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it. Regardless, I'll definitely be copping on Tuesday; I hope The Roots have good luck in the sales department.

I agree with a lot you said. This album sounds a lot like Tipping Point or its out takes especially those sing songy hooks. They are plain corny when you are trying to make a hard core statement.

Definitely not enough Thought on here, who sounds like a guest on his own record. His vocals need to be be turned up louder as well. After hearing this I felt the same way I did after TP. It was nice but when it's The Roots I expect more than that. It seems that after Phrenology they went somewhat low tech with TP, which is understandable. Game Theory combined the best of low and high tech but with Rising, they went to the low tech again.

After some more listens I will check in again. No matter what the verdict turns out to be on this I will forever love The Roots from making Phrenology, Do You Want More and Game Theory and also a nod to ?uest for co-producing Electric Circus.

I hope that the near universal acclaim the cd is given on these boards translates into larger sales than their last few cd's which were greeted with mixed opinions.

http://chesing.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-roots-singing-man.html

Everybody Goes.
Blk Thoughts Verse...Is Heavy As Heaven. Hit Home..since my Fam is from Liberia.

The Intro...Wildness....The Alpha of the Roots.

I Will Not Apologize....Fela Homage...GOES.

basically the replay value for Rising >> GT & TTP Combined.


getit....I support it.

i just bought the Aus version today. but damn i can't even get any info for the track when i put it in itunes...how'd we get this shit that early.

i've only listened to it once in my car with crappy rattling speakers and it still floored me. damn hot record.

ps. who votes i order the American version as well...would that be silly or worth the collectors value?

really good album. that's all i can say right now. it needs to settle in. some of you giving in depth reviews and it hasn't even been 24 hours are suspect. you haven't bumped it in the whip, you haven't listened in the headphones, you haven't lived with it. congrats ?uest on another dope record!

its bullshit. just take a look at some classic albums that run UNDER 45 MINUTES.


Natty Dread - 42 minutes

Signed, Sealed, Delivered - 38 minutes

Parade - 43 minutes

Newk's Time (Sonny Rollins) - 34 minutes

For Once in My Life - 35 minutes (and I could name about six other stevie albums around this duration . . . and they all considered CLASSIC)

Study in Brown - 40 minutes.




Yall better come harder than that, these are full-time, professional artists yall fucking with.

Quality >>>>> Quantity

I'm not feeling a few of the hooks but it's only been two spins so far. I don't think I'm feeling it as much as I did Game Theory at first, but then again the only GT song I heard before I got the album was "Don't Feel Right" and I think I'd listened to a half-dozen of the new songs before RD leaked. I do hope the Roots switch it up on the next album; this isn't as much of a departure from GT as I was expecting. This'll be the first album I buy since El-P's last one.

..til i was able to hear the whole joint..




















15 is a fucking genius. hell of an album ya'll..

count on me for at least 2-3 copies on tuesday

light

m

P.O.R.N. ...... really though? Dude took advantage of his opportunities.

This album is fire. Ya'll do it again Questo! Thanks for the love...

lol

HELL

YES!

Thanks for doing what you do, putting the effort in, and creating inspiring music for all of us to enjoy. You have no idea how this is going to help me get through these next three tough days.

I will be supporting this when it officially comes out.

Thanks Quest.

I still can't get over Rising Up though.

on the end of singing man, it sounds like ?uesto rhyming. maybe it was just off first listen, but it didn't sound like that p.o.r.n. dude or truck north who the album track features.

album is nice at first (music wise). haven't had the time to dig into the meaning of the verses yet...

thanks to this being leaked, it is the only thing in my rotation now.

Rising Down
I Can't Help It
The Show
Rising Up

Still too early to tell if its better than Game Theory, especially since I was jammin to GT this past week and rediscovering its greatness.

but when I saw the Legendary perform a few weeks ago I was taken aback how loose and jazzy their live show has become.

Riq is still a beast live, but I swear me and my homie sat through most of the show waiting on the Roots to kick us in the face.

to no avail

post TFA this is the first time I've enjoyed a Roots album more than their live show.

what?
..............someone hit the fuckin rental car?
(*?uesto laughs*)

CLASSIC!

great ending to a great album

that whole track is like a classic, true to life moment that had to be captured and shared. lol.
__________________________________________
Black Canvas presents... Go Smart Mixtape
FREE @ http://blackcanvasmusic.com
The Stateside Grime Movement Mixtape
FREE @ http://www.divshare.com/download/launch/4074367-441

i gotta say nothing has grabbed me yet.

rising down, 75 bars, i will not apologize are my favs

the rapping is solid as always

the general industrial/gloomy aesthetic is kinda bothersome.

it's frustrating to goto a live show, see y'all looking like the modern day JB's RIPPING KILLING DESTROYING 'i can understand it' and have them put out an album like this.

i don't mean to go 'stardust memories' here, but i think i just want an 'easy' uptempo 70s funk/soul inspired album.

you guys are carrying the torch and maybe the only ones capable of still putting out that type of music.

people still want to hear that

but just NO ONE MAKES IT anymore.

the talent is there to make songs like "black man", "september", "watching you", "skin i'm in", or whatever.

i could listen to tariq rhyme over that type of stuff all damn da--forever.

i appreciate the effort put into the slaving over the tedious sonics/mixes/enginerring,

but i'd rather what you guys could do with some instruments a 4-track cassette.


maybe this one will click on the way home from the store next tuesday...

speaking of the engineering... everything on this album sounds incredible. much respect to the recording, mixing, and mastering engineers for this one. even just listening to mp3s the shit sounds nice as hell.

as for an overall opinion on the record, i like the dark stuff so this is probably going to end up being my fav roots album. almost every track is virtually unskippable. musically, i'm not digging 'apologize' or 'rising up' as much as the rest but it's still pretty early to count my chickens. literally all the other tracks on the album are my fav hip hop songs of '08 so far.

great initial listen.

but this is what you gotta see:

we have to be EVERYBAND


home base: hardcore hip hop

ave one: jazzy roots

ave two: underground bagack roots

ave three: adult contemporary roots (neo headwrap roots)

ave four: experimental roots

ave five: pop roots

ave five: jb review roots

ave six: straight ahead don't wanna confuse idiots roots

ave seven: roots that giles peterson's crowd would die for....

ave eight: jam band roots

ave nine: hard rock roots

i mean i can go on and on....

but since we are the last of a dying breed.....we borderline have to rep ALL these things.

and this is the album we decided to come HOME.

hardcore hip hop.

somewhat experiemtnal.

somewhat funky

a lil eclectic

but basically BANGERS!!!!!

i do welcome the challenge of doing an album in that manner (i am curious to see which tour you felt we aint kick ass in---what show?) but that kinda record is a lil risky in an environment in which i really dont know what my future is past tuesday.

this wasn't the "play it safe" album....this was what i call the "queen latifah last scene in "Set it Off" record.

"fellas there is a good chance we might be homeless on album 11.....let's go balls to the wall with this one"--i hate to sound that depressing but that is why "75 Bars" sound like we are playing so hard you can hear my tears run down my cheek from all the fear of not knowing the future.....i mean i "trust" we'll be ok....but i aint sleeping with both eyes closed.


eff all that....

hmmm, shit hasn't 'clicked' for me (yet?), usually i get it on the first listen with ur albums, but this just feels a lot like GT (which i loved)...nonetheless warming up to more of it.

i hope we get avenue 10 - EWF/sly stone/shuggie/p-funk roots for the next one.

>i do welcome the challenge of doing an album in that manner (i
>am curious to see which tour you felt we aint kick ass
>in---what show?)

AND AND i don't think i was clear here...i saw y'all at last summer's rock the bells with that 15 minute 'i can understand it'. my friends and i, who have all been to 10+ roots shows, thought that was the best thing we've ever seen you guys do in concert. (and we were at 2nd night radio city)

BUT why y'all play sooooo loud in the apollo, i couldn't hear shit during or after that one LOL

>BUT why y'all play sooooo loud in the apollo, i couldn't hear
>shit during or after that one LOL

Yeah, my ears were fucked up for a while after that show.

like foreal, we all got opinions on the album, good and bad. for ya'll, feedback is good...but i think you should stick to your plan. go home, take it all home, if thats whatchu feel.
when you record and drop albums, aint that self-expression? i mean, it wouldnt be the hiphop i loved if you was expressin based on, us, the listeners. i know that counts and all....but i'm sure most of US APPRECIATIVE listeners *cough*monkeynuts*cough* wanna hear your perspective of sound. haters will be haters.

It's short, but I ain't really skippin' nothing, but "75 Bars", Thought kills it, but it didn't have alot of replay value for me.

Er'body shined on the guest spots. Shyt, when is Dice Raw coming out with something else?


catch a swollen heart, from not rollin' smart

2008 GD Pick-Em March Madness Tourney Champion "The Champs Are Here"

im straight loving this album so far...unwritten is my shit

ok so i just dl'd it....my preorder is already in the okayplayer store though.

I'm going to post something more in depth later but mannnnnn

first impressions

1) intro.... very dope to be let in to that...love the music behind it

2-5) already had heard most of (minus the freestyle)...already really dug those

but yo

from 6-14!?!

good golly. i love these tracks beyond what my at-work-rushing can express.
and i love the political contexts

15) dope also

And the only thing that's stopping me is the fact the only type of files I've seen are .rar and I can't find a way to play them on my comp. *Cough*

Now I can finally listen to the Original NERD album and Madvillain albums!

kanye's "last call"

spinnas/phontes "dilla tribute" on dillagence (am i wrong about this 1)????

dope ish

>spinnas/phontes "dilla tribute" on dillagence (am i wrong
>about this 1)????

Spinna was paying homage himself to that beat on the tribute he did with Phonte

thnx for the info

1. Game Theory
2. Things Fall Apart
3. Illadelph Halflife
4. Do You Want More??!!!?
5. Phrenology
6. Rising Down
7. Organix
8. Tipping Point

RD is strong but not legendary like so much of their catalogue, a solid @@@1/2

yes, i should have said that. This is a "first impressions" list really. But i dont think my definitive list will differ *that* much.

Edit: It's like when i finished listening to Game Theory and Things Fall (and Phrenology cause of how ambitious it was) i literally stopped my cd player/mp3 player and started making phone calls and sending frantic instant messages. Not so much with the bottom 1/3 of the list.

RD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Phren

those two could of been really good tracks...

also guest appearances by truck north, styles p, saigon & peedi crack could of been replaced by far better MCs...
or just have more time for Thought

seriously? so common, mos, and kweli get passes from you (shocking) but Styles P and Saigon are wack? not to mention Peedi's vs. is the perfect ending to Get Busy.

As far as truck north and p.o.r.n. go I felt the same way until I **listened** to the tracks and they did they thing...

>seriously? so common, mos, and kweli get passes from you
>(shocking) but Styles P and Saigon are wack? not to mention
>Peedi's vs. is the perfect ending to Get Busy.

Mos Def did his thing...

i would of mentioned Common and Kweli too, but i didn't want
to get like 20 replies from okayplayer fanatics...

Peedi is horrible and his voice is annoying..
Styles P is like a generic version of Ghostface Killa and Raekwon..

>As far as truck north and p.o.r.n. go I felt the same way
>until I **listened** to the tracks and they did they thing...

you need to learn how to **read** so you can see that i didn't mention p.o.r.n. he did a good job.. Truck North on the other hand..

I'll take my L on missing p.o.r.n.

but

>>>Peedi is horrible and his voice is annoying..
>>>Styles P is like a generic version of Ghostface Killa and >>>Raekwon..

ima just agree to disagree on these 2 stupid ass comments

styles p did come with a WTF verse.

i wanted more peedi as well (no hmo with the o in between)

i completely disagree with your call on the guests.

Saigon had a great verse. Otherwise though, I wouldn't have minded a few more Malik B. verses & cutting Common's verse. No more emcees though, there were enough extra features as is.

Ive restrained myself this time to only listen to 75 Bars and Get Busy.

GTAIV + Rising Down on the same day = busting a nut

i'm gonna let it simmer for a while, but i'm definitely impressed.

rising down - sets off the album lovely. mos, thought & styles all bring it on a real banger (though think i prefer the hum drum mix, but that doesn't take anything away from this.)

get busy - heat. nother killer beat & peedi is the shit.

@15: lil' daddy kane? cool- & the transition to

75 bars: is inspired. how raw this shit is. thought just rips it- and that train whistle is a great touch.

becoming unwritten: frustrating

criminal: rocks. john-john makes a welcome return.

i will not apologize: man, thought and porn's deliveries on this track are cool as fuck. this shit manages to be laid-back and bouncy at the same time.

i can't help it: malik b, ladies and gentlemen. porn kills it on this track. i REALLY dig the synth on this track, great vocals- and that outro is tiiight.

singing man: the understated production on this track is a winner. love all the shit going on when the beat drops out. keep on truckin'

unwritten: quest, why the fuck is this basically an interlude? getting your 'i wonder u' on, huh? (no monkeynutso.)

lost desire: once again back it's the incredible b. kweli doesn't amaze or disappoint. thought nails it. the hook isn't that 'hooky' but it's much better than the clunkers on the tipping point. another great outro- the dilla tribute is a nice touch.

the show: quest's drunken tribute to the beat of dougie fresh's 'the show' is the shit. and again, the synths are cool.

rising up: deserves to be a hit. perfect summer vibe. wale keeps up this album's fine showing by the 'unknown' guests- all of whom outdid kweli and common, imo.

birthday girl: coulda shoulda woulda fit right here REALLY well. *shrug* guess i'm gonna have to get the aussie version sent to me.

hidden track: ahahahahaha. has def jam HEARD richie's rant?

after the first few listens, this album certainly maintains the high standard of the roots' catalogue. this will be getting a LOT of play.

thanks, guys!

...that's ill hahahah

on second listen i LOVE this album. it plays more like an official mixtape, but the guest list looks a lot more crowded on paper; bt still manages to get his no matter who he's on

i wish truck north had rapped more...i fucks w/ dude mad hard

but all in all...i'd have to say this is the roots best album since things fall apart.

I remember hearing it when I heard the snippets. So dope!

______________________________________________________________
Killers Born Naturally like, Mickey and Mallory. Not knowing the ways'll get you capped like an NBA salary(c) Talib Kweli


http://www.fudgefm.com/profile/soulsupreme

I think I do but then I don't, help?

it's a replay of the original that Dilla jacked for "Don't Nobody Care About Us"...



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

I've told a few peeps about that dilla riff and their going nuts because they can't find it...lol
______________________________________________________________
King Kong ain't got shit on me, I train days to rip emcees (c) Common

http://www.last.fm/user/soulsupreme/

Does anyone know who's singing the hooks on:

Criminal
I Can't Help It
Singing Man
Lost Desire

?

thanks
he's got a really interesting voice

anyone know the rest?

>Does anyone know who's singing the hooks on:
>
>Criminal
John-John
>I Can't Help It
Mercedes Martinez
>Singing Man
Dice Raw
>Lost Desire
?
>?

thanks

It's great, but also funny to me.

Mercedes is on like every other damn hook. That's cool though.

nevermind

I'd think it was clever.

besides criminal i'm really feeling this joint.. like we back at TFA.. :-)

Is that real? like a real argument that makes no sense to the outside listener except you hear record label and something about doing it for the love or something....what is that?? The album is pretty damn good I think...also the Al Green album is really good, if its a good year for money I may get both

i think it makes perfect sense.
?uest getting mad about the initial promotional push behind the roots around the time of dywm?!!!??!.
same problem going on now, 14 years later.
perfect intro.

>perfect intro.


Definitely

tariq, ahmir, and rich were sayin that management was trying to dictate the roots' every move and the roots saw no reward/profit as a result because management wasn't doing their job... so what's the point of busting your ass to do your grind and then have to jump through hoops then end up seeing nothing from it?

then aj shine (their former mgr) was telling them that the world isn't perfect and basically the only way to be rewarded for your hard work in the industry is to have your own label and that his management agency was doing all they could for the roots...and he was saying that tariq misunderstood how exactly the woman from management disrespected him... it was completely a different type of disrespect lol

yeah its explained in the end of the whole thing I missed out on that the first listen...

I like this better than Organix, DYWM?!!!??!, Phrenology, The Tipping Point, and Game Theory.

http://www.myspace.com/blackmyth84
http://www.spitfirepoetrygroup.com/

--------------------------------
www.last.fm/user/bwilkz


"Dancing with the Devil leading/
I won't die, I'm never leaving/
I pledge allegiance to forever breathing"

.....sonically er'thing on that song just fits........Ahmir who's that on the hook though?



.....Truck really kills his verse too.....

that would be good ol dice ..........




North$ide....




www.myspace.com/trucknorth

....wus the deal fam!? yo, you showed ya ass on this album ock......so The Golden Boy tryin' to be a crooner huh.....that's wus'sup....you prolly don't even remember when we was done there at the Grammy jawn this year trippin' off Dice n'that Solid Gold members only do you?????

can't say it's a classic after the first listen
(took me 3 years to GET illadelph)
but y'all put y'all foot in this one
it's about time some muggs made some paranoid rap like that paranoid norman whitfield/dramatics shit

unwritten...dayum....

right now @@@@/@@@@@

I always felt like the first three albums were overstuffed and hard to listen to in one sitting, and this album is short, sweet, and flows effortlessly. The intro and interludes compliment the album instead of interrupt, which is hard to do.

Criminal ---> I will not apologize ---> I can't help it is the best 3 song punch I've heard since In Rainbows.

>and this album is short,
>sweet, and flows effortlessly. The intro and interludes
>compliment the album instead of interrupt, which is hard to
>do.




....^^^^^^this has been the only way i've been able to justify why i think this is really their best effort......and the odd thing about it you'd think the day's of guest spots on every track would be kinda drawin' but er'body did they thing......@15 to 75 Bars is the best interlude-to-song transition ever ......

.

no dope beats. no dope rhymes. great music. great songwriting. frustrations I relate with. one of a kind. hard drums. guitars you can hear. funky bass. getting kicked in the teeth with timbs keys. menacing. bright. dismal. The Roots sounding like a band ON RECORD. great display of rapping from established emcees. promising display of talent from up and comers. great display of talent. music I always wish The Roots would've made. hip hop. if you dont get that its hip hop then let me point you to the door. JAM!.

and it was already great on the first listen.


but I would like to know the thought process behind making Unwritten so short... that coulda easily been one of the best songs on the album. And uhhh, ya know... if a longer cut exists, you know the okayplayers would love a treat!

i don't understand either..

good answer.

lets say i wish there was more storytelling before he gets shot then.

That should shut any Thought naysayer up right there......he ripped I will not apologize to shreds to.

yeah please..

picked the wrong beat to cut short..

they dropped the ball with that one.. that felt like the "Long Time" of this record..

wouldve stayed on repeat

oh well

if he didn't die that woulda been a classic track. lol

....how does The Grand Return sound.....

i removed the intro, @15, and the outro

now i don't have to skip any tracks. my only nitpicking complaint is i wish the unwritten joints were full songs. everything else about the record is pure dope.

>....how does The Grand Return sound.....

grand return is VERY nice, one of my faves so far actually
starts with medieval sounding organ chords
followed by a rolling synth bassline
and minimal but hard hitting drums
riq only has one verse, but it's nice
dice raw and wadud on the chorus
ends with a SICK distorted guitar riff

it's short 2:24 but i think it would have
done just fine on the american release
fits with the vibe of the album
(though it made me want to hear more from kirk)

grand return is one of the best tracks on there. Goes v.well with rising up at the end.

This may take a few days to sink in. At first, I'm slightly underwhelmed, but I was the same way with "Game Theory," and that grew on me massively and might be my favorite Roots album now.

My biggest issue is that I played "Rising Down," "Get Busy" and "75 Bars" to death (my fault, admittedly) so I skip those for now.

Now, for the meat and potatoes:

- "Criminal" - Lord do I love this song. Everything is perfect. The beat is sick, everyone rips there verses. It's lovely.

- "I Will Not Apologize" - Perfect in any way. I wish The Roots used horns in their studio songs more, but this shit is perfect. What a tribute to Fela.

- "Unwritten" - Man, do I wish this song was longer. Mercedes is majestic on it. I wish this wasa full song.

- Porn rips the shit out of every verse. Now I see why HOV was so interested in him.


In general, I just love the communal feel of the album (having Malik and Dice, plus plenty of guests), a feeling that hasn't been this fully realized since "things fall apart" and "illadelph halflife" (it was partially renewed in "game theory."

It'll definately stay in my car and iPod for the next few months. By then I'll be able to REALLY judge where this album stands for me.

such a pretty track.

Glad to hear less BT.
Im feeling the hard tracks, but none of them wierdo coffe shop shits.
Best competetion is roots in the past.

I hope they continue to take this approach, and even get an entire new line up including lead rapper.

black eyed peas or something.
ya that'd be cool.....


wtf?

peep "i will not apologize".

I can relate to
There's not one album I don't like,
they're an inspiration..

Rising Down is great, beautiful, intense...
Classic Material forever.

my tags on itunes dont mention him, but damn if it doesnt sound exactly like him.

thats how haha

I'm looking at the tracklisting on the back cover, and he doesn't have a main feature credit... it's just (ftg. Porn and Dice).

I was like, "Damn, this Porno dude sounds exactly like Kweli!"


Kweli's name is in the liner credits under "chorus vocals" though.

first yall say he is boring and bringing the roots down, then they add alot of guests and theres not enough thought.

Im almost suspecting some Dillinja DnB shit. Esp at the start of 'The Show'...

That what this album feels like to me, thick, hot and heavy Junglist hip hop.

I fucking love it......

Or Game Theory's lost second disc.

(i'm not here, & won't be for awhile, but this was thought provoking....)






*slips back into darkness*

in too many of the songs or something. i like the heavy synth sound, just seems to be too much of it. i really really like and respect all the songs (criminal to unwritten inclusive is amazing) but i don't have the urge to listen like i normally do and i think thats why. hope it clicks with me soon.

ive got it pre-ordered though obviously, my favourite band always get my support.

i felt the same thing from "i will not apologize" thru "the show" ("unwritten" withstanding) that i got with GT after "here i come".

that side A is beautiful though. and i agree w/ whoever said "rising up" might be best single since "you got me". it'd make for a great show opener too.

the mix throughout the album is so nice too.

i actually prefer that second half of GT.

long time, livin', clock with no hands, atonement and can't stop this are amzing imo. whereas ive never really liked don't feel right and couldn't get into in the music that much. baby, game theory and take it there are all great though

but to stay on topic lol, the dip for me here is definitely lost desire and the show.

most of the basslines sound like keys. This is the biggest adjustment for me. I like the album though. I think there's a few album fillers though, 2 or 3. Overall I like it, it's different, which is now becoming the norm for roots albums. I'll cop it when officially drops.

just fuckin' with you man...LOL...

Hub left last year (maybe 2 years ago?)...

The new bass player is some cat named Owen...



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

and dude is a BEAST on the bass from what i hear

On Game theory, Hub is at least listed as a composer but I haven't seen the credits on Rising down because I don't actually have the album yet. Anyway, there are a couple of live bass lines on the tracks but most of it is keys. I know Hub left, just wonderin if he worked on this album. It doesn't really sound like he did..

to me it looks like khari ferrari (bass player from nouveau riche) is responsible for all the bass on this joint. i got the hard copy and his name is all over the production credits

that the roots then replay live

____

are you questioning my fanhood?

I haven't bought an album on its release date since... I can't even remember (maybe the last De La album?).

(Taking it back to the most basic of e-thug arguments)
The Roots > *.

The album is pretty damn solid, and gets better with each listen.

Rising Down, Get Busy, Criminal, I Can't Help It, and Rising Up are my favs thus far.

@ 15 is a nice treat, and I bet there are many a freestyles laying around.

I don't understand why some are hating on the guest rappers, cause they all kill it (P.O.R.N. especially, it's just too bad that his name will hold him back).

My only real complaint is that Birthday Girl definitely should of still been on there. I think it has a dark feel to it even if it doesn't sound that way. It also would of provided them with a great first single. Like the album, this song gets better with each listen.

Again, this is still too early to place it among their complete catalog, but I think I am liking this more than GT so far. Stay tuned...

and then when you see him in the video, it just goes together, the insane look he possesses and the stiffedness...them shits go, joe!

im mad dissapointed
sounded like this album was gonna be one big adrenaline rush at first
from pow wow to 75 bars it bangs...loved that part
then this wierd emo country shit comes on from become unwritten to the show
what happend to the beats?
the generic choruses?
the album just slumps right after 75 bars

the mixing and mastering are phenomenal...

and we're listening to fucking MP3s of this shit

the best I have heard from them by a long stretch, but solid...a @@@...75 Bars, Criminal, I Can't Help it, The Grand Return, Lost Desire and Rising Down (hum drum) are my jawns. I have even come to like like Birthday Girl as it has grown on me. A good album, but far from very good, or even the over-used C word. A nice effort.

Be fearless...

"And the night I fought Sonny, I heard a few southerners at ringside say 'Sonny, knock that nigger out! The nigger talks too much!'
And we laughed, didn't we, because his seat cost two hundred and fifty dollars..."---Muhammad Ali

whoa

lol

every prsn that searches "porn" on youtube or other sites is gonna get the roots :)

i liked those essentially-bt-solo-albums, so i'm not thrilled by the abundance of guests, but it doesn't hurt that they acquit themselves quite well.

it's interesting to listen to "live at..." and hear how much the roots have changed sonically from dywm. you know, "you can't go home again." the whole aesthetic of hardcore hip-hop has changed. if rising down is supposed to be a return to hardcore hip-hop, then game theory was hardcore hip-hop too.

as soon as i get the itunes version, i'm sticking "birthday girl" at the end, just to see how it feels. it is a topical song, albeit whimsically delivered. i still think it should've been the proper lead single (with a proper push)...

...then knock 'em out with "rising up", whose hook i have been singing for about a week, damn it. great drumming--full of life. i love chrisette, with all my heart, and would like to go out on a couple of dates with her.

?uesto, is there an extended version of "unwritten" done? and which american retail versions have bonus tracks, if any?

dope ass album

The rumble on I cnat Help it is amazing. Kweli does a great job with his two guest appearances. The more i listen to this jawn the more i feel BT's emotions coming through. Like his inflection is on that old head "im tired" shit. Thats not a diss cause his darts are sharp but he sound fucking world-weary.

In the context of the album i can see where birthday girl could have been the 2nd to last joint but it doesnt hold up to everything else on the album.

The soncs are hard and dense on this joint, im on a stereo right now and its thumping my apartment, it should be beastly in the whip.

.

Criminal is a BEAST of a record too..i'm diggin this album all the way around 360

i refuse to dl this one, i'm still waiting for my copy to come in the mail

i'll be back....

the roots did it again man, i love these guys

one has music, one is just the phone convo sans music.

i prefer the one w/the backing music as if i feel it sets the tone.

curious to see which one is on the final cut come Tuesday.

i think the aussie version doesn't have the backing music. i don't know which one i like more cuz i like the backing track, but i also like how you can understand what is being said better without it.

too melodratic

without the music it feels like you are eavesdropping on a convo and you understand all that is said.

...adds depth to "the show".

please

im not gonna order em but ill say that tfa and dywm have never left top 3 status

this shit right HERE (c) katt williams

nigga... NIGGA........

and like von said.. that intro/outro shit...
its eerie how close to home that shit hits

for real

down to wrecking the fucking rental....
just wow

yall niggas nailed it tho
concise, to the point, and jam fucking packed with jams

kudos

The "Lost Desire" hook is wild to me.

who looks outside, dreams.
who looks inside, awakes.

नमस्ते

I've listened to the album a good 10 times...not counting my many replays of Unwritten, The Show, and other tracks...

its really a beautiful piece of work, but I know my friends are going to be haters because they don't really get the whole sense of paranoia shit, the musicality shit, and really they're not into the shit like me...but I will say this, I love the album how it is, but one day there ought to be some of the following...

1) a lil' more than a couple of upbeat tunes

2) okay so you know how to get back to make an Al Green record sound like an Al Green record after he's aged, so your saying you can't make Black Thought rowdy?? I didn't even really get why that whole idea was dismissed because of his age, cuz I went to like 6 or 7 roots shows last year and he was goin' off.

3) if as a fan and would want to make one request of all requests, itd be to go back to that old Rawkus records sound (I know that sounds odd), but like you guys were really a part of my listening along with all those guys on that label...the quality in production sounds, along with Dilla and SV...it was like really these great beats, that would make you think that every motherfucker back then was getting pussy/ comfortable/ hungry/ and doing different shit...now I know its hard to get what I'm saying because I'm pretty bad at being articulate...but on the real I was in 8th grade, and all those songs defined the city that I was living in, and really that whole era for me...songs like unwritten come close to that, and I've loved songs from Tipping Point, Phernology...but if you could take alot of fans back to that era in music... people would be going ape shit, I'd be going ape shit

all and all great record
smart record
I'm gonna try to convince the doubters

Got the australian version on friday so ive listened to it around 10 times. I'll do that generic song by song review

1) pow wow


2) rising down (5/5)- A really atmospheric track, sombre intro to rising downs sound with some great verses. especially from mos who sounds better than he has in a long time. the sample is used really well, especially at the start of the track.

3)Get busy (5/5)- This is such a sinister track, aggressive, girtty and violent. This song works really well right after rising down. Really captures the constant tension between sadness and anger on the album. Its great to hear all the verses are bitter and angry like that baseline. I think peedi crack justt made me an instant fan with this verse.

4) @15 - this is a really great lead into 75 bars, shows how the world has changed black thought, clever

5) 75 bars- (4.5/5) This track everyone has heard but its even stronger in the context of the album. The drums are so loose,rough and hard. The second half of thoughts verse is up there with web in terms of being unquestionable cocky brilliance. I get the feeling the album cover was chosen with direct reference to this song.

6) becoming unwritten- sonically this is really interesting, i'd like to hear the story behind why this wasn't fleshed out as a full song. Intended as a brief moment of happiness maybe?.

7) Criminal (5/5). At first the chorus threw me off, i didn't expect this at all but it turned out to be one of the best tracks. That indie rock chorus is really effective, one of the best hooks on the album. The verses are some of the best as well. This is likely to become one of my favourite roots songs. The beat sounds like a uplifting song trying to escape from a deeply sad one, a great moment.

8) I will not apologise (3.75/5). Nice verses, nice hook, beat is reasonable.

9) I can't help it (5/5). Wow, the moment the beat and chorus reach full effect is as exciting and haunting as the first time hearing the beat drop out on "step into the realm". The drums have a eerie quality, sounding far away and muffled yet loud. Questlove really put the work into the drums on this album, even more so than game theory. I really didn't expect this at all, probably my favorite track on the album...that choruses sounds like the results of a drugged nightmare. The verse are perfect, malik and porn really suit this style. I feel like this song takes the sonic qualities of "in the music" and pushes them further. The funky outro at the end was also a "no way!" moment. some of the roots best work period

10) singing man (2/5). This song could of been something really interesting but the terrible chorus really distracts from what otherwise is a good track. maybe it will grow on me in time.


11) unwritten (5/5) simply beautiful but frustratingly short. Thoughts verss is excellent and perfectly understate. I can see why this track was made so short, a reflection on the running theme of a terrible world with brief moments of hope. But is still wish it was even a minute longer.


12) lost desire (5/5) perfectly paranoid beat with jittery synth stabs and a strong chorus. Once again the drums are quite dope. The instrumental outro is also a great moment.

13) The show (4/5) An all round great track, the great production elements are more understated than in some of the other tracks. Common doesnt sound out of place at all to me.

14) rising up (5/5). I great moment of hope at the end of a rather sombre and bitter ride. Funky, creative and fun without straying too far from the albums sonic qualities. This one gets better with each listen.


15) B-day Girl (3/4). This songs has grown on me a great deal and works well at the end of the album, almost as an ironic statement not to take everything so seriously. Not the roots best work but harmless enough to be pleasant. Though the end of the song hints at what could of been done with the whole song, missed opportunity maybe

16) The grand return (4.5/5) Its the classic bragidoccio roots song that reminds me of "what you want". This track is really great, i think it should of been on the american release aswell. its cocky brilliance once more.

17) pow wow 2 ( has some music near the end)

overall: This is a really fantastic album with some classic moments, but i cant decide where it fits amongst the roots catalogue. Ill give it a few weeks before i can decide, its at least as good as game theory....which was a great album as well. I was really happy it sounded very different to game theory, even though it deals with similar themes. The amount of guest was a nice addition, really helped soften the blow of such a sonically focused album.

packaging: The cover is really effective when looking at it in the cd sleave. The australian cover has something printed on the front covering the design which is a bit lame. The back cover has the cover without this distraction but instad has website printed all over the bottom half, man thats annoying. I was a bit disappointed about the lack of liner notes. other artwork or even lyrics..but i guess this was more a factor of costs and defjams decision.

>8) I will not apologise (3.75/5). Nice verses, nice hook, beat
>is reasonable.
I'm shocked so many people think this song is average.it's one of my favorite Roots songs ever.imho all three verses are incredible but Thought And Porn murked it.The beat=dope, i start bouncing in my seat as soon as this track starts,and the hook makes me want to punch random citizens in the face!


>10) singing man (2/5). This song could of been something
>really interesting but the terrible chorus really distracts
>from what otherwise is a good track. maybe it will grow on me
>in time.

Another song i like a whole lot,and one of my favorite things about it is the chorus.lol! The only chorus on the cd that i don't like is the "I can't help it" jawn.That song has dope ass verses,incredible production,but i don't care for the chorus much @ all.

other than these small differences i view the cd pretty much the way you did.This is definitely one of my favorite Roots albums.

definitely agree on i will not apologize, really dont get the dislike for that song. porns verse on there is one of the highlights of the album for me.

albums really grown on me now, after i was starting to dislike it. up there with game theory for me.

other highlights: the end of i can't help it (although yer, thats the weakest hook imo too), porns verse on i can't help it (wow), the hook on unwritten and peedi on get busy.

Say hello methinks...

Fuckin dope album by the way, congrats, and respect for dropping Bday Girl.

this is album is sooo ill. it's sinking in with each listen.

P.O.R.N's verse on "I Can't Help It" is almost scene stealing like AZ on Illmatic.

the shirt is great, & it comes with a little ad poster too.

I was away this weekend.

Or was that of your own accord? Cause I hear a similarity, but it's different enough to not have credited it. "Get Busy" is an ill track though on an equally ill album. Can't wait to see the new stuff live 5/25.

I woulda never put the two together.

...it's the choruses on the second half. Singing man and the show stand out the most as being underdeveloped and boring.

But overall, it's a very solid album. A few of my thoughts:

-this album feels like a celebration, what with all of their friends on tracks, and the intersplicing of the old demos and phone calls and such. it's really looking back while looking forward. this is a distinctive and cool feel only the roots could achieve.
-really not as "synthy" as i thought it was going to be.
-fav. tracks: get busy, 75 bars, i will not apologize, rising up
-i hope someone does a full on dub remix of i will not apologize, awesome feel on that track.
-p.o.r.n.'s verse on i can't help it is awesome.
-peedi crakk sounds like mc pee pants (from aqua teen) a bit on get busy
-i like the intro to the show, it sounds like the intro to Curtis (mayfield)

but overall, another solid release from the boys, with some definite highlights, but some definite detractors, too. and it's shit you can look at objectively, without having to compare it to any of their other releases

But I've listened to it about 16 times now anyway.

my reaction to the first third or so, after a couple of days of no other music:

http://kaleidoscopik.com/2008/04/27/rising-down-comments-1-of-3/

and I haven't stopped listening to this album. I agree with what everyone is saying positive wise but I have one problem.

Why the fuck is no one talking about Malik B. (specifically that is). This nigga killed it. It really is nice to hear him back stronger than ever.



...talks cheap thats why we speak with the dough

Thanks to ?uest and the entire Roots crew. Keep bringing us that hot music.

album and make a better album than most that were released last year and so far this year. Great fuckin' album.

So what are Kamal, Kirk and Owen's contributions to this album? If the song says produced by the Roots (I just copped the physical version, yea the store jumped the release date) does that mean all parties are involved? Cause I noticed that Khari Ferrari has his fingerprints all over this album, which certainly is not a bad thing cause I feel like he was part of what upped the ante on Game Theory. But I'm just curious what it really means when a track says produced by the "Roots"...and who are Tahir Jamal and Ritz Reynolds? Thank ya and this shit is hot...although I don't know about an album full of bangers...haha but close..Rising Up is my favorite on first listen..

the only points where the album slows down for me are the hook on "the show," and some parts of singing man. BUT the show's beat is awesome, singing man is awesome, and just start to finish, killing.
Rising down through i can't help it might be the greatest stretch of music i've heard in a minute.

I've never been in love with TFA. I recognize the genius, the craft, but it's not my roots album. Phrenology caught me more with it's extreme experimentalism, and RD destroys it with consistency, with that dark catchy shit every song. fuck xxl, bol, all the lessonheads that shit all over your music. This is the most solid, consistent, ass kicking album i've heard out of the roots or hip hop. for me at least, this is noughts ('00's) hip hop. this is generational shit.

already sounding like one of my top roots albums.... in depth still to come

?uest had

"coming soon! 127-140

4/29/08"

in his sig for quite a long time

and then on feb 24th i posted in this 75 bars thread

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=1585611&mesg_id=1585611&listing_type=search#1586748

"just noticed something, Rising Down should be 128-141 as bread and butter would be #127 if GT was track listed that way. "

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=1585611&mesg_id=1585611&listing_type=search#1586748


but anyway, enough of that most probably false sense of importance lol, the album arrived today and it's great. it's not their most easily accesible album but the overall mood, mastering and sequencing of RD reminds me of TFA (my fave roots album). ?uests drumming is most definately more pronounced on this album, yet thought seems to take a back seat by not really having that many verses, yet they guests definately make up for this with some impressive cameos from the likes of mos, styles p, saigon and porn.

Just like Finding Forever and Graduation the 4 songs that were leaked/previewed were BY FAR the best this album had to offer and I know the thinking behind releasing your best material first (obviously) but in the end it makes the album seem so much weaker when nothing else measures up. Those 4 are fire but the rest of this is severely lacking and there is some straight trash/instant deletes here too.

BTW

and there is
>some straight trash/instant deletes here too.
>
>BTW


FOH

all opinions are valid and deserve a certain amount of respect....for those who have had a chance to take in this album a little, and don't feel the power resonating from this cohesive record i'm at a loss for words....

thanks RC...see you guys out there.

jay elec dropped the ball by not showing up on this....

cheers....

itsgoodtobmikeb.com

the leaked tracks were dope but i feel the other cuts are even better. loving this album

i'm jealous of the aussies for that

just got my cd, dem liner notes are bare bones...

nonetheless, i'm at 6 listens or so already and its siiiiiiick. shit is hard as hell, tight album. like it more then GT maybe, which i love...

UK's got Grand Return also. Got my copy today and is one of my favourite tracks on whole album.

Someone up'd it in okay artists forum.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfoxzljldje

I still get chills when I listen to the verses. I got a bit thrown off by Black's verse because it doesn't appear to be from first-person like P.O.R.N's and Truck North's.


Byahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (c) Dave Chappelle

after a few listens it seems to me like most albums that cutting down the length greatly improves listenability, my tracklisting;

Pow Wow - great opening, not just some random bsing
Rising Down - solid single
Get Busy - solid single
75 Bars - dirtier than Bruce Bowen defence
Criminal - beat really brings the lyrics forward
I Will Not Apologize - great hook, amazing beat
I Can't Help it - catchy as hell
Singing Man - scary distorted track
Lost Desire - Talib sounds great here
The Show - great track, not a "typical" roots sound but still fresh
Rising Up - solid single

overall a great album, nothing mind blowing, no beats that are "club-bangers" but definately some I'd want to hear on a saturday night

better than game theory imo, and as long as the next is an improvment on this Quest and the band will continue to get my 9.99 from HMV and 40 and change from a concert

like 4 notches.

He fit really well on this album.

and thats not slighting Riq..

DICE KILLS IT

fawkin' amazing. love this shit. only on my second listen and i must say this is my favorite album since blu & exile. this is becoming my favorite album from y'all.

amazing work.

On my second go around right now, all I gotta say is ya'll done did it again. Nothing else is getting play for the next week, lol!!!

can't wait to hear it.

This album has a very ominous atmosphere to me.
I found GT to be dark but this joint is like saying
Candyman in the mirror 5 times and he appears with this
joint in his ipod. I like dark sounding records.......

Preliminary favs for me are-

Rising Down-Sets the mood right thats my favorite beat so far
Every MC killed it but Styles P man he really was hitting on some
shit. @@@@@

75 bars- Thought's endurace and passion is unmatched.
@@@@@

Criminal- kinda on the fence with this one
starting to grow on me though.
@@@

I Will Not Apologize- Pure sickness! this beat really moves.
the gothic string/organ? is nice somehow this track reflects the albums artwork most to me. don't know why just my 2 cents. each MC rode the beat to perfection.
@@@@@

I Can't Help It- Malik B good to hear his flow
Thoughts best verse imo(wow),P.O.R.N-damn
dude said "my mother had an abortion for the wrong child"
his whole verse was disturbingly nice.
@@@@

Lost Desire-Nice Malik B comes through with his best verse imo
still gotta grow on me a lil have not listend to thsi track alot yet.
@@@ 1/2

Rising Up-
Grew up in DC so feeling the Go-Go beat up in there,
good to see Wale getting that DC shine. Thought
shouting out R.E?..... yeeeeah!!
@@@1/2

Now after a second run at home I am blown away. Keeps growing on me.

Been a weak year so far but The Roots just made it a great year, as I said in another thread the album is excellent and it clicked right away the first time I heard it.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/50242-rising-down

The Roots
Rising Down

Rating: 7.8
Buy it from Insound
Download it from Emusic
Digg this article
Add to del.icio.us

It's gotten to the point where I can't even imagine the Roots being soft anymore. Not to be dismissive of their first few albums, which were thoughtful without being mushy or maudlin, but their three Def Jam records-- the underrated/overhated alleged-sellout The Tipping Point, the tightly-knit return to rawness Game Theory, and now Rising Down-- are so singularly focused on a kind of distilled, uninhibited force that it's now difficult to think of the Roots as anything but intelligently aggressive firebrands.

You don't throw on these albums if you want to chill out, and Rising Down does more than any of them to express, precisely and without compromise, a specifically African-American but increasingly universal strain of anxiety and frustration. A lot of Rising Down's urgency and immediacy owes to the massive guest roster. The Roots' Philly core of affiliates-- vets Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi, and Truck North, former member Malik B., and relative newcomer/search engine nightmare P.O.R.N.-- appear on more than half the record's songs, and they help give the record a sense of a communal strength in numbers; their appearances on vicious throwdown "Get Busy" (with the some deft cuts from Philly's legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff) and a stretch of tracks in the middle ("I Will Not Apologize", "I Can't Help It", and "Singing Man") feel like the spiritual and lyrical core of the album.

The guests from outside Philly work just as well: Talib Kweli spits with an atypically growly delivery on the anti-defeatist anthem "Lost Desire", Common displays glimpses of his late-1990s shine ruminating over tour fatigue on "The Show", Wale kills it with some so-corny-they're-great metaphors ("good rappers ain't eatin', they Olsen twinnin'") on "Rising Up", and Saigon's final verse on "Criminal" is the fierce peak of a three-MC slow lyrical burn. And while Styles P's turn on the title track works well enough (it's something to hear the dude behind "Good Times " go after the pharmaceutical industry), Mos Def's verse-- the first one on the whole record-- is one of the best he's ever done, and probably the best guest spot on Rising Down: "Identities in crisis and conflict diamonds/ Blindin', staring at lights till they cryin'/ Bone gristle popping from continuous grindin'."

But despite the massive ensemble cast, Black Thought is still the core of the record and the well-worn accusations of him being anti-charismatic feel largely false here. Most of his great moments come on tracks which feature a lot of other MCs' great moments, and after getting overshadowed on "Rising Down" (can any MC make the subject of global warming into a dope lyric?) he comes out swinging for the rest of the record. On "Singing Man", even with P.O.R.N. portraying himself as a vividly realized school shooter and Truck North putting together a disturbingly evocative characterization of a suicide bomber, Black Thought's depiction of an African child soldier justifying his violence ("13 year-old killer, he look 35/ He changed his name to Little No Man Survive") is both sharply written and unsettling. His delivery is a bit more varied than you might expect, too, particularly when he's rapping about getting underpaid like he's got a clenched jaw in "I Will Not Apologize" or sweating his way through a pills-and-stress panic attack on "I Can't Help It". And when he's turned loose on a hookless lyrical exhibition, Black Thought is nearly unstoppable; it's scary the way he blazes through the one-take assault of "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", throwing out endless Big Daddy Kane-level proclamations of untouchability ("My hustle is long, my muscle is strong, my man put the paper in the duffel I'm gone/ Y'all still a light year from the level I'm on/ Just a pawn stepping right into the head of the storm"). The abrupt way it ends, it sounds like he could've gone on full throttle for another two hundred bars if someone hadn't taken a cleaver to the tape reel.

A revamped production style accompanies the deeper, darker lyrical tone, taking the aesthetic of Game Theory to its grimiest conclusion. Most of Kamal's keyboard work here isn't with the archetypal Fender Rhodes of Roots albums past; he's using a number of grimy analog synths that snarl and spit and hiss, the kind you hear in dead prez's "Hip Hop" or Outkast's "Stanklove" (or the J.B.'s' "Blow Your Head", for that matter). That racket combining with ?uestlove's fierce, crisp percussion makes for some diabolical rhythmic low-end, and since it dominates Rising Down's personality it gives the album the feeling of being this bionic monstrosity that just so happens to have a lot of headknock to it.

There are a couple of exceptions, like the guitar-driven midtempo Fela pastiche of "I Will Not Apologize" and the unexpected country-blues tinge to "Criminal", but they're rare breathers in an album that otherwise closes in on you. Only when the triumphant, old-school Roots return on the demi-go-go of "Rising Up" does it feel like the weight's been lifted, and even then something about it-- the endless Oprah/Travolta namedrop hook, the mawkish Chrisette Michele vocal about a crying b-girl, the overly tidy-sounding keyboards-- seems a bit out of place. (Maybe not as out-of-place as the now-infamous and super-creepy Patrick Stump collab "Birthday Girl", however; excising that disaster singlehandedly saved the album's character.) Rising Down isn't always an easy listen, but it's an exciting one, and its abrasiveness never gets in the way of a good throw-your-hands-up beat or a well-crafted lyric.

If you've been paying any damn attention to the world around you, most of Rising Down's messages ring familiar, and frequently true: This is an album that tells you the entertainment industry is turning into a coon show, the climate (both environmental and cultural) is getting fucked up, and broke people are still struggling. But this record states these ideas with respect to the notion that you know them already, and puts all the revelation and subtext into its unyielding sound. You could call it preaching to the converted, but it also feels like a reminder to the lapsed, less a wake-up call than a shot of renewed adrenaline.

i think it's important to note, here and now, that this review is essentially saying that it's a great heavy record. they mess some shit up - 2 album with def jam, his grasp on "apologize" and "criminal" is a little shaky - but it's a really positive review. there's nothing particularly negative... matter of fact it's a little weak that they couldn't have sync'd up the grade&review and thrown some "best new music" on album so all the collegiate hipsters would know to buy it.

This is the important bit i think...:

>But despite the massive ensemble cast, Black Thought is still
>the core of the record and the well-worn accusations of him
>being anti-charismatic feel largely false here. Most of his
>great moments come on tracks which feature a lot of other MCs'
>great moments, and after getting overshadowed on "Rising Down"
>(can any MC make the subject of global warming into a dope
>lyric?) he comes out swinging for the rest of the record. On
>"Singing Man", even with P.O.R.N. portraying himself as a
>vividly realized school shooter and Truck North putting
>together a disturbingly evocative characterization of a
>suicide bomber, Black Thought's depiction of an African child
>soldier justifying his violence ("13 year-old killer, he look
>35/ He changed his name to Little No Man Survive") is both
>sharply written and unsettling. His delivery is a bit more
>varied than you might expect, too, particularly when he's
>rapping about getting underpaid like he's got a clenched jaw
>in "I Will Not Apologize" or sweating his way through a
>pills-and-stress panic attack on "I Can't Help It". And when
>he's turned loose on a hookless lyrical exhibition, Black
>Thought is nearly unstoppable; it's scary the way he blazes
>through the one-take assault of "75 Bars (Black's
>Reconstruction)", throwing out endless Big Daddy Kane-level
>proclamations of untouchability ("My hustle is long, my muscle
>is strong, my man put the paper in the duffel I'm gone/ Y'all
>still a light year from the level I'm on/ Just a pawn stepping
>right into the head of the storm"). The abrupt way it ends, it
>sounds like he could've gone on full throttle for another two
>hundred bars if someone hadn't taken a cleaver to the tape
>reel.

yeah that's right. start admitting you were wrong all along. looks like pitchfork decided to look past jokey lil wayne metaphors this morning for their lyrical breakfast.

big ups tariq. hopefully we'll be seeing more of this

>yeah that's right. start admitting you were wrong all along.
>looks like pitchfork decided to look past jokey lil wayne
>metaphors this morning for their lyrical breakfast

When I first read that review on pitchfork about Black Thought being boring I was throughly pissed. I still am but this is basically a case of hipsters not understanding the music. fuck em

It came in the mail yesterday and I've been listening to it ever since. I will admit, for a good half of the day, I got caught up in Criminal. I just kept replaying it and replaying it. Even put it on my ipod so that I could listen to it while waiting in line for GTA4.

Very solid CD. I love it.



"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

-Martin Luther King Jr.

so i stick the cd into my computer and all the track names is mixed up and shit! ONE OF THE TRACKS IS TITLED BIRTHDAY GIRL. that's mad deceiving yo...gots me all excited and shit. i'm happy with the album, i aint gonna go in depth and shit about each track.... but i'm pissed off without birthday girl. i understand "we" did it, but dude....

I've listened to it once but those songs are already on rewind status.

That intro is the craziest interlude I think I've ever heard. Do they tape all their meetings/calls?

After finally hearing "Birthday Girl," it was not as horrid as I had imagined it would be. But I still doubt it would have been a "hit," because of the subject matter. And no matter how you slice it, Fall Out Boy and the Roots are a weird combination.

This album is the best album i've heard in my entire life ever. Real talk. Better than the Beatles. Better than Dylan. Better than Radiohead. Ever.

won't be buying.

*goes back to listening to live shows and old albums*

the content was nothin i'm interested in hearing and the beats and music wasn't attractive at all. nothing stuck in my ear as "i HAVE to hear this on repeat again and again" as there has always been on their previous albums.

I only listened to 75 bars and listened to Get Busy once so the album was really fresh for me. I like the tone that "The Pow Wow" introduced at the beginning of the album and the album flowed well throughout with @ 15, Lost Desire, Get Busy and Singing Man standing out the most imo.

Nice to be excited to buy something the day it was released. Great arwtork, too.

Picked it up at Best Buy on my lunch break and I'm on my second listen now. It's short but I like it. Wish we coulda got some of those Bonus tracks I've heard about and maybe some liner notes but those are only minor gripes.

I can tell this is going to be in rotation for a while.
So far I've heard most of it through computer work speakers but looking forward to hearing it in the car in an hour.

Good work, the Legendary remains the most consistent group in hip hop.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/11279520cce1a331/

it's almost pure comedy
but yo
fuck best buy for giving me the edited joint
knew i shouldn't have preordered off there
: /
whatever
joint is tight though

Just finished Rising Up, starting hidden track.

Dope album. Absolutely LOVE Rising Up, Criminal and Singing Man (three way tie for my favorite so far.)

The Pow Wow is insane, lol. Great concept for an intro.

Upon initial lesson, just a hair under GT, but I'll need to listen to this one a lot more to really judge.

only behind madonna, which is pretty good company to compete with for sales.

that somehow gets better and better and better...

Riq is officially the best MC in the game hands down..

considering he is from the early 90s era and all the MCs we loved
from that time are half ass and can't make good albums anymore..

i can't believe this shit.. Black Thought is on another fuckin' planet yo..
this is his best yet.

i've only gotten through the album a few times and i think its fuckin' mind blowing..

one of the best hip-hop albums i have heard in years.. and i was a bit skeptical

DICE RAW came real hard on this shit..
all the features are dope.. MALIK B KILLS IT..PEEDI is DOPE.. PORN is incredible..Truck North killed it.. they all overshadow Common and Kweli.. who also came nicely..
MOS kickin' off the album is great. He's back to form.

i think the only criticism with the album are some of the hooks are eh.. but none of them really bother me. and, it seems we all agree that Unwritten should've been longer. i get the concept, but that was not the beat to cut short.. Too nice.

really what i think it comes down to was that Quest jumped the gun and they released too many joints.. i tried not to listen too much to the songs that were posted up here so that i can enjoy it today.. for some of yall that are disappointed.. if yall heard Rising Down, Get Busy & 75 Bars for the first time with the rest of this album you'd all have your ugliest faces on..

I Can't Help It is the highlight so far..

really glad Bday Girl got dropped.. would be ridiculous on this ..

but damn.. this album is pretty amazing..

>really what i think it comes down to was that Quest jumped the
>gun and they released too many joints.. i tried not to listen
>too much to the songs that were posted up here so that i can
>enjoy it today.. for some of yall that are disappointed.. if
>yall heard Rising Down, Get Busy & 75 Bars for the first time
>with the rest of this album you'd all have your ugliest faces
>on..

exactly. if id heard get busy for the first time when i heard the whole album, id be claiming it was one of the best albums ever made lol. its weird how perception of albums change so much because of this.

is pretty funny considering..

anyone catch that?

"and every one is like a broad that we run through a venue
this ain't gonna stop so we just gonna continue"

that Andre quote suggests he's kinda sayin runnin' through Badu is like a part of the game

I think that's the biggest reason I can always listen to the Roots, and the biggest part of their game they stepped up as time went on -- ?uest became an exacting wizard on the knobs with a budget to match.

I think that's the reason Tipping Point was ... good, really listenable, but flat for a Roots release. The sound was incredible, but not flat out showing off (not to mention the fucking mistake with the goddamn pressing -- man, some great moments just feel fucked up with that hiccup between tracks) like most of their other releases end up doing.

This one, halfway through? Yeah, it's showing off for me. That's fucking beautiful. Man -- thank god I finally got my damn mom off the phone to listen to this shit.

Love the album.
My only complaint
NOT ENOUGH THOUGHT!!!
is there really a reason for all of the guests?
I'll give the Roots the benefit of the doubt because I like and respect them as artists, but it's hard to believe that there's a need for an overload of guests when the band's lead MC may possibly be the best natural MC of all-time.
Album just sounds a little too much like a mix tape as far as the line-up goes.
But like I said, great album and it's good to hear such quality in today's music industry.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Roots for doing good music! From the opening track to the end it is all around solid. The sound quality is AMAZING. I didn't think you guys could top Game Theory, but I think you did. I've listened to it once and I had chills all throughout. I can count on one hand the amount of times that has happened. Already lookin forward to the next one!!

You better write one helluva book when you turn 50 to make up for these liner notes not being what they should...yuck man...



<<< Yeah, I know him. DVS does too.

Then: http://tinyurl.com/2uapll
Now: http://tinyurl.com/ypo9x4 | www.weareomniverse.com | www.myspace.com/treblemusick
Later: ROTDC::08/08

damn where do i begin.

The way the phone convo goes into rising down made me smile, shit knocks.

only easy way to sum it up...

Thank You
Thank You
Thank You



"it is unclear to me why anybody over 15 would listen to an album like Curtis, except to review it."-John H. McWhorter

i thought they meant a song featuring the ex-hot boy.

malik b + baby gangsta + the roots' interpretation of bounce music needs to happen like yesterday no the day before scott storch quit.

hard beats. playing this with the bass up is a nice treat, imo.

the cover reminds me of what white america thinks of barak obama. this could be the alternate cover for Fear of a Black Planet.

being the roots phonte with the sanging.....lol....

LOL, ?uest... if you haven't already, there needs to be some kind of breakdown of WTF had Thought and company on edge.

LOL @ that mad voice being dixpop.

I wasn't crazy about it when it was released, but now? THat shit is like 'Ante Up' to me.

I mean, I saw the explanation but still. The decision to do what they did with those two tracks is dragging down my appreciation for the album as a whole, I can't lie. BOTH of the songs were on their way to being two of the my favorite cuts. Damn. It. Yo. Why why why....:(

With that said..........dope album. Favorite songs are the two "Unwritten" songs, "Criminal", "Can't Help It", "Singing Man", "Lost Desire", "The Show", and "Rising Up".

I ain't really feeling "75 Bars" all that much at this point. I liked it when we first heard it here, but I don't know. I can't get past how many times he says n*gg*, and not for any moral reason. Any word repeated that many times bugs me. I just got tired of hearing the same word over and over mostly.

I'm mad at the lack of liner notes and no real bonus track (a song), too. Overall, I'm not sure where I'd rank this album....it's way too early for that but I will say I wish I had the same enthusiasm for it that ?uest did leading up to now. It's definetely a 4 outta 5 for me, no question........but.........I'm not hearing what made (makes) ?uest consider this their best work.
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I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!

Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers. (c) Kno

i like all the guest appearances. in a way it makes me feel like we're getting alot in a short amount of time. mos, talib, and common on the record. two malik tracks. and a bunch of other quality emcees too. i would like more thought. i'm thinking two-tree more tracks in addition to what's already there of just thought tracks would have been love as far as more bt and as far as lengthing the album. we need a long album from the roots. don't get me wrong, short and sweet is cool and they do it well. i prefer iladeph & things fall apart lengthed albums, but i'd rather have it short and little to no filler than long albums with skippable tracks.

i know times are tough on the band direction and management side, but musically, the roots are swaggering, partly fueled by the young, hungry energy they're getting from khari, dice, truck, porn, kirk, tuba, owen, and knuckles.

but in addition to all the younger newer members' contributions, it's great to include old friends like mos, talib, common, mercedes, and it's always great to hear malik. they all really added something to the songs - not just cameos. the roots' quality control for that has always been high, but it worked really well this time.

"bread and butter" was one of my favorite game theory era songs, and it's great to hear more of the bluesy guitar. it's nice to hear them exploring that side of the music. with the added guitar element to , it makes sense to incorporate the blues into these angsty, stark, serious-toned songs

i can't pick a favorite song yet- i've listened three times. but there's nothing that colors my impression of the album, like the chorus to "in the music" did. though the album is less sonically diverse (though no less adventurous) than game theory, it's a bit tighter overall. i like the heavy straight forward boom-bap, and the groove on these jams is seriously tight funk, even with the open, gated sounds.

i like that they're doing more recording at ?uest's house and scraping things together a bit, rather than sitting and spending so much time polishing mixes at electric lady (though i'm sure they're still putting the hours in). there's something so direct and fast and live and relevant about the newer approach.

that this album will eventually be my shit. Its just right now, it seems so depressing. I think it sounds like a fall/winter album more then a spring/summer type album..

just my 2 cents, don't shoot me

alfie kohn is a genius.

I've only listened twice so far, so I'm not ready to talk in detail, but I love how it manages to have a dark feel while still maintaining vibrancy/energy. On paper, the tracklist looks a bit heavy on guest appearances, but all of the guests fit the records they are on, and compliment the vibe of the album as a whole as opposed to distracting from it. I gotta give it up to ?uest and co., I they know how to put together a cohesive album. I may like some projects more than others, but every project that they healm has a distinctive identity (that Al Green joint is a whole other post), which is one of the things that I miss in alot of the albums that pass through my hands these days.

at the end of Lost Desire. I know it's a Dilla joint slowed down, but what's it from?

As for the album, that joint cranks! A lil different than the last couple, but that's fine. Once again, that shyt is crystal clear. I wish all albums sounded like that. I think I'm going to enjoy it alot more once I can listen to it on the way out somewhere and I've had a few sips of something.

Rising Up brought a smile to my face and made me respect the band that much more. "I show you where my Rare Essence is at."

Thanks! I couldn't remember the name for nothin.

..........

I got my shirt/CD in the mail. Was really lookin fwd to some long ass inside joke i dont get it liner notes....and there aren't any. Wassup?


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www.masslinemedia.com

Listen to the CD.....

the end

Listen to the CD.....

the end

man, this album is getting better with each listen. sounds sooo dope in the car. the icing on the cake came today with the addition of The Grand Return. I now have this track at the end of the album to close it out. Thanks again for the dope music!

on I Will Not Apologize? Owen or Damon? I cannot get that shit outta my head, it's so damn funky.

i'm trying man, i'm really tryyyyyying.

listening, and listening and listening.

forcing myself to hearing what others are hearing.

nothing is registering.

i dont' know what it is.

semi-boom-bap beats + b-boy lyrics + *gulp* r&b hooks?

umm....

just not feeling it.

disappointed.

not enough Malik B...

i love Black Thought and all, but....he sounds uninspired. i don't hear that hunger, man. i aint looking for him to go Busta Rhymes on the mic, but....that edge is missing. is it the lack of comp in the MC world? i don't know.

i'll give it some more listens (Game Theory won me over after more listens...well at least the 1st half of it did).

oh yeah....Mos Def and Kweli ripped their guest spots, man. I ain't hear Mos spit like that in years, man. Kweli had a little adrenaline in him too. Of course the god, Malik B, always brings it.

not feeling Wale or Porn at all.

Dice Raw is ripping the mic, though man. sounding nice. (although he could ease up on the r&b hooks though and make more rap hooks).

i really don't understand why Birthday Girl was taken off. It would fit right in with the album, imo.

i don't know, man. i hope it sells (i think it will). i think these joints would sound better in a live setting than it does in the studio-recorded setting, because seeing that interview on the web where they were playing some joints live in the listening seession, it sounded a lot better.

catch ya'll on the next one.

they also really, really effing good.

more thoughts later.

When I listen to Things Fall Apart I feel that Dice Raw Ripped all his guest spots and that had an added positive impact on the album. When I listen to Rising Down I feel the same about Porn's verses, maybe even more so.

On an album that featured guest spots from Mos Def (incredible verse), Styles P, Saigon, Talib Kweli, Common and Wale.. staples like Malik B, and Dice Raw, and fellow new comer Truck North...... P.O.R.N. managed to stand out.. and thats impressive!

I could say a lot more but I won't. I'll tell the artist how I feel when I see them.

These dudes got artsy as fuck on this.

And I don't say that lightly.

The social/geo-political commentary is broad-sweeping and full of insight, whether from the first person or third person perspectives employed by the mc's on the record. Issues of race, ethnicity, class, age, and national identity are all addressed head on through-out the record.

The sonic impression is the most complex and creative The Roots have ever fashioned.

The keyboard work is light-years beyond previous Roots albums.

Thought's delivery in "75 Bars" is straight classic material.

Peedi's verse on "Get Busy" is probably my favorite verse on the record (aside from 75 Bars); his charisma, energy, and flow are all on point. He's an excellent contrast to Black Thought, and he would make a great permanent member of the group.

The only guest appearance that disappoints me is Common's; he sounds mad tired and the lyrics sound like an amalgam of recycled bits and pieces of Common's work from the past 4 years.

If you took out "The Show," I think this is a 5 mic album.

I am loving it, the I will not Apologize groove on the front is amazing.

great album...these guys have never put out a substandard.
listening to this got me to thinking that phrenology, gt, and rd really form a great trilogy in which the evolution of the production is amazing. bt's lyrics are always a constant, and excellent in their own right too.

Spent about 2 weeks with the album, and I feel comfortable enough with it to come back with my thoughts.

I don't feel either way about the intro, quite honestly. I definitely feel the frustration, but as an album bookend...*shrug*. As far as intros go, I dig the ambience of the Game Theory opening and would have preferred an intro like that.

"Rising Down" is a strong starter with a very dope Mos Def verse and some hard drums. 'Riq's verse is serviceable, but a little obvious until about halfway through. Once it picks up, fire. I am no Styles P fan but can always reckognize a good 16 - this is not one. It just seems all over the place and ill-informed.

"Get Busy" GOES SO HARD, especially in full quality. Each verse gets better and more fired up. Needs to be heard with the right amount of bass - definitely for the whip whip/studio monitors. Peedi's verse is my favorite on the whole album.

"@ 15" is a nice intro to...

"75 Bars", which I'm still kinda "eh" on compared to "Web" or "Thought @ Work" or even "Boom". Not bad, just doesn't move me.

"Becoming Unwritten" is what it is, meant to make the album feel more like an album and less like a collection of songs and also ties into "Unwritten". It also gives you a break after the workout that is "75 Bars" and prepares you for the best three song sequence I've heard in a minute...

"Criminal" is currently my favorite song on the record. All three emcees spit with conviction and really get into the pocket of the beat. Great hook, too.

"I Will Not Apologize", in all it's Fela-inspired glory, is one of the best cuts on the album. I was blown away when I first heard Porn spit - I'm a sucker for a good voice. Everyone on here does their thing, tho.

"I Can't Help It" is definitely the headphone song on the record, sonically it's pretty brilliant - especially at the very end. Porn delivers his best verse on the album with some of the albums best one-liners, too. Rounds out a ridiculously strong three song streak.

This is where the album started to lose it's way with me..."Singing Man"...I LOVE the verses...but the hook is cringe-worthy and I don't think I like the beat very much, either. A shame, too...the verses are REALLY good. Truck North!!!

"Unwritten" is simply beautiful and a little haunting, too. Slowly becoming one of my favorites after initially dismissing it.

"Lost Desire" is in the same catagory as "75 Bars"...I don't hate it (despite the hook) - it just doesn't move me and kinda falls into the background. LOVE the Dilla tribute at the end.

"The Show" has a cool ass intro, a great beat, two great BT verses...but a terrible elementary hook and a phoned-in Common verse. Seriously, who OK'd this hook?

"Rising Up" is dope. Heard it a hundred times before the album dropped and I'm kinda tired of it at this point. I like everything about it except Chrisette's "Coca Cola Christmas" vpcals.

Overall, dope album despite a few flaws. No rating, tho. Sorry!

1. Criminal
2. Get Busy
3. I Will Not Apologize
4. Unwritten
5. I Can't Help It

well not boring, just not as exciting. sounds like the last few albums. which i wasnt all that crazy about to begin with. its *good* though, still, you can tell they made effort, which i do really appreciate, but the hooks are awful. and that beat for that industrial sounding track is terrible. but hey its the roots so ill still listen to it. i forgot i used to like the group a lot.

Rising Down is definitely a ?uest and BT production. I love the drum beats throughout the entire album. And as always, BT is holding it down lyrically. I can't say that there is anything epic about the new Roots album...just good music with good production.

Favorites from Rising Down after a few rotations:

1. Get Busy - Fun, Drum Beat is Sick, Neck Breaker
2. Rising Up - Melodic, Jazzy, Fresh, Grownup Sounds
3. 75 Bars - Tight, Intelligent, Strong
4. I Will Not Apologize - Crazy Beats, Nice Flow, Love It

Judging from this album, The Roots continue to put out great music and I'm looking foward to seeing them live in June.

I’ve sat with Rising Down for about a week now. It’s a very good album and I already feel it’s better than Phrenology, Tipping Point, and Organix. It’s interesting that they decided to go with another “dark”/ “moody” album after Game Theory, being that there is more than one way to convey the many struggles and issues facing us as “Americans”, and Black people in particular. I agree with many ideas some of the posters have already stated, such as the Amnesiac comparison in terms of its place in the Roots catalogue, or that it is a better executed Tipping Point. Unlike most posters though, I feel the sequencing could have been better. The interludes stop momentum, song moods clash, and it pales in comparison to the sequencing brilliance of Game Theory. But maybe the Roots did this intentionally. I also applaud the many guest appearances, which had me feeling apprehensive at first. Analyzing one’s situation and rebelling is a community effort, so why not bring in a community of emcees and singers to help out. Here are my opinions on the songs themselves.



1. The Pow Wow
-classic intro, you can feel the hostility and anger, really sets the album right

2. Rising Down @@@@
-love the song, but I always have this feeling that the beat needs to switch or another element needs to be added at some point. Style P gets my vote for best verse on the song. Side note: Mos’ verse is over-rated.

3. Get Busy @@@@@
-outside of #10, this is my favorite track. The sound is hard as week ol’ shit found under the bed, and Peedi gets my fav guest appearance award

4. @15
-that nice at 15!… but it slows down the energy built up by Rising Down and Get Busy.

5. 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction) @@@@@
-I’m I the only one who gets the irony of this song. Rolling Stone with their silly “it doesn’t even allow a smirk” quote or whatever the hell they said. All the niggaz after the whole nigga/nigger "debates" on top of ‘Riq is just that dude on the mic! Bang this hard in front of white people. I feel it should have came in right after Rising Down.

6. Becoming Unwritten @
-Co-sign McCurty: “What is this?” and again kills the albums strength at this point: blatant sonic Black militancy, whys is this on the album, what purpose is it serving.

7. Criminal @@@
-Another McCurty co-sign: “Feels a little soft in comparison to the rest of the album” I don’t really know if I like it, but it does stay stuck in my head after I listen to it.

8. I Will Not Apologize @@@@
-Loved it upon first listen. Thought is style fresh killin em on the first verse, and who else but Fela Kuti to pay tribute to when making rebel music.

9. I Can't Help It @@
-Like many others I want Malik back in the group. He suffers from what Big Boi suffers, the other guy is just that damn good, even though you’re nice you get overlooked. He complements Thought so well, but I can’t help not liking this song. The industrial soul is not my glass of Guinness. The change up Dilla tribute is nasty though.

10. Singing Man @@@@@
-My favorite song period, the percussive drum rhythms and Dice’s signing keep the dead neo-soul shit alive. Porn and Thought get a push on the verses.

11. Unwritten @@@
-This sounds bananas on the head phones and until Questo said he dies, being the reason the song cuts off, I didn’t get it. Like Criminal though, I’m still hear and there with the song.

12. Lost Desire @@@@
-Just Good music

13. The Show @@@@1/2
-Can someone please get Com out his comfort zone? Listening to him rap nowadays is like watching Denzel, Pacino and DeNiro, you know what you gunna get and you can’t hate ‘cause they legends, but you still want more. Great Song.

14. Rising Up @@@@1/2
-I love this song the more I listen to it. Still not sold on Wale, but he kills his verse, yes that’s a contradiction, so what… This is where I wish the sound would have gone, more up beat and playful, while still being socially conscious and politically astute. Hey James Brown, Sly Stone, Miles Davis and many others have done it, so can the Roots; this song is an example of it.

Overall, the Roots are the Legendary, because this is album number 8 and they still re-invent themselves, experiment and bring good fuckin’ music. Even though I hated Birthday Girl it would have worked to lighten up the mood of the album, and Jay Electronica would have definitely been perfect all things considered. I can see myself buying the Roots, album number 25, much like Prince, Dylan, Johnny Cash and Springsteen fans do.

-Solid @@@@