Album #135: The Roots - Rising Down

The Roots

Rising Down (2008)

The Roots have spent the better part of twenty years cultivating a reputation as one of the most fearsome hip hop outfits on the planet, yet they bear one remarkable difference from other hip hop groups - they are a band. Led by master vocalist Black Thought, and drumming maestro ?uestlove, part of their appeal is in their setup itself - hip hop with live instruments played by accomplished, talented musicians. It has given their music an edge that perhaps 'traditional' hip hop, with its focus on samples and beats, doesn't always have.

Rising Down is the band's eighth album. I've chosen it to review because of its supposed dark, 'incendiary' nature, and its contemporary, political themes. The Roots have been a band that I've wanted to explore far more than my limited knowledge, and I'm hoping this is the start.

(And yes, I know they are Jimmy Fallon's studio band. I think perhaps they deserve to be known for more than just that.)

The Album

It's certainly true that the word that comes to mind when looking to describe the sound of this album is dark. Many of the songs are brooding, foreboding pieces, thanks to the pairing of ?uestlove's dry, relentless drumming and Kamal Gray's buzzing, futuristic synthesisers. Deep, rumbling bass (provided by Owen Biddle) completes the mood setting - this is far from a happy album.

Then, of course, there's Black Thought, who spends most of the album proving why he's one of hip hop's most masterful performers. Zippy flow, dexterous rhymes and deep, insightful, biting lyrics abound throughout Rising Down, and there's barely a track that he doesn't manage to elevate to a higher plane. His matter-of-fact, realistically-observant style also contributes to the album's overall feeling.

As is to be expected for a hip hop album, there are also guest appearances - some from hip hop/R & B names like Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Chrissette Michele, while others are from fellow Philadelphians like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Dice Raw and former member Malik B. Such is the quality of Black Thought's work though that he is hardly outshone by others, even though (especially in the case of Malik B) their contributions are great.

Thematically, the album touches on several topics, some of which are common hip hop themes, while others deal with more modern issues. The album's bookends, Rising Down and Rising Up, fit into the latter category; surprisingly for such a brooding album, it's the more upbeat, bright-sounding Rising Up that stands out, its Afrobeat influences driving a heavily melodic tune, with the melody provided by a prominent piano track. ?uestlove's fluid, jazzy drumwork is also a real standout. Lyrically, it deals with (among other things) the depressing nature of modern commercial radio and its risk-averse playlists. Rising Down deals with themes of global warming, income disparity and the general shittiness of the world. The magnificent Singing Man pulls no punches; Black Thought rhymes about the life and times of an African child soldier with brutal honesty, while guests Greg Porn and Truck North (two Philly MCs) deliver great verses about high-school shooting perpetrators and Islamic terrorism respectively. Also pulling no punches is the brutally forthright track I Will Not Apologise. Dice Raw provides a brilliant verse about the irony of black rappers defining themselves as hoods, gangsters and ho-obsessed dudes to suit a white audience that draws on, and accepts as gospel truth, this stereotype; the verse also points out that black rappers are not to blame for this, and that the blame should go to an America where, historically, black men have been expected to behave 'like monkeys' in order to be successful entertainers. Black Thought also follows up with a verse about struggling to survive in everyday life. The theme of the song is to tell an uncensored tale about real life, and no apologies will be given to those who do not understand. Musically, the track has a keyboard riff that reminds me of some of Rick Wakeman's work with Yes, and ?uestlove contributes an off-beat rhythm.

Speaking of ?uestlove, his work on the track 75 Bars demonstrates his abilities for all to see - sharp, jazzy, whippy, rhythmic, he's like a metronome on speed. Yet for all this jazzy speed, he also lays down one of the funkiest drumbeats you'll ever hear. Black Thought adds a masterful vocal contribution to the song, making it one of the album's standouts. The solid Get Busy is a fairly straightforward boast track, though DJ Jazzy Jeff's scratching contributions are a testament to his skills on the deck (he's not just Will Smith's friend, you know). Criminal is also a great tune - even if the three verses all deal with typical themes of crime and cash and murder and jail time, there are some interesting lyrical takes (the hook, for example, compares street crime to the financial world and observes that perhaps the wrong people are being called criminals) and musically, the song is intriguing. Indie-rock style guitar lines drift over a rumbling bass line. Additionally, this song provides one of the few moments where Black Thought is matched, as Saigon contributes a wonderful guest verse. 

The Verdict

Rising Down is a really, really good album, full of superb MCs doing their thing over tight, rhythmic beats and dark, moody keyboards. Eight albums in, and it's obvious that The Roots know what the fuck they're doing, and know how to change shit up and keep it working. It also helps that in Black Thought and ?uestlove, they have two of the most creative, talented minds in music.

It may not be the best place to start, coming twenty or so years into their career, but nevertheless it's a terrific listen from start to finish.

My rating: 8.8/10

Standout Tracks

Rising Up

Singing Man

I Will Not Apologise

75 Bars