Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You may have heard the rumors... they're true!, September 6, 2004
The rumor: This is The Roots best album. The objective truth: Yes, it's true. And this was the 5th Roots album that I finally purchased after TFA, then DYWM, Phrenology, and Tipping Point. This album has a whole different feel and approach to it. "Illadelph Halflife" was their third LP, and where they finally showed us what they are entirely capable of. This one eclipsed what I thought was their best album before, "Do You Want More?!"
Where DYWM was really where you got to meet and get a good feel for this band, "Things Fall Apart" was more of a posse album, and "Phrenology" had some hard rock and neo-soul influence, this album is where Black Thought and Malik B. (M-illa-tant) shine lyrically. Actually, all those other albums frustrated me lyrically, great at times but sloppy and random at others. "Illadelph" is where I finally understood their lyrical approach, and it makes all the other albums easier to comprehend once you get this one down.
This album was very, very mellow; possibly so we can focus on the words. It feels like coffee shop Roots, where they are saying knowledge over chill beats instead of trying to rock a party. The album starts off nicely at track 2 "Respond/React" and does not let up until a short brake is taken at "? vs. Scratch" so we can finally catch up. "Section" contains an eerie, mellow beat, as does "Episodes." "It Just Don't Stop" is more about social analysis than glorifying happenings in the hood and the world, and is an excellent track. "Push Up Ya Lighter" is mellow at it's best and a memorable track leading into Black Thought's proclamation to never do "What They Do"-which is a poppy, slower-paced joint about reflecting and being aware of the type of music that the Roots do. Even though this album is focused on the lyrics, it's still a joy to hear the rest of the band (keyboards, drums) in the background and some jazz added as well.
There could be a heated argument over which half of this album is the best. I consider "Concierto of the Desperado" as kicking off the second half, and this track is hard-hitting and calls for "all the fake sh_t gots to go," which obviously still continued all these years, but it was a great effort nontheless. "Clones" is the only other hard-hitting track, and it is a good one, featuring Diceraw. "No Alibi" is probably my favorite joint on the whole album, where Malik and BT just lay the lyrics down perfectly over a nice beat. Malik's solo "No Pretenders" is excellent with Rahzel in the background, and listening to this shows why Malik is missed (not necessarily by the rest of the band, but by us Roots faithful). "The Hypnotic" is incredible as well, and is more captivating and powerful than the version off the "Men In Black" soundtrack (which is great as well). I almost forgot, on this album Common and Q-Tip give two of the best guest verses that you will ever hear on any album. Common on "UNIverse At War" which is excellent, and Q-Tip passing the mike with BT on "Ital." These two essential guest spots, among others, solidify this as a classic album and the Roots best. The album ends off with three non-lyrical tracks without the two front MC's, and although it doesn't hinder, they should have been shortened into a track or two.
In closing, you really need to get this album if you are a true hiphop head and have other Roots' cds already! This one really displays why The Roots are so valued by the underground hiphop base. I would recommend buying other Roots albums like TFA and DYWM first so you can truly appreciate this masterpiece once you get the privilege to hear it. Compared to your everyday, get-rich-now, fast-food recycling rappers, The Roots truly are committed to doing any thing other than "what they do!"
|
|
|
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Hip Hop Magnum Opus., September 28, 2000
From Chuck D's spoken word intro, to his somber voiced outro 79 minutes later, this astounding album educates, infuriates, shocks and beats you into submission. And there's not a moment wasted. "Respond React" has the best understated melody and bassline ever recorded in rap music history and is positively addictive. Be forewarned, this is not radio-friendly pop rap ("What They Do" being the possible exception), but mind expansive, ambitious and lengthy hip hop, that not only educates, but keeps your head nodding for nearly 80 minutes. The grooves provided by ?uestlove (drums), Kamal (keys), Hub (bass & cello), Rahzel (every sound effect known to mankind) and the remarkable Scratch (self-explanatory) perfectly suuport the hardhitting, socially aware and endlessly inventive rhymes by Black Thought and Malik B and the result is musical murder! Guest spots by Q-Tip, D'Angelo, Common (on the hypnotic deep bass groove "UNIverse At War"), Amel Larrieux (the lovely, haunting, operatic soprano on the masterpiece "Concerto Of The Desperado"), Bahamadia (a smooth freestyle on the sparse yet still DOPE "Push Up Ya Lighter") and Cassandra Wilson whose vocals drift in and out of "One Shine" fill the album to overflowing with a variety of textures, sounds, voices and ambience, yet they don't disturb the flow of the music and don't feel forced or trendy. I suggest listening to this CD through headphones since the music is so intricate and detailed. It seems like a lot of sound and information to digest in one sitting, but once you hear it, you'll keep returning to it. I've owned this CD for almost 4 years now and still manage to hear something new and different everytime I put it on. The Roots have made listening to music an adventure, and easily rank as one of the best hip hop crews of all time. For my money, this is their best album. A genuinely satisfying listen.
|
|
|
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Restored My Faith In Hip-Hop, May 20, 2001
How tragic is it that an album like "Illadelph Halflife" was so unfairly overlooked? "Illadelph Halflife" was the first Roots album I bought, after forever hearing the group being praised as one of the most innovative hip-hop groups around. But I was sincerely interested in the Roots because I had never really heard a "hip-hop band" before, "Illadelph Halflife" did not disappoint. This album has single-handedly restored my faith in hip-hop. What's that? This was made in 1996? Where was the revolution? "Illadelph Halflife" should have been the album that revived hip-hop as a creative force to be reckoned with. Nonetheless, I suppose The Roots had their cult following in the underground and they've gained wider recognition with the release of "Things Fall Apart" - but when a brilliant album like "Illadelph Halflife" is released - it gets frustrating that it doesn't get the recognition it deserves as opposed to a Roberta Flack cover (much respect to the Fugees but The Roots deserved it more). There's hardly a dud on the entire album - the beats bounce along with a eerie gritty minimalist feel like Wu-Tang Clan without the martial arts samples and with a more upbeat jazzy feel. And Black Thought is a truly talented lyricist. While some MCs come off as constipated and abrasive, Black Thought's rhymes move with a smooth ease and a pleasant rhythm reminiscent of Q-Tip's playfulness while also reminiscent of Chuck D.'s authority. I can't wait to start looking to the rest of The Roots discography as I'm sure they'll yield much more. I was getting burnt out from listening to "It Takes A Nation" for the millionth time, jaded from listening to "Stankonia" (a trillion apologies to Outkast), the punches and kicks of "36 Chambers" weren't hitting hard enough as of late, and I scratched up "Three Feet High and Rising" from overplaying it. "Illadelph Halflife" will soon join those albums in the pantheon of hip-hop albums that I consider classic. But like those albums...no matter how many times I play it and get sick of it, I'll always return to it. And surprisingly enough, it will sound fresh.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by The Roots 
