The Roots: Rising Down

The Roots: Rising Down The Roots' eighth studio album, Rising Down is their second album for Def Jam Records. The album's title comes from William T. Vollmann's 2004 book Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means. Where the title comes from is important for this album. The legendary Roots crew goes a little bit more socio political on this album. The Roots have always been socially conscious but this album tackles subjects from global warming to what in our environment lends itself to creating criminals. The Roots remain hip hop's most notable live instrument group. Musically on this album they seem to indulge more in a synthesized sound. There are very few songs on the album where the synthesizer is not the main instrument. Maybe its just me but Rising Down seems to be overloaded with guests unlike any other Roots albums. The album has appearances by Mos Def, Styles P, Talib Kweli, Saigon, Malik B, Common, Wale, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Chrisette Michele. In the end, the Roots' success has and will always hinge on Black Thought. The highlight track for me might be "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)". Produced by ?uestlove, the song has no chorus, no frills, its just Black Thought flowing over a raw ?uestlove beat. Rating: 7.3/10 MP3: The Roots Feat. Malik B. and Talib Kweli "Lost Desire"