House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Roots (Rap/Hip Hop) House, R&B, Soul & Rap

The Roots - Do You Want More: A Cheesesteak-like melting pot...

Advantages: An amazing blend of jazz, rap, soul, funk, and rock.
Disadvantages: Repetitive subject matter

...did on their sophomore album Do You Want More?, which what im reviewing right here. On the legendary "Proceed", Black Thought and Malik B rock the mic. The hook is one of the most memorable and famous ones in hip hop, and so is the instrumental. Featuring a sombre bassline, samples, simple drums, along with all of the jazzy soundings, make this track a classic. The other side of this classic track is the Malik-B solo "Distortion to Static", which ...
...we get so many good things that its beyond mental capacity. So its pretty easy to answer the question that pertains to the title of the album, and Do You Want More? is yet another addition to the Roots cadre of great albums, beyond that of just regular hip hop. ...

bigdiship-hop 19.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Do You Want More [PA] - Roots (The) (Rap)

They're Going. Goin'...

Advantages: Lots of big tunes
Disadvantages: Nothing specific

“The Tipping Point” came out in 2004, and was the sixth album to be released from the Philadelphia Hip Hop band, The Roots. Led by ?uestlove on the drums and Black Thought as the MC, this sees further developments as Ben Kenney and Scratch had left the group. However they were still capable of bring the same high-energy Hip Hop that they had been known for since their debut 1990 album, “Organix”. 1. “Star/Pointro” 2. “I Don’t Care” The funky grooves ...
...which they don’t ten to get into as much as you find them doing more of a commercial song with Dom singing on the hook, and giving the rest of the performers a chance to do something which deal with issues which are a lot more broadly understood, however Thought keeps it how it should be – raw. **Five Stars** 3. “Don’t Say Nuthin’” This is just an incredible track, which deals with just how far Black Thought’s rhymes has developed, as in this one ...

XICripZ 17.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Tipping Point, The (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Roots (The)

P.A. Stand Up!!

Advantages: Black Thought.
Disadvantages: Requires a few listens to fully comprehend

"Rising Down is the tenth album from the Hip Hop group from Philadelphia, The Roots. The group are unconventional as they are in fact a Hip Hop band, consisting of Owen Biddle (bass guitarist), Captain Kirk Douglas (guitarist), Kamal Gray (on the electronic keyboard), F. Knuckles (percussionist), (Black Thought (the MC) and of course ?uestlove (drummer). The line-up has seen many changes over the yearswith the inclusion of now-producer Scott Storch ...
...been together for a couple of years. As conscious Hip Hop becomes more popular, with Common, Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli being more mainstream, I expect this group to really breakthrough as these did because they have been around for ages. If you do enjoy music from the aforementioned MCs, then you will probbaly not know of the depth that this sub-genre of Hip Hop goes to and The Roots are just another act that will excite you without shoving their ...

XICripZ 28.05.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Rising Down [PA] - Roots (The)

Ev-ry-bo-ty... The Roots Back Once Again

Advantages: Consistent quality
Disadvantages: A couple of average tracks

...and he doesn't really do things well whilst taking up such a position as in a leading role. **Three Stars** 6. "Dynamite!" The standards are brought righ back up in this offering from them, as they explode with raw, philly Hip hop for the listners. You are bound to really enjoy this if The Roots are your thing as they get deep in this one, and vibe off amazing beats from J Dilla, as well as little input from ?uest, whislt drumming and Rahzel on ...
...this one as they change things up a littel by sampling Schooly D, and using it to go a little Old School to the listners. However, unless you are aware of the track, it doesn't sound that old-fashioned, in terms of the beats used, and comes out with a banger of a tune at the end of it all. **Five Stars** 8. "Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New" I foudn this to be an excitign one by the group as they get really lively when they all heard the amazing compoistion ...

XICripZ 10.12.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Things Fall Apart - Roots (The) (Rap)

They Are The Ultimate

Advantages: Original
Disadvantages: A couple of the tunes are a little weak

"Phrenology" came in 2002 as The Roots' fifth album. The Philadelphia Hip Hop band, headed by drummer, ?uestlove and MC, Black Thought, come back again with even mre original work to show how Hip Hop can fuse with just about anything to come up with the same high-quality results. 1. "Phrentrow" 2. "Rock You" In knowledge of the standad of the rest of the release, I thought that they went for the wrong opening track to the album as this one is really ...
...it doesn't give too good an impression as we begin things. However you ma enjoy it as they go for a vaugely Rock-influenced tune. **Three Stars** 3. "!!!!!!!" (Lude) 4. "Sacrifice" Nelly Furtado joins them on this one, and it has them perform a very different track as they do a tune which seems to take on the types of aspects which were prominant on the lead single. The smooher side of things works for the group. However I don't want to see a complete ...

XICripZ 01.03.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Phrenology - Roots (The) (Rap)