Link: http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/entertainment/9180227.htm

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Getting back to the Roots

The usually bold hip-hop group returns with the lackluster "Tipping Point."


Malcolm Gladwell's book, "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference," examined how trends evolve from being popular culture to mainstream sensations then cultural epidemics, spreading like viruses.

It also is the reference point and namesake for The Roots' new album, "The Tipping Point," aptly titled because Gladwell's reference to cultural phenomena could very well be The Roots' history encapsulated.

Philly natives The Roots have always been an interesting hybrid -- part jazz band and part cerebral rap crew. Led by MC Black Thought and drummer ?uestlove, albums like 1999's "Things Fall Apart" and 2002's "Phrenology" were groundbreaking works. Unfortunately, "The Tipping Point" is a case of too little, too soon, and suffers in comparison.

Things start off good enough with "Star/Pintro," which could hang with any other Roots cut from the past (except, of course, "You Got Me"). But things go downhill in a hurry after that. Uncommon for a Roots album, cuts here are synthetic and heavily geared toward radio play.

Particularly un-noteworthy are "Don't Say Nothin'". Yes, the current single from the album. So what if it's on the radio? That doesn't make it a good song.

There are two nice hidden cuts , though, one of which features Dave Chapelle in a laugh-out-loud bit.

We've come to expect more from The Roots after all these years, and while "Tipping Point" sets them back a little, it's ground they can regain. Just be careful, guys. As Gladwell's theory also points out, sometimes you can end up tipping the wrong way.

-- Tony Adame

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The age of the ignorant rapper is done: http://www.regeneratedheadpiece.com

"One morning I woke up and found my favorite pigeon, Julius, had died. I was devastated and was gonna use his crate as my stickball bat to honor him. I left the crate on my stoop and went in to get something and I returned to see the sanitation man put the crate into the crusher. I rushed him and caught him flush on the temple with a titanic right hand and he was out cold, convulsing on the floor like a infantile retard." -- Mike Tyson