So uh....not sure when's the last time someone did this post, but how do you rank The Roots' albums?

illadelph halflife
Game Theory
Things Fall Apart
Phrenology
Do You Want More?!?!?
undun
How I Got Over
Rising Down
Tipping Point
Organix

I *think* that's how I rank them. Admittedly, illadelph and Game Theory are the only ones still in my rotation regularly, but I probably need to go back and listen to TFA again.

undun is kinda new to me, so the rankings may change. I am pretty sure I gave Rising Down more burn than How I Got Over, mainly due to "Criminal," but also that HIGO had more better songs.

I don't listen to TP or Organix because I value my listening time and they don't add up for me. What's fascinating is that they're at completely different ends of the production spectrum, yet have the same value to me.

So I guess that means I think it's the best? I dunno.

I'm also one of the few people who really likes The Tipping Point, though in their catalog, it is one of the weaker ones. Still a strong release though.

i remember people sh!tting all over phrenology on this here site....meanwhile it was in HEAVY rotation for me.

It was a bit too left of center for me at that time. I've come to appreciate a lot of it though.

who really dug it - in fact, i think the majority did.

just that the haters were really loud.

Second is either Game Theory or Illadelph.
Don't ask me to make a decision.

>So uh....not sure when's the last time someone did this post,
>but how do you rank The Roots' albums?


>Things Fall Apart *****
>Game Theory *****
>illadelph halflife **** 1/2
>Phrenology **** 1/2
>Do You Want More?!?!? **** 1/2
>Rising Down ****
>undun ****
>How I Got Over ****
>Tipping Point *** 1/2
>Organix *** 1/2

i started listening to the roots when DYWM came out, which i wore the fuck out. i mention this because of quest's theory that roots fans tend to say the album that they first listened to is their best.

>i mention this because of quest's theory
>that roots fans tend to say the album that they first listened
>to is their best.

cuz illadelph halflife was the first roots album i listened to!

illadelph halflife is the best to me but I used TFA in my post b/c people tend to say its their overall best LP and in my debate with friends that is what they said so I used that one. To me (and I'm bias with this LP) illadelph halflife is one of the best Hip Hop LP's I've ever heard

> me (and I'm bias with this LP) illadelph halflife is
>one of the best Hip Hop LP's I've ever heard

Back when The Source actually meant something. Their 100th issue or 10th anniversary or something, they did top 100 singles and albums and that definitely made the list at the time. I agree, Black Thought is just on fire on that whole album, the guest spots are sick, and the production is amazing.

It really doesn't have as much reply value as one would expect from a Roots album

several hooks are grating

and they honestly didn't execute the concept that well. Everyone being a voice for the same character is kind of a cop out IMO.

HIGO had the opposite effect- Where as I was very disappointed with HIGO when it dropped, it has grown on me.

Anyway, right now-

Game Theory- their masterpiece.

Things Fall Apart

illadelph halflife- I revisted this album late last year...incrediblel album. Why doesn't Ital get more love?

Phrenology

Rising Down
How I Got Over

Tipping Point- Star and Web alone earn it a couple notches
Do You Want More?!?!?

undun- just not a ton of reasons to return to this. Maybe I will change my mind down the road


Organix


For the record though, they do not have anything even approaching a bad album.

That's what I've been thinking for a few years now.

I'm in the minority then because I only think Game Theory is good.

their "concept albums" being everything from phrenology forward.

>their "concept albums" being everything from phrenology
>forward.

For me Game Theory is number one w/ Things Fall Apart and Phrenology tied @ two

I thought it was good when it came out but the last 3 years I've definitely grown to loving it. DYWM? & Phrenology were my favorites before but I think this passed them. An album that sounds like nothing else of it's time

>I thought it was good when it came out but the last 3 years
>I've definitely grown to loving it.

Shit really? It took you that long? No snark haha, I only say that cause I pretty much immediately knew it was their best. I've never really made the list but I think this album might encompass like 4 or 5 of my top 10-12 Roots songs, and that's saying a lot.

Game Theory
In the Music
Here I Come
Long Time (which is high on the list)
Clock With No Hands

Reason being, I have a (hipster) buddy who states that the Roots are overrated and that if you like hip hop, you HAVE to say you like the Roots. (he's a trendy, musical idiot)

I thought and thought about what album I would suggest to him to prove him wrong and I kept coming back to Game Theory. I think it's their strongest start to finish.

(plus, he respects/likes Dilla - or so he says - and the overall theme may get him to open his eye/ears)

But I never adequately figured out the "search" function on this site so I won't bother trying to look for it.

But I think mine were ranked like this:

Game Theory
Things Fall Apart
illadelph halflife
Phrenology
Do You Want MOre?!??!
How I Got Over
Rising Down
Tipping Point
Organix

And embarrassingly I'm yet to hear undun so I'll have to wait to rank that.

I know, I know.

i was like, "OH SHIT...i haven't listened to this yet!"
lol
so i did
i liked it
i have to do a more thorough listening tho

>i was like, "OH SHIT...i haven't listened to this yet!"
>lol
>so i did
>i liked it
>i have to do a more thorough listening tho

Haha no doubt.

My thing is that since it's an actual, official "concept" album, I've pushed it off until I can find the time to give it the attention it truly deserves. Problem is I never have that type of time so I just need to do it.

Sad part is I already bought it. So like, I own the shit. But still have yet to pop it in. I got too much respect for The Roots to give it a half ass listen haha.

..good god, ol'girl in that avy would do damage...but back to the program...The Roots got too much heat, can't really call what is their best, damn they dope...

Illadelph is my favorite

Things Fall Apart is their classic

Game Theory is their best

I have been playing TFA a lot recently and I'm starting to put it neck and neck with IH

IH to me is similar to HOE by Mobb Deep in the sense that it's a little darker than I would like.

Maybe that's just the mood m in now but I tend to not go back to it as much as I once did because it's just a overall dark album.

Things Fall Apart
Game Theory
Illadelph Halflife
Phrenology
Do You Want More
Undun
The Tipping Point
How I Got Over
Rising Down
Organix

For the record, Game Theory was the first Roots album I heard and it's true I have a stronger emotional attachment to that record than I do most albums. However, I consider Things Fall Apart to be their masterpiece, but only by the smallest of margins.

TFA
GT
Illadelph
Rising Down
DYWM
HIGO
Organix
Tipping Point
Phrenology
Undun

>Game Theory
>Things Fall Apart
>Rising Down
>Do You Want More?!?!?
>illadelph halflife
>Tipping Point
>How I Got Over
>Phrenology
>Organix

Game Theory/TFA are basically tied for me, with the latter probably getting a bit more burn... Rising Down seems to get ignored with no good reason, I still play the heck out of that thing (especially as a morning starter). DYWM & illadelph probably get the same amount of play. I actually really like TP, I don't know why folks hate on it so much...

The only two I don't pull out with any regularity are Phrenology and /Organix... I'm reserving judgment on undun until I've given it more time, but it will probably tie w/HIGO.

I don't usually "rank" albums by an artist but w/the Roots it's actually pretty easy for me...

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~