― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:53 (eighteen years ago) link
― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 19:18 (eighteen years ago) link
http://blogs.okayplayer.com/theroots/2008/04/04/exclusive-freestyle/
black thought and malik b back to back in 94!
they should never have let malik b go*. black thought is so much better with a partner.
*and get addicted to drugs
― titchyschneiderMk2, Sunday, 6 April 2008 12:25 (sixteen years ago) link
THE NEW ALBUM IS THE FUCKING BEST
― 404 Error: Page Not Found, Monday, 16 June 2008 22:44 (sixteen years ago) link
new album is aite ive been down for these dudes since illadelph & game theory is the fucking best
― and what, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 00:02 (sixteen years ago) link
O_O
― Jordan, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 00:15 (sixteen years ago) link
I WON'T APOLOGIZE
― 404 Error: Page Not Found, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 02:59 (sixteen years ago) link
Dud now but classic before.
― VeronaInTheClub, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 03:55 (sixteen years ago) link
game theory is the fucking best
yes ^^^ their best album in a looong time.
― stephen, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 19:53 (sixteen years ago) link
no huge roots fan and jb-humping whatever but this is the shit
http://www.twitvid.com/62CAC
― Nasty, Crutis & Short (The Reverend), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 07:51 (fourteen years ago) link
its ok. ronson+good jb pastiche+too long chorus+black thought reciting more platitudes.
― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 08:21 (fourteen years ago) link
sure, but it absolutely smokes in spite of all that
― Nasty, Crutis & Short (The Reverend), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 08:42 (fourteen years ago) link
that chorus is the corniest.
― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 08:46 (fourteen years ago) link
Hearing their new album and I think it's pretty good, probably the best thing I've heard from them.
― Moka, Monday, 5 July 2010 05:39 (thirteen years ago) link
Think I might go catch them at Prospect Park next weekend. Their records never 100% do it for me but they're always pretty good and the live show is solid.
― surfer blood for oil (Hurting 2), Monday, 5 July 2010 05:44 (thirteen years ago) link
"Hearing their new album and I think it's pretty good, probably the best thing I've heard from them."
what, ever?
― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Monday, 5 July 2010 08:19 (thirteen years ago) link
it is pretty good. not sure if it's the best, but it's more consistent than some of their other albums.
― borntohula, Monday, 5 July 2010 10:48 (thirteen years ago) link
Really getting into this, more so than anything they've put out since Phrenology. The consistency of it; it has a great sustained mood throughout.
― Born too beguiled (DavidM), Thursday, 8 July 2010 14:00 (thirteen years ago) link
questo's drumming at the end of "you got me" is so o_O
― Mister AOR (The Reverend), Saturday, 17 July 2010 10:20 (thirteen years ago) link
pretty sure the drums at the end are programmed (although he kinda plays those beats when they do it live)
― some dude, Saturday, 17 July 2010 11:20 (thirteen years ago) link
iirc he did play them, or at least has said he played them in the past.
― one man meme-denier (a hoy hoy), Saturday, 17 July 2010 11:36 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah? i know he's done lots of stuff that was live but didn't sound live, just never thought that was one. nice.
― some dude, Saturday, 17 July 2010 11:44 (thirteen years ago) link
'Little did we know this would win us a Grammy and that the future gods of arthritis would forever haunt me.'
http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001881/Ahmir%20%E2%80%9CQuestlove%E2%80%9D%20Thompson
― just sayin, Saturday, 17 July 2010 12:19 (thirteen years ago) link
my friend keeps playing the new record. i thought the joanna newsom hook was a parody first time i heard it but no.
yeh he def plays the "you got me" outro
― zvookster, Saturday, 17 July 2010 15:43 (thirteen years ago) link
"long time" off game theory is so fucking sick
― honkin' on joey kramer (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 12 November 2010 14:00 (thirteen years ago) link
fuck yeah. classic peedi verse too.
― deej otm? (some dude), Friday, 12 November 2010 14:29 (thirteen years ago) link
so these guys are gonna be the house band for the tonight showit's a strange world
― i petted a bodega cat today. (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 20 March 2013 22:52 (eleven years ago) link
damn, did leno put a power move on fallon or
― cunnilingus ah um (The Reverend), Wednesday, 20 March 2013 23:33 (eleven years ago) link
oh i see
― cunnilingus ah um (The Reverend), Wednesday, 20 March 2013 23:34 (eleven years ago) link
Made their best video about dissing bling-bling and then the rap world kept blinging while the roots sort of faded from consciousness. Poor calculation on their part
lol
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Thursday, 21 March 2013 06:10 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.youtube.com/embed/3woHfDKTjqU
― tsrobodo, Thursday, 21 March 2013 06:18 (eleven years ago) link
Hmm, where does this go? I'll put it here. ?uestlove's essay on rap and black culture, part one:
http://www.vulture.com/2014/04/questlove-on-how-hip-hop-failed-black-america.html
"When the People Cheer: How Hip-Hop Failed Black America"
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 1 May 2014 15:24 (ten years ago) link
Part two is here: http://www.vulture.com/2014/04/questlove-on-money-jay-z-how-hip-hop-failed-black-america-part-2.html
"Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: How Hip-Hop Failed Black America, Part II"
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 1 May 2014 15:28 (ten years ago) link
I kind of want to keep bumping this to hear some reactions, unless this was already discussed somewhere.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 1 May 2014 19:41 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, I thought it was strange that no one brought this up here…
Also odd that the guy —who I interviewed once and was startled that he mentioned what Xgau thought of some rekkid or another apropos of nothing— is so concerned that hip-hop didn't end up raising consciousness to the extent that he wanted it to…or transform the world. yeah, it turns out most people like songs about primal shit like partying, fucking and material goods. Very bourgie to be disappointed that the music you identify with doesn't end up transcending human nature.
― veronica moser, Thursday, 1 May 2014 20:10 (ten years ago) link
bullshit. He was becoming a man when hip hop was teeming with sociopolitical commentary, with a directness and anger that stood out from virtually all even semi-popular music before it. X hats, Africa medallions, Nation of Islam-inspired thought. It's only natural for someone that fired up by the hip hop from that era to be disappointed by its near complete abandonment of those subjects to its current fixations.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Thursday, 1 May 2014 20:32 (ten years ago) link
OK, I totally get that. but being that his reputation is that of a guy whose frame of reference includes popular music writ large, and not just hip-hop, you would think that he would have an awareness that someone like, say, Pete Townshend ran around in the wake of 60s rock saying "rock and roll is gonna change everything." and it didn't, and Townshend and I guess Joe strummer etc etc had to go on with their lives…hip-hop has gone through the same thing that just about every radical musical idiom to reach millions of people ever has. but then, songs about base desires don't offend me.
― veronica moser, Thursday, 1 May 2014 20:45 (ten years ago) link
He has awareness of "popular music writ large" but he LOVES hip hop and it had a huge impact on him at an important time in one's life (child to teenager to adult transitions).
hip-hop has gone through the same thing that just about every radical musical idiom to reach millions of people ever has.
which is a very limited sample size! and there's no natural law that says this must be the case. plus when you are in love with an artform you are understandably somewhat blinkered in your appraisal of it. "sure those other artforms became meaningless but THIS is DIFFERENT".
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Thursday, 1 May 2014 20:56 (ten years ago) link
maybe rap is due for its own "this is spinal tap" about now?
― Yarli Simon (rattled), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:06 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qzacv8dtb4
^^^readers digest version
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:09 (ten years ago) link
ha
― steendriver dysphoria hoos (The Reverend), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:10 (ten years ago) link
I don't understand the desire there seems to be to have everyone be as detached and jaded about things as the observer is. Particulary head-scratching when it's applied to people who are so obviously very wrapped up with and self identify with the thing or things they ought to be detached from and jaded about.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:10 (ten years ago) link
― Yarli Simon (rattled), Thursday, May 1, 2014 5:06 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_a_Black_Hat
― Doritos Loco Parentis (Hurting 2), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:11 (ten years ago) link
i don't understand either of those sentences xp
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:11 (ten years ago) link
i thought CB4 was our 'this is spinal tap'
maybe it comes from being a writer and always analyzing things such as "pop music writ large", I dunno
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:12 (ten years ago) link
Rock and Roll helped to change a lot of things imo. I think it contributed to the liberalization of certain social attitudes and probably gave consumerism and materialist individualism a big boost.
― Doritos Loco Parentis (Hurting 2), Thursday, 1 May 2014 21:13 (ten years ago) link
what is a roots show like these days? ive not seen them in quite a few years but am curious to know what kind of set they do now (theyre in london next month). is it just lots of jamming? lots of covers?
― StillAdvance, Tuesday, 23 June 2015 09:36 (eight years ago) link
black thought just put out a record, anyone hear it?
― Slippage (Ross), Wednesday, 6 June 2018 22:29 (six years ago) link
RIP Malik B.
― pomenitul, Wednesday, 29 July 2020 22:21 (three years ago) link
ahh man no fuckin way =(
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 29 July 2020 22:28 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt-K7DwrG90
fucking jam. rest in peace.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 29 July 2020 22:48 (three years ago) link
Damn, I don't listen to as much rap as a lot of people around here do, but Illadelph Halflife was a big record for me when I was about 18, and nowadays, if a random hip-hop lyric pops into my head for some reason, it's probably Malik B.
― peace, man, Wednesday, 29 July 2020 22:48 (three years ago) link
npr swipe.
just. . . man.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 29 July 2020 22:55 (three years ago) link
fuck man, always had a soft spot for him.
i trained wack emcees in camps like ex-marines
― mozzy star (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 29 July 2020 23:17 (three years ago) link
Damn he was my favorite, especially on Things Fall Apart, him and Dice Raw
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 30 July 2020 02:37 (three years ago) link
best ever malik b:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnrUePtOcXA
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, 30 July 2020 03:02 (three years ago) link
I'm symbolic to a ballot, it's Abdul MalikDon't approach with bullshit, I'm quick to call it invalidRoute through your district, we keep it simplisticNo need for the rapper to talk, put it on haltShow me the vault, or the safe, cause I'm on the paper chaseWade through route states for bout thirty down my waistI'm tryna get it, these rain bottling thoughts become acidicWith one in the chamber, ready to aim and spit itA girlfriend and team made million cash just splinteredI take what you got to give, cause I got to liveThe last hour, I bet your ass in rack showerMight act up, but I still can pass Da'wahI'm using new ways to try to reach these better daysInstead of tryna take you under, I just make you wonderI still fast, make salaat and pay zakaatI didn't make Hajj yet, but that's my next projectLiving two lives, one of turn and one with true liesKeeping up hope, knowing he's answering to my du'asIn the quarters living modest with my nigga TrotterI circle my foes like a tawaf around the ka'baI used to live life like there was no mañanaNow I'm treating every breath like it was Your HonorI'm Mill-itill-itant with the Fifth that stand firm like a pillarI'm I and T-L like Manilla
THISISWHATIT'SALLABOUT
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, 30 July 2020 03:07 (three years ago) link
Just dropping in to say this album Black Thought & El Michels Affair released this week is extremely fine.
― ⓓⓡ (Johnny Fever), Friday, 14 April 2023 05:15 (one year ago) link
Thanks for the head’s up, JF!
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 14 April 2023 08:46 (one year ago) link
Black Thought is one of the if not the single most underrated MCs. That Funk Flex show where he free-styled coherently for like 10 minutes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prmQgSpV3fA
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 14 April 2023 11:30 (one year ago) link
Will check that out, thanks JF. I enjoyed this podcast going back through Things Fall Apart, which still hits me as one of the best *sounding* records ever made.https://player.fm/series/the-questions-hip-hop-trivia/making-illmatic-the-roots-things-fall-apart-w-supastition
Also I'm calling it now, based on the clips one heard, the next Roots record will be their best since TFA.
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 14 April 2023 15:10 (one year ago) link
Thanks for the heads up!
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 14 April 2023 15:11 (one year ago) link
Things Fall Apart sounds *sooooooo* good that I can barely listen to it anywhere but on a good stereo.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 14 April 2023 15:12 (one year ago) link
Beanie Sigel's verse on "Adrenaline!" with the "n' nem" flow is one of my favs of all time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlu0W-mHAIw
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 14 April 2023 15:30 (one year ago) link
YES
― horseshoe, Sunday, 16 April 2023 18:09 (one year ago) link
THAT SONG RULES SO HARD
one time it came on at a club i was in in Chicago and my sisters and i lost our minds. others seemed bemused.
― horseshoe, Sunday, 16 April 2023 18:10 (one year ago) link
gotta listen to it right now
great getting ready music
will make you feel invulnerable
THEY USED TO TALK SHITBUT IMMA QUIET 'EM
― horseshoe, Sunday, 16 April 2023 18:14 (one year ago) link
Now I'm enjoying Open Mike Eagle's podcast series w/Questlove, currently going through Things Fall Apart (they already did the first three records). I'll never tire of learning tiny nerdy production details about this record.
For one I always thought this was one of the records done at Electric Lady, but it was all in Philly (drums/instruments recorded at Sigma Sound). Truly a testament to the '90s music industry funding seemingly infinite studio time.
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Thursday, 21 December 2023 21:34 (five months ago) link