Roots, Things Fall Apart

Throughout the history of music there have been artists or groups that refuse to sit in the pigeonholes of the media. Primarily a Hip Hop group, The Roots are renowned for their foray's into Abstract, Expressionist Jazz and carved out a unique reputation for their fantastically crafted live shows (becoming 'gig' infamous even BEFORE their first LP).

Not the first but certainly the most famous 'Live' Rap group, The Roots have always made their music without swaying to trend or fashion. Sift through enough Rappers or Groups that have released as many albums (Eight so far...With another scheduled to be out in late 2007/Early 2008), and the listener would spot awful career lows in material. This is not the case with Philadelphia's finest organic Rappers, their work purveying a constant consciousness and genuine enthusiasm for the music.

' Things Fall Apart ', was the Fourth album release by the band and is generally regarded to be their 'Famous' one. Like most Group's who have a 'Famous' album, The Roots best work is often to be found elsewhere.

Not that this is an inferior piece, just that the die-hard fan's and anorak's will get their kicks on other Roots LP's like:'Do You Want More!!?!' or 'Illadelph Halflife'.

The writing and delivery of rhyme is superb on this collection of 17 tracks, with lead emcee Black Thought maintaining the standard he had already set with their first Three LP's.

Malik B and Dice Raw feature heavily on the disc too, both adding to the atmosphere of tangled and clever lyrics. Guestlove provides some lovely drumbreaks and Jazz-Loops on his kit throughout, along with Kamal on keyboards and Hub on Bass. Strange, Michael Winslow-esque emcee Rahzel also has his first proper full-length outing, featuring heavily on several of the more powerful cuts.

As usual, The Roots manage to retain their natural sound without compromising their Hip Hop sensibilities. Unlike many other 'live' Rap outfits, they don't sound like a lounge-jazz combo.

There are some brilliant moments on this album, like the tracks: '100% Dundee' (Bagpipes and Hip Hop anyone?) or 'Step Into The Relm', which uses a lovely drum and piano sample that fades-out at the end of every loop. To be honest though, this body of work will most probably be remembered for one thing. The 1999 Grammy for best Rap Performance for Duo or Group, was given to The Roots & Erykah Badu for their collaboration on the track 'You Got Me'.

The closing track of 'Things Fall Apart', is a tradition that weaves through all Eight of The Roots albums. Philadelphia Poet Ursula Rucker writes and reads a piece, to the subtle abstract music of the band. ' The Return To Innocence Lost', is her submission for this 1999 outing. It is perhaps her most bleak and dark, album-closing effort for The Roots, but is the most moving and passionate one also.

The production (mainly provided by a combination of The Grand Wizzards, Black Thought, ?uestlove and various other 'Roots' members at varying stages), is as well thought-out and executed as always. The knack of finding grainy,catchy piano riffs or haunting,lo-fi strings is still alive on this release. The drum patterns are cleverly played ('Live' sampled from ?uestlove) and the programmed beats are solid, punchy Hip Hop.

This may be The Roots most 'Mainstream' album but it's still a work for the Hip Hop-initiated. This isn't easy to listen to or particularly accessible, if the brain is'nt already used to the more intricate forms of Rap.

There is enough going-on musically to keep interest here, with styles flitting all-over the Hip Hop spectrum. Vocals are handled brilliantly too with emcee's Black Thought, Dice Raw and Malik B, providing crisp, on-point rhyming skills. As you may gather from their name, you won't find any hastily said words or gangsta' delivery here. Lyrics are well-honed and well put-together interpretations of the English Language, without disappearing into a void of arrogance and pretention.

Guest Artists include the aformentioned Erykah Badu (' You Got Me' ), Lady B ( ' Without A Doubt ' ), Mos Def ( ' Double Trouble' ), Common ( ' Act Too (love of my life)' ), Eve ( ' Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New ' ), Ursula Rucker ( ' The Return To Innocence Lost ' ) and Deejay's: Jazzy Jeff & Cash Money ( ' The Next Movement ' ).

' Things fall Apart ' has a spontaneous and ' Live' feel to it , which often belies the intense and intricate, hard-work that has gone into it's production. Each member seems to contribute a trademark and unique input to the overall sound, which combines to create an unrivaled hole in their Hip Hop genre.

Look-out for which version of the CD you can find too, as the release came with Five different front-cover photographs. The most common is that of the Watts riots in the late 1960's, and features two Black people running scared from the LA Police. Others include: a burned baby crying for it's mother amid a baron war-zone, a dead man's hand (still clutching bloodstained playing cards) and a bomb-damaged Cathedral.

All the pictures are a harsh reminder of man's self-destruction, and were all Black & White photographs that were used in national US newspapers.

A great album then, but by no means The Roots greatest work. This maybe the album of choice if you are a Hip Hop fan who has never heard them, allowing a more accessible experience than earlier albums.

For those of you who don't want to think too much about lyrics, breaks or basslines.....this may not be the album for you. The Roots are very much a Rap Groups' Group, and to be honest that is reflected in their fans too. An underground band with an underground following, who briefly popped their heads into the mainstream with this offering.