The Roots Rising Down

Posted on 04.29.2008

6 comment(s)

The Roots
Album : Rising Down
Released date : April 29th 2008
Label : Def Jam Records

Review :

Rising Down will be the tenth album from Philadelphia-based hip-hop band The Roots. It is set to be released on Def Jam, their second with the label, following 2006’s Game Theory. The album will feature roughly the same lineup as Game Theory ; the band’s members remain, with guest appearances by Peedi Peedi and Malik B., the latter reportedly even moreso than on the group’s previous album, as well as conceivable appearances and/or production by Dice Raw.

According to band leader ?uestlove, Rising Down, "is an electric record, more synthy. The darks are darker and the lights are lighter. But all I know is making quality hip-hop stylistically. We tried to do something we never did before. Kamal had to be the sacrificial lamb this time. The one instrument that has defined the Roots has been the Fender Rhodes . This is the first year he’s had to change his instrumentation and try other sounds out. We have a bunch of keyboards and synthesizers we’re using on this record. It feels like the musical equivalent of ’Blade Runner’ sometimes. We’ve also added a horn section has divulged that while the album’s direction is as yet uncertain, keyboardist Kamal Gray is utilizing more synthesizers than Fender Rhodes in his playing this time around." Tracks in the mix for the album include the afro-beat infused "I Will Not Apologize" and the pop-ish "Birthday Girl." The current release date for the album is set for April, 29, 2008

Track listing :

1. The Pow Wow
2. Rising Down (w/ Mos Def & Styles P)
3. Get Busy (w/ Dice Raw & Peedi Crakk)
4. 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)
5. Time Up
6. Criminal (w/ Saigon & Truck North)
7. I Will Not Apologize (w/ P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw)
8. I Can’t Help It (w/ Malik B & P.O.R.N.)
9. Singing Man (w/ Truck North & P.O.R.N.)
10. Up There (Unwritten) (w/ Mercedes Martinez)
11. Lost Desire (w/ Talib Kweli & Malik B)
12. The Show (w/ Common)
13. Rising Up (w/ Chrisette Michelle & Wale)
14. Birthday Girl (w/ Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy)

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The Roots Rising Down, by TEACH [2008-05-07 18:45:04]

GOOD MUSIC, good hip hop is really overstood by only an essoteric few. It is quite natural that more than half of these review will be of people who don’t like it/cause they dont overstand the evolution of one’s art

The Roots Rising Down, by [2008-04-30 10:40:24]

seriously, it seems like its 50/50 on this album where the true hip hop and true roots fans like it while the radio single loving fans are haters....what people need to realize is that they have been in the game for 15+ years now, you want them to redo their old stuff ? if they started doin that they’d quit the game rather than compromise...they are constantly changin the definition of hip hop and pushin the envelope, while sometimes preachy, the core is the same, raw hip hop like no other !!!!!!!