Customer Reviews

Things Fall Apart

5 star:		(196)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Roots have improved by leaps and bounds with every successive release. Organix and Do You Want More contained that original "organic hip hop jazz" sound for which they were first noticed. However, the jam session feel to them, while being great on it's own, eventually grew tiresome. Illadelph Halflife brought in a more aggressive feel to the mix, while still maintaining a bit of the improv qualities of the first two releases. However, it made them sound more like any other rap group and less like the progressive hip hoppers that they are. Yet Illadelph also began the experiment quality that cares us into this release. On Things Fall Apart, The Roots add a new level to their music, a whole new type of refinement and sophistication. Yet while the over-all feel of the album is more polished, there are still moments that shoot back to their previous work. The jam session/bassment feel is still present, the hard edged agressiveness is still there, but both have been somewhat developed and reflect that greatly. The newest element, and the one that makes this album stand out the most among Roots releases, is the increase in knowledge of the studio and composition. These developments are reflected in the two of the earliest songs on the album, "Table of Contents" (where the instruments play in different meters much like some jazz musicians) and "Step Into the Realm" (with the drum beat fading in and out in perfect time with breaks in the lyrics, perfectly fitted and layered together). The Roots have not lost anything in their music, they have just added more (including the presence of a DJ on "The Next Movement"). Even the guests on the album are well suited for the sound. Common ("Love of my Life") and Mos Def ("Double Trouble") fit so well to The Roots mentality and style. Even Eve, who never seems to acknowledge what The Roots did for her and who's recent work wouldn't suggest it, fits beautifully into the part of Black Thought's girlfriend in "You Got Me". While it may be one of their most commercial songs ever, "You Got Me" also embodies everything The Roots do so well and hopefully with its airplay and win at the Grammys will work as a summation of their sound and get more people interested in their music. No Roots album would be complete without the Ursula Rucker track, and here she offers what I think is her most powerful and chilling piece to date, with brilliant background music. And of course Black Thought and Malik B. are still two of the best there are, while Dice Raw continues to improve with every verse. The Roots are to hip hop what Bird, Dizzy and Monk are to jazz, the intellectualization of the artform, focusing more on theory and execution than on making people want to dance. Safe to say that ?uestlove alone has more talent in the first four inches of his 'fro than Fluff Daddy and Master Pee have in their entire record labels. The best thing about this album however is that it's their fourth and they still continue to grow, experiment, improve, and expand.

I'm seen The Roots do lots of innovative things over the years but this has to be the sum of those hard years toiling. This album is wide range. "The Next Movement" can bang in clubs. "Act Too: Love of My Life" can hold you down when you relax at home being introspect. "Without a Doubt" is the ideal track when you want to remember old-school hip-hop without having to dig through your crates. This album does soooo many different things and encompasses soooo many different moods, but at no time does it seem thrown together like a compilation album. It remains coherent partly because each track was sequenced to almost queue up the next song. The interludes flowed smoothly in and out without breaking up the feeling of the overall composition. The band was at their best. Even the human beatboxes (Scratch & Rahzel) were employed thoughtfully. While Black Thought was at the top of his game as the group MC, guest appearances by Common, Mos Def, Dice Raw and Eve were strong enough to be memorable but sparse enough to not take away from the groups efforts. Even secondary group MC, Malik B, lends expert verses where necessary. And to close out the album, Ursula Rucker tells her most chilling and personal poem ever. Point blank, THIS ALBUM IS DOPE!!!! If you don't get your hands on Things Fall Apart, you are doing yourself a great disservice. (P.S. keep listening after Ursula Rucker's poem)

The Roots are phenomenal, the most musically gifted hip-hop group ever. I mean, they have got it all: live bass and drums, a human rhythm section, dope MCs, and so on. If you've ever seen them live, you know what I'm talking about. These cats are truly artists, not simply musicians. The creativity and skill that each member possesses is mind blowing, especially drummer ?uestlove. This album jives and grooves like very few ever have, especially hip-hop ones. "Things Fall Apart" could be a avant-garde jazz album, if the vocals were removed. But MCs Black Thought and Malik B are like instruments themselves, deftly flowing along with the rest of the group while displaying incredible lyric dexterity. This is a mainstream album, but as conscious and--for lack of a better word--"real" as anything coming out of the underground. There are no weak spots, and plenty of strong ones. Check out "Dynamite", "Double Trouble", and "The Next Movement" especially.

I'm really surprised that nobody has written a review on this yet. Maybe there isn't a need for one - just because everyone know that this record is simply flawless. I mean... WOW. They bring in the jazzy funk and lay it over some tight beats courtesy of the best instrumentalist in the genre - the one and only ?uestluv! Lay Black Thought's tight, socially-conscious rhymes over all of that and you have the greatest hiphop album ever recorded. No doubt about it.

The Roots are the most bad ass combination of logical listiening and undergroud rap I have ever heard. If you have ever had a bias against hip hop artist, I recommend you purchase this record. A spectacular album which is an odyssey (epic) of current themes ever human feels strongly upon.

Track 1 highlights the major theme of the record, the movement of hip hop into urban america which was solidified at the time of the realease of this album. There is an undertone of the simplicty Americans apriciate in music, they are trying to say that whenever someone does something spectcular in this nation they are scrutinized instead of celebrated.

The album culminzes with a unique statement of a mother who is trapped in a never ending cirle of self destruction with her husband and her son. A well thought out, piece that focuses upon the use of meter, with a melody that is built to sustain attention this is a great interlude into conversation about the record.

Like most great artist/groups/albums you probably won't appreciate it at first, it takes a couple of listenings to perfect your understanding of "Black Thought", "Common Sense", "?uestLove (QuestLove)", but I assure after the you experience thrice you will never forget it.

I just joined the Roots ban-wagon as Black Thought said in The Roots Come Alive, but I truly believe this album is the second best CD of all time to Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders. They pick up and slow down the tempo so well it's amazing. Next Movement and You Got Me are great singles, but 100% Dundee, Adrenaline, Dynamite, Table of Contents (pt. 1), and Step Into the Realm hold more than their own. Their unique sound is what makes the album so great. Also, the stories members of the group tell about each song (I think it's mainly ?uestlove) add a special dimension.

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!

The Roots delivered an excellent album with their 4th release "Things Fall Apart" (1999). The Philadelphia group at the time consisted of Black Thought, ?uestlove, Hub, Kamal and Malik B, Dice Raw, Rahzel who are no longer members. Listening to this album and its predecessor "Illadelph Halflife" it's clear to see why the Roots are heralded as one of Hip Hop's most innovative and unique groups -dope instrumentals and on point rhymes are found all throughout this release. The Grammy Award winning collaboration "You Got Me" feat. Erykah Badu & Eve is the most well known cut off this album, a deep love song which is simply off the hook - Black Thought shines on the MIC, and Badu's singing is outstanding. The Roots go without guest appearances on the early part of the album delivering some memorable cuts my favorites of these are "The Next Movement" & laidback "Dynamite". "Ain't Saying Nothin New" vibes well, another exceptional track has the Roots and Common collabing and paying tribute to Hip Hop on "Act Too (The Love of My Life)". Black Thought and Malik B tag team "100% Dundee", then collab with Dice Raw and Beanie Sigel for "Adrenaline". Black Thought is my favorite Roots MC, Malik B presence is missed on later releases, and I heard that he might be appearing on their next album, which is dropping later this year, hopefully that is true. "Things Fall Apart" is a great album for anyone who enjoys creative and quality Hip Hop.

Undeniably a turning point album for `The Roots'. Widely recognised as either their best album or second best (behind "Phrenology"), it opens with a film dialogue sampled, social commentary...promoting the listener to expect something special, and The Roots more than fulfil any expectations of the listener. It's never been their style to promote bravado & posturing and they don't fall victim to this, its more about self-awareness & social observation, coupled with elements of smooth soul & ambitions jazz....the nearest the band get to being aggressive is actually on one of the many standout tracks ("Step into the Realm"), but it's never threatening.....such is the power of this album, that soultress "Jill Scott" provides co-writing duties, female Rapper "Eve" provides vocals on one track, and sophisticated intellectual rapper Mos Def provides vocals on "Double Trouble" to sublime effect. This albums importance on the recent wave of intellectually thought provoking rap albums of the last few years has earned its place alongside contemporary classics: (De la Soul - "3 feet High & Rising" / Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Black Star / Common - "Electric Circus" / Jurassic 5 - "Quality Control").

First let me start out by saying that this cd should be more of a 4.5 stars, but seeing as how you can only do 4 or 5 stars, i rounded up. The Roots were one of the greatest groups before this ablum, the thing is noone really knew who they were. But thanks to the colaberation with Badu on "You Got Me" they managed to finally break through into the mainstream. The group is strong thanks to tight lyrics that actually mean something unlike alot of other rap artists(example-Puff Dady). Their words have power and strength to them. They lace these impressive lyrics with impressive beats that hook the listener to a new wave of music. This is not The Roots best album, their last album was better(we'll abbrviate that Ill. for short). But this album in todays lacking lyrical era is tight and extremely worthwhile. You Got Me, The Next Movement, Adrenaline, are three real good songs to name A FEW. Overall the cd does not live up to thier name, as this cd does not fall apart, it holds water! Defenitly one of the best albums from 1999, and if you dont own it you should, because in a day were we see too many fake artists like Puff Daddy, it is nice to see a group like The Roots who music is not only exceptional, but stands for something!