>how can so many people think
>the Roots are so great
>(or at least aware of
>their committment to the art)and
>continue to churn out mediocre
>material?

Cause not everyone is an envelope pusher. SOme folks like for the precedent to be set so they can follow suit, not to mention the fact that some people feel the route they are taking is a guaranteed check as opposed to the avant garde route where it takes time for the masses to understand and digest what you're doing. But many of the so called "leftist" groups (i.e. the Jay-Z's and the Puffy's were some of the first's in their field doing what they do no matter how ignant you may think it is.) So they should get some credit as well. Those cats were at the forefront of what I call "the bling factor" that has become quite prevalent (sp) in hip-hop.


***** The Sig *****
One year as a resident, deep in sentiment, they shout out GO BROOKLYN, they representin it - Dante Smith (guvment on full blast).

(Brook doesn't do stage names !!!)