So what's your preliminary take on the new Roots?
phongone
1,652 Posts
Most of the reviews I've seen so far of the album have been negative, but I must say I like it. BlackThought goes off lyrically of course on "75 Bars" and a some of the other cuts. The Mos Def/Styles P joint is my favorite. I even like the sing-song dude - goes by the name of "Truck North" or some shit like that. And what is up with the guest spot by Peedi Crack? Dude sounds even more retarded than Eli 
but I still can get with his flow. An overall quality album in my book.
but I still can get with his flow. An overall quality album in my book.
Comments
Does "preliminary" = haven't heard it?
In that case, I give it two and a half stars. An unimpressive effort in which The Roots fail to stretch themselves artistically, seemingly content in rehashing past successes but with diminished returns.
I don't get how it's a "sell-out" album. The suggestion is pretty Frickin' hilarious given that this and their last album are hardly "commercial" in any sense I can imagine...this new one even less so.
BTW: how does one "cash in" on the Pitchfork audience? What does that even mean? Black Thought rapping over blog house beats?
Interesting. I liked how solid and cohesive Game Theory[/b] was too, a dark album up until the end.
I don't get how it's a "sell-out" album. The suggestion is pretty Frickin' hilarious given that this and their last album are hardly "commercial" in any sense I can imagine...this new one even less so.
BTW: how does one "cash in" on the Pitchfork audience? What does that even mean? Black Thought rapping over blog house beats?
I wish I could say "a Pitchfork audience is..." but I don't know, maybe it's just people throwing the group a curve just because they feel they can or "guilt by assumed association". Being commercial is something I know ?uest talks about in his blog and on the board over there, flirting with the idea of going all out vs. holding to what's true for him, even if he knows that the moment someone doesn't like the current version of what they're doing, everyone is going to jump on his case.
It's always interesting to see variations of the hype and gripes that come through when they're about to release something new. Then it's the aftershocks.
I should add: this new album will not win over people who are inclined to find the Roots kind of tedious, especially Black Thought (though they have 10 guest rappers to distract you on here). Roots' fans, however, I think will like the album a great deal though, for me, it was a bit too consistent (sound-wise) and really needed some greater diversity than its "it was a dark and stormy night" steez. That said, it's still better than "Tipping Point" by a long shot and probably goes down better than "Phrenology." It's not at the level of "Things Fall Apart" or "Game Theory" in terms of enjoyability but I also think it's a well-thought out album in ways I appreciated.
That said, compared to say, "Free At Last"? Nowhere near as much fun.
I haven't heard that track, although I know very well what happened when it did, because that lead to THE SHATE THAT SHATE MADE[/b]. It will be a bonus track on foreign editions, from what I had read.
That's what I took it to mean. And that's why you were paged.
I kinda liked Phrenology and had it downloaded a while back but don't have it on anything now.
I'd say "Game Theory" is worth copping.
You have their best albums.
I haven't gotten any others since those , the song consistency hasn't been the same on their more recent albums, although they have done some really nice stuff here and there.
The fact that they used a microphone distorter on 75 bars made me sad.
I'm curious to peep "Game Theory" since it does seem to be the real world and the "streets" ride for.
"Describing a Hip Hop group as veterans or seasoned isn't always necessarily a compliment in a genre that thrives off of new and cutting edge music. Several groups in hip hop who were around as recently as the mid to late 90's are respected for they???re past material but largely forgotten as relics of the past. This is why it is so incredible that a group like The Roots is not only still relevant but is still releasing some of their best material in their fifteen year careers. Black Thought is still seemingly in his prime, easily navigating a flow that combines the best parts of Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane. The band itself sonically is tighter then ever"
Roots Fans=Tight Sag Jeans
Wait. What?
DAMN! LIKE THAT! OH YO I GOTS TO GET HAVE IT!
The "streets" ride for Game Theory? Okay, seems like you might need to set an appointment so that I can further educate you on what the "streets" actually means.
Damn like that? But my black friends like it.
If it were only that simple...