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Review: The Roots Come Alive!
by Jordan Hoffman

published 11/15/99

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Jordan Hoffman is LeisureSuit.net's Queens-based Senior Editor.



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Subj: Answer 4 Jay
The NAME OF THE SONG is THE SEED

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Apr 17, 2005 at 2:58PM

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ROOTS
There is a real and recognizable dearth of writing about hip-hop on LeisureSuit.net. I respect it as an art form born from the urgency of an unfair socio-political situation. Where there were no instruments, they were created from the sampling and scratching of pre-existing records. If all an artist had was his imagination and use of speech (which is free . . . still) then a paradigm would be created where it would be enough to entertain. I rarely write about it because of my own personal disinterest with most modern hip-hop music. The rap I heard as a kid was the fiery, political mayhem of Public Enemy, a true musical experience in juxtaposed sounds, the legacy of soul acts like James Brown of P-Funk. I shit you not, I first learned about Malcolm X through PE. I also enjoyed the playful back and forth of Run DMC. However, the current stars, like those of the Wu Tang Clan, just annoy me with their self-promotion, vicious and violent lyrics (just what is the point of "Torture" from "Enter The Wu Tang", I ask) and, frankly, the soporific style of rapping. Big names like 2Pac, Biggie & Snoop all sound as if they are on the verge of going to sleep. Chuck D sounded like he was on the verge of starting a revolution! I don't hear all that much positive political messages in rap. I remember at the dawn of gangsta, sitting in a friend's car listening to Ice Cube's "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted." What could have been an opportunity to present white kids with the troubles of inner city life turned into fetishized giggle-fest. The thuggish tales ("jack that motherfucker in his Nissan truck right in the [McDonald's] drive-through.") were just fuel for the suburbs' misunderstanding racism. I did notice the pendulum swinging back, with acts like De La Soul and Arrested Development, but, come on, those guys did not know how to rock.

I was complaining to a friend of mine how there wasn't a rap act that had any effect on my since Public Enemy. My friend, who is black, told me to check out The Roots. "Why The Roots?" I asked. He responded, "A lot of white people who don't like rap like The Roots."

I'd like to think my love of music transcends race, but one thing is true--I really dig The Roots. I recently bought their brilliant studio album "Things Fall Apart" (named for the Chinua Achebe novel) and their brand-spanking new live release The Roots Come Alive! What strikes me first about The Roots is the use of live instruments and few samples. While I don't necessarily look down at sampled beats (Public Enemy proved that it is a formidable musical artform) there's something in me that responds better to actual working musicians manipulating instruments. The Roots use a human beatbox, a non-mechanical drumset, bass and keyboards. The grooves are rough and real, ferocious at times. The keys are their trademark, echoing and floating around the music halls during the recording of "Come Alive!" And lead vocalists Malik B. and Black Thought, unlike many of their contemporaries, do not sound like they are bored; he has energy, alacrity, and, yes, like the glory old days of Run DMC, will amaze you that he's able to memorize all that and repeat it so quickly. Though, by those standards, Eric Idle was a great rapper, too.

"The Roots Come Alive!" doesn't get quite as political as "Things Fall Apart," which features an eerily My Lai-looking photo of a young black girl fleeing a white police officer. "Things Fall Apart" also features a haunting and frank piece entitled "The Return To Innocence Lost" wherein a young girl itemizes a list of abuses and atrocities she has witnessed in her short life. What the newer album lacks in radical bite makes up for with some of the funkiest "clap your hands, y'all!" breakdowns since the heralded James Brown at the Apollo double album. The tune "Adrenaline!" is not mistitled, making good use of a trance-inducing keyboard refrain that introduces itself with a Stevie Wonder-like chord progression that has a desperate beauty. "Proceed" falls a bit into the self-glorification trap ("I shall proceed and continue to rock the mike!") but I'm beginning to understand this as the hip-hop equivalent of a guitar solo. The keyboard melody on "Mellow My Man" is haunting and undeniably similar to the theme from "Taxi." Shimmering above the ferociously cadenced raps it stands out as a stellar track.

The Roots still wear their leftist politics with pride, tough, asking "all the independent ladies in tha house to make some noise!" And reminding "the shorties that's underage not to rush the stage." More than you can say for the bands at Woodstock '99.

"The Roots Come Alive!" also features a highlight on newcomer Jill Scott who has some serious smooth jazz-vocal chops.

I get the impression, from reading the liner notes and such, that The Roots are a little annoyed at being the rap band white folk like. There's even some joking at how some tour managers used to book them as jazz-alternative or spoken word, anything other than rap or hip hop. The truth is, they are different from most of the canned, boring and un-inspired rap music being produced these days. I'll invite anyone to point me in the direction of another act that incorporates such great musicianship and positive political messages. When you strip it down and analyze it, The Roots are a harder-edged, more talented, less goofy (and quotable) version of Soul Coughing. Anyone who disagrees is allowing bias to get in the way.

So maybe Soul Coughing might one day be known as the rock act black people who don't like rock like? Stranger things have happened. All I know is that I still yearn for a day when great music isn't automatically affiliated with a race or ethnicity. The Roots, with their professionalism and polish, have revitalized my interest in hip-hop. If more bands follow their lead, we're in for a treat.

As a bonus, "The Roots Come Alive!" features the poppy single "What You Want" from the new film The Best Man. It is a Mowtown-y toe-tapper, thick with horns, proving that even when cranking out a radio hit, The Roots are puting in the extra effort.


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Name: NeeNee
Subject: Answer 4 Jay
-- Apr 17, 2005 at 2:58PM
The NAME OF THE SONG is THE SEED

Name: Jay
Subject: song search
-- Apr 10, 2005 at 12:45PM
in search of a song by the roots that has the lyrics. "its gonna work becuase im pushing it right". would like the title of the song. thanks

Name: king
Subject: grief
-- Jul 26, 2003 at 1:59PM
fantastic speeches

Name: GRIEF_21
Subject: 2PAC
-- Mar 13, 2003 at 3:02PM
Killing us one by one
In one way or another
America will find a way to eliminate the problem
One by one
The problem is
the troubles in the black youth of the ghettos
And one by one
we are being wiped off the face of this earth
At an extremly alarming rate
And even more alarming is the fact
that we are not fighting back
Brothers, sistas, niggas
When I say niggas it is not the nigga we are grown to fear
It is not the nigga we say as if it has no meaning
But to me
It means Never Ignorant Getting Goals Acomplished, nigga
Niggas what are we going to do
Walk blind into a line or fight
Fight and die if we must like niggas

This is for the masses the lower classes
The ones you left out, jobs were givin', better livin'
But we were kept out
Made to feel inferior, but we're the superior
Break the chains in our brains that made us fear yah
Pledge a legiance to a flag that neglects us
Honour a man that who refuses to respect us
Emmancipation, proclamation, Please!
Nigga just said that to save the nation
These are lies that we all accepted
Say no to drugs but the governments' keep it
Running through our community, killing the unity
The war on drugs is a war on you and me
And yet they say this is the Home of The Free
But if you ask me its all about hyprocracy
The constitution, Yo, it don't apply to me
Lady Liberty still the bitch lied to me
Steady strong nobody's gonna like what I pumpin'
But its wrong to keeping someone from learning something
So get up, its time to start nation building
I'm fed up, we gotta start teaching children
That they can be all that they wanna to be
There's much more to life than just poverty

This is defaintly ahhh words of wisdom
AMERIKA, AMERIKA, AMERIKKKA
I charge you with the crime of rape, murder, and assault
For suppressing and punishing my people
I charge you with robery for robbing me of my history
I charge you with false imprisonment for keeping me
Trapped in the projects
And the jury finds you guilty on all accounts
And you are to serve the consequences of your evil schemes
Prosecutor do you have any more evidience

Words of Wisdom
They shine upon the strength of an nation
Conquer the enemy on with education
Protect thy self, reach with what you wanna do
Know thy self, teach what we been through
On with the knowledge of the place, then
No one will ever oppress this race again
No Malcolm X in my history text
Why is that?
Cause he tried to educate and liberate all blacks
Why is Martin Luther King in my book each week?
He told blacks, if they get smacked, turn the other cheek
I don't get it, so many questions went through my mind
I get sweated, They act as if asking questions is a crime
But forget it, one day I'm gonna prove them wrong
Now every brother had to smother on the welfare line
The american dream, though it seems it attainable
They're pulling your sleeve, don't believe
Cause it will strangle yah
Pulling the life of your brain, I can't explain
Beg as you can obtain from which you came
Swear that your mother is living in equality
Forgeting your brother that's living her apology
Thought they had us beat when they took our kids
But the battle ain't over till the black man sings
Words of Wisdom
But the battle ain't over till the black man sings
Words of Wisdom

NIGHTMARE thats what I am
America's nightmare
I am what you made me
The hate and evil that you gave me
I shine of a reminder of what you have done to my people
for Four hundred plus years
You should be scared
You should be running
You should be trying to silence me
ha ha
But you can not escape fate
Well it is my turn to come
Just as you rose you shall fall
By my hands
Amerika, You reap what you sow
2pacalypse America's Nightmare
Ice Cube and Da Lench Mob America's Nightmare
Above the Law America's Nightmare
Paris America's Nightmare
Public Enemy America's Nightmare
Krs-One America's Nightmare
Mutulu Shakur America's Nightmare
Geronimo Pratt America's Nightmare
Assatta Shakur America's Nightmare

Before you diss PAC actually listen 2 his music homeboy.... talking about he's on the verge of going 2 sleep... u speak about things u dont know....

Name: FuNBaLLs2002
Subject: Shiz and j. Hoffman
-- May 8, 2002 at 3:23AM
Well done review. Rap hasn't been good since the 80's. But I do have to argue. Snoop and Dr.Dre have and still produce some of the most sick shit ever witnessed by the human ear. Shiz you have less merrit then hoffman, most likely. You, most likely, listen to nothing more than Hip-Hop/Rap, Hoffman is coming from a much bigger genre of music qith a miss understanding that all rap/hip-hop isn't shit. OutKast qouted, "I met a critic, I made her shit her drawers, she said, "I thought hip-hop was only guns and alcohol." But then it's that too. You can't discriminateor hate 'cause you read a book o' two."
Greats: Dilated Peoples, J5, dj Logic, Guru, OutKast, Snoop, anything Dre produces, black eye peas, and DIGABLE PLANETS Kick ass.

Name: Shiz
Subject: J. Hoffman
-- Apr 11, 2002 at 8:26AM
You were too bias to do this article. You have NO Real knowledge of the skill of hip-hop and rap. If the only examples you can site of good rap is stuff from the 80's then stick to the 80's music. If you're going to bash the the two best rappers to have ever done it(Biggie, Pac), with absolutely no merrit you don't deserve the right to dish this garbage out.

Name: Alveatta Ferebee
Subject: J. HOFFMAN
-- Nov 28, 2001 at 2:03PM
In order to understand the aesthetic value of this art form, I have found that you must first be subject to its curriculum in some aspect. Truthfully, with the current rash of commercial rap, hip-hop has become the misrepresentation and the misinterpretation of an art that once reflected the dramatic, yet beautiful cries from the offspring of a people who have, since the beginning of time, followed the trance-like beating of a distant, yet native drum. THE ROOTS, SLUM VILLAGE, COMMON SENSE, : "THE SOUL AQUARIANS," producer JD, along with singers JILL SCOTT, ERYKAH BADUH, D'ANGELO, and BILAL. HI TEK & TALIB KWALIB. OUTKAST AND THE DUNGEON FAMILY........ all of these "artists" have returned to the drum, that distant calling of the heart to a foreign land that is hauntingly familiar. MR.HOFFMAN, understand that we are a rainbow of eclectic people and that "hip-hop" and "rap" are very distinct elements, with different principles. Do not classify individuals with groups that is very inportant. Become subjective........ allow yourself to exscape all data that causes you to interpepret this art with such a prejudice ear..... and listen.

Name: HUHA
Subject: the best hip hop
-- Nov 12, 2001 at 12:14PM
come to serbia in belgrade

Name: HUHA
Subject: the best hip hop
-- Nov 12, 2001 at 12:14PM
come to serbia in belgrade

Name: SMNYANDA
Subject: THE ROOTS
-- Sep 26, 2001 at 3:06AM
ONE OF THE BEST HIP HOP GROUPS AROUND.THEY SAY RAGGAE IS A DESCENDENT OF RAP MUSIC OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND AND THE ROOTS SYMBOLISE THAT RELATIONSHIP CLEARLY

Name: Leah
Subject: Roots
-- Oct 11, 2000 at 10:08PM
I know i was a little rude but after hearing the live album I don't know how you could ever like the studio album again. The Roots are definately not a studio group. They are performers.

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: How white can you be
-- Oct 11, 2000 at 4:40PM
Would I have been more street if I said I didn't like the studio album?

Name: Leah
Subject: PS
-- Oct 11, 2000 at 3:49PM
You want good music check out Mos def + Talib Kweli, Common, Jurassic 5, and Dilated Peoples. Maybe you can ask your "black" friends what they think about them.

Name: Leah
Subject: How white can you be
-- Oct 11, 2000 at 3:46PM
This guy who writes this review man I don't know. "I really dig the roots and their brilliant studio album" YOU ARE THAT DORK IN THE RECORD STORE WHO ALWAYS WANTS TO ADD HIS 2 CENTS ON HIP HOP. GO out and live it. Where is this guy from any way. The suburbs perhaps.

Name: Brian
Subject: Roots
-- Jun 5, 2000 at 3:01AM
Black, white, yellow, green...no matter what race you are, the Roots will appeal to you.
I dont think they should care because music is an art form, and the fact that they can appeal to such a diverse crowd should only speak volumes to their musical prowess.

Name: Brent Cowley
Subject: Coughing
-- May 9, 2000 at 4:49PM
I'm sorry, but that comment about Soul Coughing becoming popular among "black folks" is pretty ill-advised. Soul Coughing really don't seem that similar to the Roots to me. They are beatnik crap, one must agree, with much less complex music than the Roots. The Roots have much more likelihood of capturing a large audience than the pretense that is M. Doughty and the Coughing Cru.

Also, I don't think that live instrumentation in Rap is a good idea. It is interesting for the Roots because it is a singular pleasure. Rap is and always will be about sound collage, and I must agree with you that Public Enemy is the best rap group in history. You should check out, if you haven't already, Eric B. and Rakim, and Kool Keith, who I think is by far the best rapper of all time. Gorged on words.

Name: Josh Smolinski
Subject: Come Alive!
-- Feb 6, 2000 at 11:01PM
The Roots are the best!
Their live album is soo
good. Some live albums
i have heard are good
and some bad, but this
the BEST!!! I have been
a fan of The Roots and
own all of their albums
and they are one of my
favorite bands which
include Rage Against The
Machine, The Deftones,
and Tool. I love the
album and would highly
recommend their other
albums!!!!

any other Roots fans
can e-mail me at
ratm888@hotmail.com

Name: Devo
Subject: COME ALIVE!
-- Dec 16, 1999 at 10:24PM
i'm an Illadelph local, nah' mean!?
so The Roots be local here.
Let me tell you something...if The Roots
are ever in your town, go peep them out!
they are the best live act i've seen in years
for hip hop. COME ALIVE! is without a doubt
the finest live hip hop i have ever heard.
i'm looking forward to VOL. 2!!!

Name: Brad
Subject: Come Alive
-- Dec 12, 1999 at 1:29AM
The Roots played at the U of Delaware for the black student union and more white dudes showed up than black. The Roots noticed.

Name: Marc
Subject: if you like COME ALIVE!...
-- Nov 27, 1999 at 4:15PM
Seeing as the reviewer of The Roots Come Alive! is relatively new to the band, i would REALLY recommend the 4 other releases they have put out aside from the 2 mentioned.
"Organix", "Do You Want More??!!!?!!", "Illadelph Halflife", and the EP "The Legendary" are all genius!!!!!


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