The Roots - Rising Down

[trane_fanatic]

Probably the most progressive hip-hop band ever. Who has the new album? Thoughts?

[BFrank]

I saw them on Colbert a couple of weeks ago. That's all I know about them.

Definitely got my attention, though.

[trane_fanatic]

I saw them on Colbert a couple of weeks ago. That's all I know about them.

Definitely got my attention, though.

Yea, these guys are constantly on tour. Probably the hardest working band in hip-hop too.

[Aggie87]

Just picked this one up recently, and digging it. What earlier albums of their's are worth checking out?

They're also the house-band on the Jimmy Fallon show, which otherwise kinda sucks.

[WorldB3]

Just picked this one up recently, and digging it. What earlier albums of their's are worth checking out?

I rarely listen to hip hop anymore (in fact never these days) but I use to absolutely love the Roots. My recommendations would be:

For the early stripped down "backpacker" stuff: Do You Want More.

For the more Miles fusion based jams and funky popish songs: Phrenolgy.

For a heavy current events based tunes (like Funkadelic) and great production: Game Theory.

The critics pick for the neo soul elements is Things Fall Apart.

My two personal favorites are Do You Want More and Game Theory.

[Noj]

Their earliest albums (Organix, Do You Want More, Illadelph Halflife) are their best, but every album has had its moments. They're always best live when Rahzel, the beat box guy, is performing with the band.

[.:.impossible]

I don't think they will ever live up to Do You Want More? I try to get into their stuff because Do You Want More? was such an integral part of my high school days. In the same stack with Operation Ivy, Ill Communication (green cassette), etc.

Hey World... where did this "backpacker" term come into play? I've seen it before, but I still don't understand the connotation.

May be pegging myself as a "backpacker"... oops and oh well.

[WorldB3]

I don't think they will ever live up to Do You Want More? I try to get into their stuff because Do You Want More? was such an integral part of my high school days. In the same stack with Operation Ivy, Ill Communication (green cassette), etc.

Hey World... where did this "backpacker" term come into play? I've seen it before, but I still don't understand the connotation.

May be pegging myself as a "backpacker"... oops and oh well.

I saw the term a couple years ago, basically what I get is its a term for people that have a taste for more underground hip hop acts with a lighter style of rap, more up beat. In addition to the Roots, groups like Blackalicious, Black Star, De La Soul, Jurasic 5, Mos Def, Pharcide. I would say my taste in hop hop would make me a "backpacker". Originally it was a slang term from the 1980s for a graffiti artist who always wore a backpack containing his music collection.

Edited March 7, 2009 by WorldB3

[sal]

Been a fan of theirs from the beginning. Rising Down is OK...but really doesn't even come close to their first albums. But still, its better than most other hip hop thats been coming out these days.

[.:.impossible]

I don't think they will ever live up to Do You Want More? I try to get into their stuff because Do You Want More? was such an integral part of my high school days. In the same stack with Operation Ivy, Ill Communication (green cassette), etc.

Hey World... where did this "backpacker" term come into play? I've seen it before, but I still don't understand the connotation.

May be pegging myself as a "backpacker"... oops and oh well.

I saw the term a couple years ago, basically what I get is its a term for people that have a taste for more underground hip hop acts with a lighter style of rap, more up beat. In addition to the Roots, groups like Blackalicious, Black Star, De La Soul, Jurasic 5, Mos Def, Pharcide. I would say my taste in hop hop would make me a "backpacker". Originally it was a slang term from the 1980s for a graffiti artist who always wore a backpack containing his music collection.

That makes a lot of sense. Have you ever heard Siah and Yeshua DapoED The Visualz EP?