The Roots - Things Fall Apart

Their Exceptional And Their Most Popular Album (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

Really can't add nothing new to what has already been said about this album. The Roots' 1999 album Things Fall Apart is a very exceptional album. Black Thought and Malik B (and if you want to add Dice Raw) shine lyrically, and ?uestlove and Scott Storch shines with the production. Many people who has a hate towards mainstream saw this a breath of fresh air from artists like Jay-Z, Cash Money, and Ruff Ryders. Like many people, this was when I got into this band when they came out with "You Got Me" with Erykah Badu and Eve (from what I heard there was a version with the lesser known Jill Scott before MCA made them record it again), and the headbanger "The Next Movement". The guest appearances don't fail either. Mos Def and Black Thought go back and fourth on the classic "Double Trouble". Common Sense does his thing on the origonal version of "Act Too (The Love Of My Life)". Hell, even Beanie Sigel sounds fresh on "Adreline". Not to mention Ursula Rucker doing her spoken word at the end of the album.

Things Fall Apart is a great LP. I personally don't think it's their best (I personally find Illadelph Halflife to be their best), but I find it to be their most popular album that they have released. Fans of hip hop should already own this, as it gets better over time. Enjoy. Peace.

Lyrics: A+
Production: A
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A+

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Double Trouble (featuring Mos Def)
2. Act Too (Love Of My Life) [Origonal] (featuring Common)
3. The Next Movement
4. Step Into The Realm
5. Adrenaline (featuring Beanie Sigel) June 18, 2008

Something else...

So, after having been a fan for 2-3 years prior to this album's release...I end up buying this album as my first Roots album 9 years ago. Wow, did I miss out. But I am glad that I wised up and bought this album when I saw it at the Music Recyclery for only 7$. If you are like me and end up making this your first purchase, let me tell you that you will not be disappointed assuming that you appreciate true hip-hop where intelligent rhyming, cadence and great production are the centerpiece of the experience.

The album starts out in a way that will have you believing that you are about to experience some good ****, because they even tell you so: it is an excerpt from the intro of DYWM!?!!!?! which is a very apt way to kick off the album.
One of my favorites is the track "The Next Movement", which features a slightly eccentric beat which breaks at the end with 4 synth blasts of the same pitch and repeats throughout until coming to a point where it rolls with more synth and then back to the beginning. Nice.

"Act Too (Love of my life)" is probably what this album is all about. It can be considered "I used to love H.E.R. part 2" because the cameo appearance is by the man himself, Common, and the theme follows that of the song I mentioned: personification of hip-hop as a living breathing woman that has gone astray. On concept alone, this is worth a listen and then when you hear the beat, you're completely tuned in: it is a faint human haw-like voice in the background humming a 3 part tune which gives it such a perfectly hypnotic feel with a heavy bass and some precise rhythmic drums by ?uestlove. Simple and to the point but equally unforgettable (there's a reason that this song appears on the Beginners CD...)

The title track is on point, though I love the Jill Scott version even more (see The Roots Beginners vol 1). It is a soulful jazzy song with a very earthy feel to it. Nice and slow melody to groove to with your woman or man. You know how songs sometimes conjur up images? Well, I would picture myself walking with my wife down the block in autumn with the leaves turning different colors and falling all around us, a cool crisp bite in the air and her head on my shoulder as we walk slowly down the road. Ahem...getting off the sentimental tip, you have an idea of the smooth sound and easily listening that this track offers.

In all, just put the CD in and don't stop listening because it has a little something for everybody. This release is probably the most lyrically on point and mature of The Roots releases up until that point ('99-'00). Just do yourself a favor and cop it if you haven't already.

May 9, 2008

The Best

Without a doubt, this is the Root's best album yet. All of the songs are on point, and Black Thought and Malik B have never sounded better. If you don't have this by now, put it in your cart immediately.

Favorite Track: Double Trouble November 5, 2007

70 minutes of Philly Funk

The Roots is one of those few groups that you can count on for consistency. They remain true to hip hop with gems like Aint Saying Nothin New and Step Into The Realm. The Next Movement and You Got Me(feat Erykah Badu and Eve) were great singles for the album and should have garnered them more sales than just a gold record. Malik B shines on his solo joint The Spark and the J Dilla(RIP)produced Dynamite is that vintage hip hop record where Black Thought and Malik rip it over one of J-Dilla's soulful beats. Double Trouble featuring Mos Def is another highlight on the album (and I like the way the beat breaks down)where both Black Thought and Mos Def shut it down disgracefully. Adrenaline which features Beanie Sigel(whose verse was fire)also stands out as a highlight track. Common joins in on Act Too(Love Of My Life)which not to be confused with a part 2 to I Used To Love H.E.R. As far as flaws go there are none. I cant recall skipping a track on here(just my opinion).
Bottom Line: The Roots do it again with this highlight album of 1999. the production flawless, the lyrics were on point and the concepts are nothing short of innovative. I think its time we gave ?uestlove his props as a producer. Sure he might come off as a weirdo to you but he still a damn good producer. Standout Tracks: THE NEXT MOVEMENT, THE SPARK, DYNAMITE, DOUBLE TROUBLE, ACT TOO(LOVE OF MY LIFE) 100% DUNDEE, ADRENALINE and YOU GOT ME. There is a bonus track...... WE KNOW! September 19, 2007

Still sprouting....

3 1/2

One of Rap's most (and only) consistently important groups, The Roots can be seen in this mid-career release assimilating many of their signature jazz-funk influences and infusing catchier, bouncier rhythms for their rhymes. Tinkering around certainly got the band some well known critical and financial success, but I would not consider this their strongest. Consistent? Certainly, though as mentioned the amount spent over coaster tracks featuring all too many over-thought choruses outweighs some of their more musically inspired passages (which is, after all why this group remains such an odd rarity and joy in hip hop). September 2, 2007

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