Customer Reviews

The Tipping Point

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(53)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Now I've been a Roots fan for a while now, and before this week, I had every Roots album besides 'The Tipping Point' (yes, I even own 'Organix'). I hadn't really heard many good things about it, and was going to pick it up eventually, but it wasn't a priority. When I was at the CD store to buy the new Smif N Wessun album, I saw this CD sitting on the used shelf for only about $7.99, and I realized that under the used wrapping, it was brand new (factory sealed and all). So, I decided to buy it too (along with the 'He Got Game Soundtrack' used for only about $5.99), not with very high expectations. After listening to it 3 times, I can safely say it's definately up to par with all of the Roots other work.

For this album, the main criticism is that "the beats are too bland and boring". Although I don't think the beats are lacking at all, I think that The Roots made the beats a little more simplistic, so the album could center around Black Thought a bit more. I actually think this is a good thing, because Black Thought is one of my favorite MC's in the game, and one of the best of all time, and he truly shines on this album.

The production on the album is handled by The Roots, and affiliates, like all of their other albums. ?uestlove ('Star', 'Guns Are Drawn' & 'I Don't Care'), Anthony Tidd, Frank "Knuckles" Walker, & Richard Nichols ('Guns Are Drawn' & 'I Don't Care'), Scott Storch ('Don't Say Nuthin' & 'Duck Down'), Melvin 'Chaos' Lewis ('Stay Cool' & 'Boom!'), Robert 'LB' Dorsey ('Web'), Tahir Jamal ('Somebody's Gotta Do It'), & Zoukhan ('Why? (What's Goin' On?) all provide pretty much dope beats.

As for the album lyrically, its top notch. As I said, Black Thought drops hot verses throughout the entire album, that are good enough basically to carry the album if the beats were really lacking.

Top 5 Songs (In Order):

1. Star/Pointro - One of the smoothest rap songs I've ever heard, classic Roots production (with a great Sly The Family Stone sample) and Black Thought opens up the album with some of his best verses

2. Guns Are Drawn - Another that quickly became one of my favorite Roots songs. Love the beat here, and again one of Black Thought's highlights lyrically

3. Boom! - The best flow on the whole album, and as the Amazon Editorial Review said, it really does sound like a Kane or G Rap imitation. I even think he might have lifted a G Rap line: "Homonyms, synonyms good like M&M's"...Not sure but I think I recognize that from some G Rap & Polo song

4. Why? (What's Goin On?) - Love the production here, and Black Thought slows it down a bit to make a GREAT song

5. I Don't Care - Love the drums and bass, also the catchiest hook on here (do I even have to mention that Black Thought spits fire again?)

Worst Track:

Duck Down! - The beat can get kinda annoying (its not BAD, but the worst on the CD). And Black Thought is decent on here...Just overall is an "OK" track

Lyrics/Substance/Subject Matter - 9/10
Flow/Delivery - 9/10
Production - 8.5/10
Overall Feel - 9/10

Guest Apperances - 6/10 - Riq Gees, Jean Grae & Mac - All on one song ('Somebody's Gotta Do It'), and the only one I'm actually a fan of is Jean Grae, but they all drop decent/pretty good verses. But, the song doesn't stand out, and they don't play an important role here at all.
Overall Rating - 8.5/10 - Highly reccomended, and a must have for any fan of The Roots...This one surprised me, and just might surprise you

Question: Have The Roots peaked?

This is the question I have been debating with myself after listening to The Roots amply titled seventh album, "The Tipping Point". Listen to "Do You Want More?!!!??!", "Things Fall Apart", and "Phrenology" back to back and you'll realize that they're literally polar opposites in terms of sound. Innovation was brought with each succeeding album... but now? Things seem very passive. Perhaps a better way of describing this album is to say that it's a "safe album". The lyricism is still intact, but the problem that I have is that Black Thought doesn't really have much to say. The production ranges from good to acceptable to "too by the books" or "been done"; much of the production in the second half of the album sounds like it was rehashed from "Phrenology" while the semi-annoying "Somebody's Gotta Do It" sounds more like an R&B song. Also a justifiable mention: ?uestlove isn't well utilized. But this is The Roots after all, so yes; the album does have shining moments, including the lead single "Don't Say Nothin'", "Star", "Web", "Why (What's Goin' On?)", and the best track on the album, the old-school throwback sound of "Guns Are Drawn". The two hidden tracks are questionable: The first one is generically stupid that has a horrid hook and David Chappelle riding on his Lil' Jon impression while the other should've been left in the "improvised-time killer" section of a jam session. In contrast, The Roots really have nothing to prove; they've done better things with one album than other artists do in an entire career. But in the end, all we can do is admire this album for what it is, and nothing more.

Before I say anything else about the album, if after listening to this album you still don't consider Black Thought a top 5 MC, you do not deserve to call yourself a hip hop head. This is The Roots' 7th Album (9th if you count "The Legendary" and "From the Ground Up" EPs), and Black Thought sounds as hungry as ever. It's like he got tired of hearing all the "I miss Malik B." cries from the OkayPlayer family, and since he couldn't release his solo album (Masterpiece Theatre, 2000), he put everything into this album.

Make no mistake, though this is The Roots' album, it's decidedly Black Thought's show. Whereas Phrenology was on the whole experimentation tip that was so prevalent among the more progressive elements in hip hop around '02 (showcasing now former member Ben Kinney and his rock roots), The Tipping Point is probably the most conventional Hip Hop album The Roots have made, reminiscent of Illadelph Halflife, which some consider The Roots best album.

The vocals were laid separately from the tracks, so though the instrumentation was for the most part live, it was essentially The Roots sampling themselves. You can think of this as a Black Thought solo album produced by The Roots. In doing this approach, it loses some of the feel and synergy of previous Roots albums. Whereas "Essaywhuman????!???" from Organix and Do You Want More was the epitome of band and MCs blending into one voice, this is the flipside...but I digress. Okay, track by track review time:

1-(103) Star/Pointro: This track sets the tempo and manifesto for this album, in a much more overt way than the previous albums' intros. From the top, Black Thought is killing it over a Sly and The Family Stone sample, "Everybody Wants to Be a Star"...then, much like De La Soul did on 1996's "Stakes is High," they lament the state of hip hop today and challenge themselves to change it.

2-(104) I Don't Care: Sick beat, guest appearance on the hook by Dom (who sounds like Cody ChesTTnutt), and Black Thought kicking it mid-tempo. Good track...

3-(105) Don't Say Nuthin': Okay, I admit, I didn't really dig this song too tough when I first heard it. It's grown on me, and for some reason, it sounds better on the album than the single or video. Scott Storch (original member of The Roots, now producer of tracks such as "Lean Back" and "Fast Lane") did production for this track. Oh, and BTW, Black Thought really isn't saying anything on the chorus.

4-(106) Guns Are Drawn: Nice beat, gives the feel of a cipher with Black Thought going a little political...think of a sonic rendition of "Bowling for Columbine"

5-(107) Stay Cool: This one samples the same song De La Soul sampled on '93's "Ego Trippin' Pt. 2" and has a real mellow feel. The dude on the hook sounds like Pharrell, but it's not (future collabo with the Neptunes coming in the future, though)

6-(108) Web: This joint sounds like "Thought at Work" Part II....he's kicking it double time over a simple drum and bass track....he has to go about 96 bars straight in this joint, no hook! Real old school feel....

7-(109) Boom!: This joint is sick! At this point, we've had no guest MCs, and you would think at first listen that BT has Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap trading bars with him, but it's only Black Thought! The track sounds like it's bringing '88 back...and Ice is in his world. :tied:

8-(110) Somebody's Gotta Do It: Mellowed out track with the first two guest MCs, who hold it down nice....Jean Grae is a criminally slept on female MC, who hopefully will parlay this exposure into more mainstream success....I don't know too much about Mac, but he shows promise on here

9-(111) Duck Down!: The other Scott Storch track on here, this one had to grow on me

10-(112) Why (What's Goin On?): Somber feel, Black Thought's back on some political/conscious tip here....standout track!

There are a couple of secret tracks with some, uh, unexpected guests, so I won't ruin that surprise for you

Overall, I think it's a very good album. The Roots are unmatched among groups with longevity and consistency and this continues the trend. As a fan since Organix, seeing them evolve is bittersweet, like a parent watching their child grow up. I don't want them to be like they were in '93, but at the same time, I miss the camraderie that was so obvious on "Do You Want More," the frustrated artist vibe obvious on "Illadelph Halflife," the confidence that they were about to have a breakthrough on "Things Fall Apart"....I miss Malik B., Rahzel, Dice Raw, Ursula Rucker, etc. It's kind of like missing college or something...you know you can't go back (and you'd be a joke if you did), but you still have a "Catcher in the Rye" type longing for it. In spite of all that, listen to this album for what it is, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed

I dig The Roots a lot. I come from a jazz background and their sheer sound grabbed me from the first notes of "Do You Want More". The cool vibe, the jazz guests like Steve Coleman, and Questlove's sound behind the drum kit, coupled with solid MCs sold me on the group right away. That will probably always be my favorite album by them and for me represents the road not taken. Since that point they've sought to season their sound with some elements the mainstream can dig, while staying true to their mission as artists.

People rating "Tipping Point" are coming at it in two ways. Is it the best thing coming out right now? Is it the best work the Roots can do?

As far as stuff coming out right now, I think this is a really solid album. I like it better than Kanye West's album, although I do dig that too. I like it almost as much as Cee Lo's new album, and I listen to it almost as much as I do Speakerboxx/Love Below. On sheer sound, I'd put it in that company as one of the best hip-hop albums to come out this year. For me, "Don't Say Nuthin" is the weakest track on the album, and I'm saddened that's the single they're pushing out. "Guns Are Drawn" would have been a better cut with its chunky guitar lick, and its tight hook. But there's lots of solid tracks. "Web" followed by "Boom" is Black Thought spittin' fire and giving props to his elders. I also dig the two bonus tracks. The "Din Daa Daa" jam at the end gives a quick glimpse at how these guys can improvise and just flow when they set their mind to it. And I dig the Dave Chappelle cameo. Like I said, there's lots of good music here.

When I think of the Roots, though, this is not the album that's going to jump into my player on a regular basis years from now. A key thing for me with the Roots was the idenity their albums had from including their broad crew. I miss Malik B a lot. I even miss Dice Raw. Especially miss Urusla Rucker's poetry and Scratch and Rahzel's human beat box stuff. And I miss Scott Scorch, the keyboardist who provided the liquid tones on "Do You Want More?" This is the Roots stripped down to their core, and I think this album loses classic status because of it. I do think this is probably better than "Phrenology". I saw them tour behind that, and the rock element left me shaking my head and waiting for me to get it used. I'm glad they're using classic soul in seeking to expand on their sound with Sly and the Family Stone samples like "Star".

I'm going to give this one 4 stars. 4.5 stars if you put it up their with current hip-hop. 3.5 stars if you consider it as a Roots album. "Illadelph Halflife", "Do You Want More", and "Things Fall Apart" all top this by a bunch. But it's got a few new elements especially on "Star" and "Boom"/"Webs", and anyone who's been a fan of the group should check this out to keep tabs on one of the most creative units in hip-hop history.

4 stars

--SD

you've got underground elitests, and johnny come latelys reviewing this album who don't know what they're talking about. "they sample on this album." they've been sampling since illidelph halflife. "it's too mainstream." um...hello, things fall apart and phrenology both had a very mainstream sound. plus, the roots have never called themselves underground. that's a title dumb fans have attached to them. now, i'd rather give this album 4 1/2 stars, because it's not perfect, but amazon doesn't have that option, and 4 stars isn't enough. so, having said all that, lets review it:

1. star/pointro-one of the best roots songs ever, at least in the top five. the sly stone sample is wonderful (oh my god...they sample! like the ish is new to hip hop. get over it) 10/10
2. i don't care-this reminds me of something that could have fit on phrenology, not that there's anything wrong with that. this isn't a bad album cut. 8/10
3. don't say nothin-ok, this isn't really a bad beat, but to me it doesn't fit the roots one bit. sounds too much like the knight rider beat. for me, only the chorus is interesting. 6/10
4. guns are drawn-hot ish. the reggae-ish sung chorus sounds like bob marley, but isn't. the beat is hot and so are black thought's lyrics. 10/10
5. stay cool-only problem...de la soul already used this sample, but you'll overlook that fact. this is a perfect summertime song. the way they change up the chorus is sweet. the singer sounds close to pharrel, but that's just how he sings. this is the roots "the way you move," but it's a better song. it's a cooler song. 10/10
6. web-if you don't like this, you don't like hip hop...plain and simple. black though showing why he may be the best emcee of all time. 10/10
7. BOOM-same thing as web. i mean, dang. black thought does impressions of big daddy kane and kool g rap perfectly. even g rap's lisp is there. 10/10
8. somebody's gotta do it-the beat is too r&b-ish. lyrically though, black thought and jean grae don't fail. devin the dude sounds great on the chorus. 7/10
9. duck down-the beat is ok, but this could have been left off the album. 7/10
10. why-for all those people who say black thought raps only about how dope an emcee he is, here's his answer. a very wonderful political song. 10/10

bonus track
the mic-skillz is fast forwardable, but black thought and truck north bring the heat. dave chappelle adds a bit of comedy to this track. it's an uptempo song, reminiscent of "rhymes and ammo." 9/10

i'm only reviewing the tracks with lyrics.

For those of you who are new to this phenomenon called "The Roots," this is an alright album to start your collection (trust me, you want a Roots collection). Although my personal opinion is that "The Tipping Point" is not the best work of ?uestlove, Black Thought and Malik B, it is definitely worth buying. "Phrenology" is the best collection of lyrics, beats and overall 'hip-hopness' and "The Tipping Point" does not fare well as a follow up album....think of it as what Rocky 2 was to Rocky....in and of itself it is good, but based on what preceded it, it appears lackluster. Tracks like "Star", "Web" and "Boom" move the CD along just fine. "Don't say nothing" along with the second hidden track save this entry in the Roots catalog from getting only 3 stars. Buy it and try it.

FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S SAYING "THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEM". IF YOU WANT EVERY ALBUM TO SOUND THE SAME. PICK UP SOME OLD NO LIMIT RECORDS, OR SOME G-UNIT STUFF. IF YOU WANT TRUE ARTISTS TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AS WELL AS YOU EVERYTIME. THEN THE ROOTS ARE WHAT WE ALL NEED. THEY ARE THE MOST CONSISTENTLY GOOD MAKERS OF MUSIC HIP HOP HAS EVER SEEN. ONLY OUTKAST COMES CLOSE, AND EVEN THEY SLIPPED WITH THIS LAST ONE, REGARDLESS OF THE GRAMMY'S. THE TIPPING POINT CAN BE PLAYED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AS FAR AS I"M CONCERNED. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT TOO MANY CD'S NOWADAYS. 5 STARS PEOPLE.

Listen, I've always been irritated by Amazon customer reviews that basically say, "Hey, this isn't what I want [insert artist] to do! I want another [insert earlier recording by this artist]!" Reading this sentiment over and over in reviews of this album has been particularly annoying. The Roots are great, and this is an great CD. That's it. Nothing whack here. Great rhymes. Great beats. Great lyrics. Great production.

Arguably every release by every artist has some tracks that are stronger than others, and the Tipping Point is no exception in this regard. Still, overall, it's a very strong release from one of the greatest hip hop acts of all time. In my opinion, the negative reviews here do not seem to address the quality of this recording on its own merit, and that's a shame.

This cd is dope. Black Thought is the truth. He is the perfect blend of consciousness and swagger in an emcee. At only 10 tracks long, this cd is short in length, but what it lacks in duration it makes up for in lyricism.

In my opinion, Don't Say Nuthin is a genius single. The song casually makes fun of rap songs that lack substance while the hook is literally Black Thought mumbling a bunch of words together. Although it sounds contradictory, my interpretation of the song is to say that a lot of rap songs now days don't have any genuine meaning in them and that record labels promote this kind of music. Thought kills the final verse, and I love the eerie beat that accompanies the song.

Other highlights include: the reggae influenced "Guns Are Drawn", the smooth and laid back "Somebody's Gotta Do It" (which features an interesting collaboration with Devin the Dude), and the socially conscious "Why"-a track guaranteed to make you think. Overall this is not the roots best cd, but I feel at times Thought is at his best here.

Don't hit the snooze button again if you've been sleeping on The Roots, pick up this cd.

I like the Roots, especially their third album "Illadelph Halflife", since the lyrics on this album were harder and production was totally different than on other roots albums. "The Tipping Point" is a flawless and well rounded cd as well. It kicks off with the classic "Star" and continues its high quality until the end. Best tracks besides "Star" are "Guns are Drawn" and "Why (What's Goin' On?)". The only thing I don't like about this cd are are the rather annoying hidden tracks (which leave a bad taste after finishing the album). Also, the "hook-free" web (which has A+ lyrics) can get a bit annoying after a while... still, this album is great (ranked about 3rd in the roots' discography), so feel free to purchase, no regrets.