The Roots - Illadelph Halflife

Philly never gets its props, but the City of Brotherly Love has pioneered its fair share of hip-hop innovations. Schooly D was the first gangsta rapper; DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince perfected rap comedy, and the Roots became the first rap act to put together an impressive live show without samples and sequencers. On their third album, "illadelph halflife," {cq} the Roots capture in the studio the same chemistry between rhymes and live instruments that they've generated on stage. The album does include samples, but they're samples of the band's own exploratory jam sessions in Philadelphia's legendary Sigma Sound Studios. --Geoffrey Himes Amazon.com

The 5th Gorilla Chant

It's been over 12 years since I first heard this CD and to this day, when I hear the thump of Respond React, it still gives me goosebumps.

I love this album. It's whats good about Hip Hop. Or should I say, it's what was good about Hip Hop. Flawless. Complete. Nothing today can come close. Lyrically stimulating. Black Thought is gem in this release.

I won't insult your intelligence by saying this is the best Roots album. If your reading this, then you know who the Roots are. Organix and Do You Want More are also exceptional. This was their last great album.

Best Hip Hop album of all-time? .... Honestly. Yes. Barely beats out Madvillain. February 22, 2008

One Life To Live

Underrated as hip-hop / rap's only band The Roots culminate their sophmore release Illadelph Halflife. Implementing smooth jazz keys on "Respond/React" leading the album off with high expectations. For your enjoyment "Section" is for anywhere you dwell the mainstream arrangement can be set on play. "Panic!!!!!!" is a high speed action packed street tale followed by "It Just Don't Stop" as the subject of grims setting of the streets seem to be the norm. Being alert of the street lifestyle Malik B. tackles various angles saying "...you and your sorry a** style needs an apology..." "Episodes" featuring Dice Raw continues with the dark subject of the street's violence and survival. Picking up the pace with mystic vibes and effects on "Push Up Ya Lighter" featuring Bahamadia strenghten the album's drive with the lyrical contents and performance. Sending a message of being who you are and originality on the mainstream "What They Do" featuring Raphael Saadiq proves to be the premise of The Roots. "Concerto Of The Desperado" combines various genres with violin arrangement taking center stage. The two toned keys of "Clones" featuring Dice Raw & M.A.R.S. played a key in the well crafted performance. "UNIverse At War" featuring Common is a tag team assault as "Ital (The Universal Side)" featuring Q-Tip. Admitting to having "No Alibi" build on the six man crew's strength of smooth production and instrumentation. Incorporating old school beat box to the equation on "No Great Pretender" gives depth for this LP and the vision of the group. Falling deep or "...drifting..." into "The Hypnotic" featuring D'Angelo with its deep swaying bass added emphasis to the storyline. Concluding the LP with "The Adventures In Wonderland" featuring Ursula Rucker poetry spoken over a near-jazz tune. Not as mainstream as the package may suggest, but negates the negative attacks of the genre subjects suggests by politicians. Illadelph Halflife is the lifestyle wholeheartedly lived by the masses and by The Roots. December 16, 2007

I love your style

I've seen these gentlemen in concert and they are phenomenal on and off the stage. I am a complete Roots fan. I love their ecclectic style and the joy of being pleasantly surprised after listening to any of their cd's. I love music in all it's forms and The Roots allow me to enjoy different styles of music without changing the CD. In this generation of mass produced music, it's good to see REAL musicians. I hope the group continues on its path of being innovative and not fall into the money trap that so many groups have succumbed. March 29, 2007

Top Musical Album of all time

From all the music i have listened to. This CD is in my top five albums of all time. It is my favorite Roots album. What makes an album a classic is the time it stands through. If you have an album for ten years, and the new cds you buy, you compare them to the albums that you have had that have been through the times you have tried to play them out and listened to the same song over and over and they don't get old. That is when you know you have a true classical musical album. From: What they do, hypnotic, great pretender, and episodes. Those are tracks were you would put in your favorite hip hop songs of all time. There are not any negatvies to the album, you are never wondering why they put this wack song on this album, or why they let this guy produce one of there tracks because there are none. There are 20 beautifully produced tracks on this album. We all know that when Black Though brings it he is one of the best Mcs of all time. Truely listen to this Cd from front to end and it will become one of the most inspirational cds you will ever listen to. January 7, 2007

The definitive Roots album!

This is one of the few albums I have that I can listen to from beginning to end without skipping one track. To say this album is a hip hop classic is not even doing it justice. I have been a Roots fan since 1994 and been listening to hip hop for 20 years. This album is so much better than what we listen to now, it is not even funny. Instead of buying new music I find myself buying albums from the 1994-1998 era alot. If you are a fan of rap/hip hop and don't have this album then you are ****ing up big time. Go get it if you don't have it! December 10, 2006

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