THE ROOTS

'Rising Down'

Another extremely satisfying joint from the (y'all know who) 'legendary Roots crew'. Still not quite mainstream and, yet, not at all underground, but straddling a surprisingly microscopic line between the two. Their second release for Def Jam, 'Rising Down', still finds the group standing their ground on a palpable (and often angry) worldview and wearing a badge of musicality sorely lacking in most hip-hop getting play on radio and MTV.

The music found within challenges you, the listener, to question the answers...to challenge the status quo dictated to us by class and/or the color of our skin...and, most of all, to rise up against stereotypes killing us all from every direction. Sure, there are other more 'indie' artists out there doing the same and yes, The Roots have been at it since the jump off...but for a group still banging it out on a higher-profile major label, especially in this day of the incredibly shrinking music industry, this type of music deserves respect. They've got mine.

The lead-off track that gives the album it's name manages to be both darker AND funkier than hell...you can almost imagine Black Thought, Mos Def and Styles P hunkered down in a bunker somewhere, waiting the storm of society's ills out. Conversely, the next track seemingly takes shit to the streets (complete w/ some ill scratch from DJ Jazzy Jeff) to implore folks to 'Get Busy' and change some shit. 'I Will Not Apologize' demands some serious accountability on the part of the individual and over a hellacool, greasy groove as well. The darkest track, by far, is 'Singing Man' where the MC's present the perspectives of suicide bombers, campus shooters and child soldiers...not to condone the action, but to highlight the environment that may bring someone to that point in life. The light at the end of the tunnel comes in the form of the optimistic message and almost shimmering funky soul of 'Rising Up'...reminding us that lying down ain't going to make all your problems go away.

The trademark ?uestlove-led organic funk is still the hallmark of The Roots sound, but the secret weapon for me is the continually improving flow/mic skills of Black Thought. One just need to take a listen to '75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)' for a killer example and a track that will make you feel whiter just for listening to it (and that's a compliment). There are a few moments where the music seems to meander into the mainstream rap playbook and gets a little too R&B for my blood, but they are few and far between.

I will say that while this album is still dope as hell by today's hip-hop standards, it still doesn't capture the magic of earlier releases. I don't know if that's a byproduct of being in the game this long or continued pressure for album sales presented by being on a major label, but it hasn't killed my excitement over their music (yet). The album dropped last Tuesday, so you can grab it now...or wait until you've gotten a feeler in the sample area.