The Roots (Rap) - Rising Down [PA] [4/29] *

Artist:

Roots (Rap) (The)

See Also:

Scratch The Angry String Orchestra - The String Quartet Tribute To The Roots

Description:

On album number eight, the Roots continue to pursue their more nihilistic tendencies in the same vein as 2006`s exceptional GAME THEORY. With a title inspired by W.T. Vollman`s voluminous history of violence, RISING DOWN sees Black Thought (alongside Malik B, Dice Raw and a thick list of formidable guest MCs and vocalists, including Mos Def, Styles P, Talib Kweli, Common, Peedi Peedi, Saigon, Truck North, and Mercedes Martinez, among others) examining violence, oppression, and the pollution of the American Dream in a variety of places and circumstances. The grim subject matter goes hand-in-hand with a noticeably darker production approach. Largely absent are the lighter, electric piano-driven tracks (a longtime Roots trademark). they`ve given way to murky synthesizers and noisy, distortion-filled instrumentation. The album intro (a band conference call that quickly devolves into an impassioned shouting match) bluntly lets listeners know what they`re in for. Mounting frustration, apprehension, outrage, and anger pervade virtually every track, making RISING DOWN anything but a feel-good record. What it is instead is one of the most compelling and urgent hip-hop albums in years. Or, as Dice Raw puts it on "Get Busy," "Kinda like W.E.B. Dubois meets Heavy D and the Boyz."

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Pow Wow, The
2. Rising Down - (featuring Mos Def/Styles P.)
3. Get Busy - (featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff/Dice Raw/Peedie Crakk/Peedi Peedi)
4. @ 15
5. 75 Bars (Black`s Reconstruction)
6. Becoming Unwritten
7. Criminal - (featuring Saigon/Truck North)
8. I Will Not Apologize - (featuring P.O.R.N./Dice Raw)
9. I Can`t Help It - (featuring Malik B./Mercedes Martinez/P.O.R.N./Dice Raw/Malik B.)
10. Singing Man - (featuring P.O.R.N./Dice Raw/Truck North)
11. Unwritten - (featuring Mercedes Martinez)
12. Lost Desire - (featuring Mailk B/Malik B./Talib Kweli)
13. Show, The - (featuring Common/Dice Raw)
14. Rising Up - (featuring Chrisette Michele/Wale)
15. Hidden Track - (featuring Patrick Stump)

Album Information

Release Date:

04/29/2008

Type:

Performer

Genre:

R&B

Subgenre:

Rap

Label:

Def Jam (USA)

Catalog Number:

B0011138-02

Original Release Year:

2008

# of Discs:

1

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Guest Artist:

Mos Def; Styles P.; DJ Jazzy Jeff; Dice Raw; Peedie Crakk; Peedi Peedi; Saigon; Truck North; P.O.R.N.; Malik B.; Mercedes Martinez; Mailk B; Talib Kweli; Common; Chrisette Michele; Wale; Patrick Stump

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