I remember when Game Theory dropped a few years back and I was sleeping as I usually did on Roots albums. I eventually took the advice of Rafi Kam who suggested the album after we had wrapped our shoot of the Ghetto Big Mac video.
Game Theory was the first Roots album where I felt like I could fux with the studio album. It’s not like I didn’t fux with the Roots tho’ who I have followed in NYC for years. Something in the paradigm shifted tho’. Maybe my palate became more advanced? In any case I found myself having a new appreciation for the Roots and the efforts they released on compact disk.
The latest Roots album titled ‘How I Got Over’ has been cooking up nice and slow in the studio. The album was purported to be released at several dates last year but the Roots revised schedule of non-stop work didn’t have them recording as often. The wait was totally worthwhile in that this album is their best richest compilation of music I have ever listened to. The album is nails.
I feel extra lucky too in that as I listen to the album I recognize some songs from their residency at the Highline Ballroom. The Roots remain on that ‘constant elevation causes expansion’ Rakim vibe. This album has such a Grown Man Rap sound. I think that is coming from the keys which are prominent throughout. This could be the James Poyser influence on the band. This track sounds like something from the Chronic 3000.
The Roots featuring Dice Raw, Truck North and P.O.R.N. – ‘Walk Alone’
This album should be all over the dial on the radio. It’s not like the Roots were unfocused either. They have a song on here for every occasion, or radio station format. I like that they took their time to put out this disk because there are no rushed filler tracks on the album. The features are all on point too. The tracks with John Legend are incredible. Also the rappers are all visionaries, Phonte, Blu and most definitely the Money Makin’ Jam Boys – Dice Raw, Truck North, P.O.R.N. and STS.
The Roots featuring John Legend – ‘The Fire’
Black Thought is Black Thought. That is to say that Black Thought is the greatest emcee of all time. The verses on this track give me chills down my spine. I have told y’all one million times that the essence of Hip-Hop is the sound of the drum and the voice. ?uestLove and Black Thought are the drum and the voice. The Roots are the essence of Hip-Hop. And they are doing it again.
The Roots featuring John Legend – ‘Doin’ It Again’
pics via Kwadwo Kwarte
See, I have listened to all the Studio and Live albums, and I only don’t fuck with Organix and Rising Down.
I Listened to How I Got Over last night and I was very much impressed, though. This will be the first album of 2010 to earn my $9.99 or less on single-disc albums from FYE.
May I make a confession, now that you’ve started? With all respect to Rafi, I don’t think ** any ** of the Roots studio albums stand. They have all the great ideas in the world (well, a bunch of ’em) and they can. not. fucking. translate. them. to. a. record.
Let’s get really real: does ANY Roots album come close to the provocation of the titles? If their ** intentions ** get some kids to hit the library and follow shit up, great but just thinking about CRAP like “Star” from “Tipping Point” gives me the shakes– and hasn’t Sly suffered enough already?
I do believe, whoever said it (DP?) the Roots are the P-Funk of live hip-hop but find me a “Maggot Brain,” “Super Stupid,” “If You Don’t Like The Effects, Don’t Produce The Cause,” “Who Says A Funk Band Can’t Play Rock,” etc etc etc on any of those Roots lps/cds I ** used to ** own– and then said fuck it, life’s way too short.
Maybe I’ll have the DP breakthrough but I remain, respectfully, very skeptical.
Sidenote: listened to new Em earlier and holy fuck, a technique and one hot Havoc beat aside, it ** is ** that insufferable.
“Distant Relatives” FTW!!!
The new Roots album is weak. Dice Raw and Money Makin Jam boys are making much better music.
2 tracks deep into the new album….
Everybody has their taste in music, but a lot of dudes don’t mess with The Roots here(in Philly). Black thought is one of the best to ever do it, but the groups albums don’t come out that well(like homie said earlier). It seems like after “Things Fall Apart”, the albums have gotten worse. Their live show is still the shit, but the albums not so much. It’s cool for artists to grow, but a lot of their previous fans feel abandoned.
14 15 across the board
everytime
ppl will never give black though the dap he deserves, but his rhymes on this album are crazy. i feel you on the “grown man rap” tip. the most heartfelt raps since “things fall apart.”
on the production side of things, you can really hear dilla’s influence on pretty much every joint. and it works.
Dilla = most overrated black musician of last 25+ years; and before all you Dilla crybabies start bawling, note I afford him honor of being a MUSICIAN, not just a producer (or horrible– admit it– MC). The sooner the Roots get off dull dead Dilla the better.
Until that time, Boot Camp Click “The Chosen Few” >>>> all Roots albums.
P!
And, p/s: note this, before anyone think I’m disrespecting “the culture” or some bullshit like that–
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/arts/music/20dixon.html
Bill Dixon, who knows more than a thing or thousand about black thought, RIP.
JayDee the most overrated Black musician for the last qtr century?!
That’s so nutrageous I have to wonder if Dilla schtooped your girlfriend.
Most music listeners don’t accept JayDee or the Roots dor their soulful leanings. They feel Black music has to always come from and reflect the most base conditions of Blackness.
The Roots are very necessary, not just to Black music but to all music. As long as they are necessary so is Dilla.
I was going to say the N. does stand for “nutty” (also the name of a fine Thelonious Monk tune) but let me clarify.
Dilla was a fine musician, and at his best, a terrific one. Where he could have gone as a composer we sadly don’t know. His workaday work is hardly special but that’s not his or any other working beatmaker’s fault; it was a job and unless we consider contemporary hip-hop some end-all for American or black culture (which I don’t think we do), it wearying to hear Dilla extolled, endlessly, when…
Not many more than ZERO other black musicians get much attention at all, the Roots aside. DP.com is a stalwart supporter of all kindsa music and musicians, I know, but that’s part of what makes this joint so exceptional.
There’s a Michigan-native cat now in Brooklyn, a keyboard player and composer named Craig Taborn who’s done all kinds of great things in jazz, and jazz with a hip-hop influence, and I doubt he’s ever been mentioned with the same regard people speak of even the weakest Dilla joints.
I understand brand loyalty but what the music?
I do agree the Roots are a necessary and benign force, just that they don’t make very good records, especially these fucking hideous flirtations with “indie” crap I don’t want to hear in its native form either.
I don’t expect many to dig this but here’s a fascinating talk with composer and trombonist and long-time computer nerd (from the ’70s!) George Lewis, whom it would have been fantastic for Dilla to have worked with or even just spoke to–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM43J4K02KQ&feature=related
As soon as I get to a computer I can view your YT links.
Understand also that the main reason Dilla love exists so pervasively online is partly due to the cultural influence of DeLa, The Roots and Tribe on the people that write thoughtful shit on the web.
There is a non-internets sitting in a barbershop on Pennsylvania and Pitkin Ave who will tell you that Preemo was the greatest Hip-Hop producer ever and for his opinion I go to UnKut.com
@DP & Saratoga-
Excellent example of how to discuss differing opinions.
Grown man comments, ftw.
The Roots have had some iffy albums (as a whole) but frankly not many Hip-Hop artists get that many albums deep as they have. I’ll take them as they are, knowing the live show has always been a great experience. Over some people who gave me 2 good albums and then vanished. Truth is considering how the industry is now The Roots are built for the long run. Everybody has lower sales than they would have in past decades, but how many Hip-Hop acts can really boast that good of a show…I can name plenty of cats I love that let me down live.
Roots live shows > studio albums.
I’ve said it before but when it comes handling the microphone on stage, voice control, pitch and all of that extra stuff . . . only cats like KRS-1, Busta Rhymes and Chuck D are on Black Thought level. Those cats leave many emcees trying to catch their breath after screaming into the microphone after 5 – 10 minutes. Emcees need to get their cardio up!
@Amadeo
Fortunately an act like the Roots followed in the footsteps of Public Enemy in the sense that they actually had a plan for their careers. They’re the most forward thinking acts in hip-hop that are very conscious of the trends in hip-hop, music in general, musical history and had the sense to clearly define their act and style. They’re truly built for the long run. Can’t forget KRS-1, he kind of falls under that category also.