Organix

The Roots

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cargo / Umgd
• ASIN: B000003TWZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,644 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Roots Is Comin'

2. Pass the Popcorn

3. Anti-Circle

4. Writers Block

5. Good Music (Reprise) [Preclude]

6. Good Music

7. Grits

8. Leonard I-V

9. I'm out Deah

10. Essawhamah?

11. There's a Riot Goin' On, Pt. 2 [Extended House, Acid Jazz, Hip Hop, Ra]

12. Popcorn Revisited

13. Peace

14. Common Dust

15. Session [Longest Posse Cut in History]

16. Syreeta's Having My Baby

17. Carryin' On

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

First released in 1993, Organix launched Philadelphia's Square Roots (as they were originally known) on their journey to become unquestionably the best live band in hip-hop. This is probably the Roots at their most playful and unpretentious. Recently deleted domestically. Scenario. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Of That Organic Hip Hop Jazz (4.5 Stars), March 23, 2005

By	Norfeest "Yes Yes Y'all" (Washington DC USA) - See all my reviews

If you're already a fan of The Roots, then run out and get this album. Actually, anyone that claims to love rap music should experience this album at least once. The production is more stripped down when compared to later releases, but the raw energy dispensed by this album more than makes up for it. You can tell that they hadn't quite begun to gel as a group yet (they hadn't even settled on a name yet because the refer to themselves as SQT or The Square Roots on several occasions), but they still manage to create the same magic vibe that's present on their other albums. You can tell that this was a young, hungry group that had a great time making a fun album. You can hear the jazz influence throught out the entire album. Be warned though, you won't find any appearances from Ursula Rucker, Rahzel, Scratch, or Dice Raw. It's still a tight LP though.

There are one or two rough spots on the album though. "The Session", while incredibly dope, is a bit long-winded (12:45). And there are times when the production can be VERY dry. All complaints about this album end there.

In short: This album is basically a rough draft of what was to come later on down the road. It's dope, but it's also stripped down and raw......and this listener loved it. I highly reccomended picking up this album if you want to witness the magic and early hunger of a classic group. The Roots never drop anything wack and this album is no exception.

Standout Tracks: Leonard I-V, The Anti-Circle, Good Music, Essaywhuman!!! (Live At The Soulshack), Grits, Pass The Popcorn (My Favorite), The Session (Longest Posse Cut In History), and Popcorn Revisited

P.S. - Whoever was responsible for the marketing and promotion of this album should've been demoted to the mail boy or something. The lack of promotion for this album borders on criminal.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Face of Jazz to Come, December 25, 1999

By	"davisanimal" (Hell) - See all my reviews

Q-Tip, from A Tribe Called Quest, says within their track Excursions: "Back in the days when I was a teenager - before I had status and before I had a pager - you could find the abstract, listenin' to hip-hop - my pops used to say it reminded him of bebop". The Roots bring this connection to life within Organix. A masterful album, their first and best, Hip-Hop's brightest illustrate the future of Jazz and quality music.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Production, A lot of Creativity, April 17, 2005

By	Manuel Placencia "Sweet Sauce" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Fan of The Roots have to secretly tell themselves that this is one of the bands best albums. Personally, I discovered The Roots after some time they were already in the game, but that does not diminish how much I believe this album is one of the best ever. The blend of raw, organic instruments with incredible, fresh, eye (and ear) dropping rhyming spits by Black Thought can prove that true hip hop does not have to have the expletives, the mysogynism, and materialism other second-rate "artists" display. What you can tell from The Roots in this album is that their love of music, and overall creativity, is evident in their music. This album also transcends time, as while this album was made in 1993, the music here can still be played, full blast on 12" Infinity subs, and can still carry a groove.