The Roots understand that in the public eye they're only as good as the audience perceives their live show to be

your main means of getting it is making albums - you're only as good as the public perceives your last work to be

anyone who loved your work from day 1 up to today is considered a part of the public, understandably you cant please them all

De La put out "The Grind Date" and didnt move many units, but it stands as quite a respectable album. Would you rather brick with an album that was received well or let albums sold dictate how good your product was?

you carved the "real authentic" niche, making a drastic departure from that wont go over well.