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Track Listings
| 1. Act Won...Things Fall Apart |
| 2. Table Of Contents (Parts 1 & 2) - The Roots |
| 3. The Next Movement (ft. DJ Jazzy Jeff) |
| 4. Step Into The Realm |
| 5. The Spark - The Roots |
| 6. Dynamite! |
| 7. Without A Doubt - The Roots |
| 8. Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New |
| 9. Double Trouble |
| 10. Act Too...The Love Of My Life |
| 11. 100% Dundee |
| 12. Diedre Vs. Dice |
| 13. Adrenaline |
| 14. 3rd Act: ? Vs. Scratch 2...Electric Boogaloo |
| 15. You Got Me |
| 16. You Don't See Us |
| 17. Return To Innocence Lost |
| 18. Act Fore...The End? |
Product Description
Amazon.ca
Very few hip-hop groups make it to their fourth full-length recording, and perhaps only the Roots have made it to that level while still ascending. Although lyrical and musical vision is sorely lacking from most hip-hop (as Puff and Master P have proved, vision isn't necessary to bum-rush the mainstream goldmine), such qualities are cornerstones of the Roots' music. Their second recording, 1995's Do You Want More?, and its follow-up, 1996's Illadelph Halflife, intelligently linked hip-hop to its musical forebears funk and jazz, and their lyrics provided unique, post-nationalist hip-hop critiques. On Things Fall Apart (named for the Chinua Achebe novel) the sextet takes on a more sombre tone, but at no cost to their musical innovations. "If we had to depend on black people to eat, we'd starve to death," says Denzel Washington, sampled from Mo' Better Blues, at the outset of the recording. It's not self-pity--rather, the group frequently returns to the theme of how many African Americans confuse uniformity with unity. Musically, the group is at its best with guests such as Mos Def and Talib Kweli from Black Star contributing some old-school fun and technique to "Double Trouble". Erykah Badu's supple vocals on "You Got Me" are offset by innovative percussion, including an organically developed jungle beat. At a point when most rappers are running on fumes, the Roots are synthesising new ideas. --Martin Johnson
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Audio CD
I first heard this album when I was 18. I'm 24 now and it's still great. Prior to listening to things fall apart I loathed most hip hop music. I was still stuck in the grunge era mindframe and I saw very little artistic integrity in mainstream hip hop.
One day a friend offered me a ride home and played this CD for me in his car. I was hooked and still am to this day. Not only is this CD great but also most of the other albums they have made are too.
I don't think I'd ever really have taken hip hop seriously if it wasn't for these guys.
Format:Audio CD
This CD here was the ultimate bomb back in
'98 & '99 when I was still living in NYC!!
'98 & '99 when I was still living in NYC!!
That was the year of Lauryn Hill's "Miseducation",
Redman's "Doc's Tha Name 2000", The Black-Eyed Peas debut
"Behind The Front" and Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life"...
a great & original time for hip-hop since of course the
true heyday!! (1979-1995)
The Roots, along with all these other aforementioned
hip-hip acts, along with the then flowering neo-soul
movement(ala Erykah Badu, Maxwell, D'Angelo & Angie Stone)
were breaking new ground in urban music
and becoming a hybrid sound all it's own!
"Things Fall Apart" will be looked at as a classic
as the years go on by this generation!---Buy It!
By blakletter
Format:Audio CD
If you're looking for the standard fare, you'd probably be better off looking elsewhere. The Roots ooze talent in each and every track of grass roots hip hop they put out. Intelligent lyrics and amazing musicianship are the hallmarks of this essential album. You can seperate your friends with great taste from those without just by asking them if they own this album.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best I own period.
This is the best Hip Hop CD I own, and I don't own many beyond 1995. I just happened upon this group, and now they are one of my favorite. Read more
Published on Dec 17 2003 by Prof
5.0 out of 5 stars
True Notes
Okay, let's drop all the artsy-fartsy, overanalytical pretense and face the facts: the Roots are responsible for some of the most enjoyable hip-hop records ever released for mass... Read more
Published on Nov 21 2003 by djones2387
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hip-hop for "intelligent people".
First of all, I must warn that I am not a very experienced listener of rap, so you should take my opinion with precaution. Read more
Published on Nov 10 2003 by "ranagrossa"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing Like It
This is one of my favorite albums ever. I'm not usually into R&B or rap but The Roots are definitely different. Read more
Published on Nov 9 2003 by D. Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent Rap...produces another all-time classic album!!!
Undeniably a turning point album for 'The Roots'. Widely recognised as either their best album or second best (behind "Phrenology"), it opens with a film dialogue sampled, social... Read more
Published on Oct 29 2003 by fetish_2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Masterpiece
This album is one of the most inspiring, beautiful, intelligent, grooving, hip, and enlightening works of art you will ever experience. Read more
Published on Oct 22 2003 by Eric Barstad
5.0 out of 5 stars
Things do Fall Apart
Things fall apart is not the best offering from the Roots but comes D@mn near close. ***Lyric content*** Black thought, Malik B, and Dice Raw step up to the plate with grand slams... Read more
Published on Oct 8 2003 by John Alefosio
5.0 out of 5 stars
Things do Fall Apart
Things fall apart is not the best offering from the Roots but comes D@mn near close. ***Lyric content*** Black thought, Malik B, and Dice Raw step up to the plate with grand slams... Read more
Published on Oct 8 2003 by John Alefosio
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely amazing
This album is very much a piece of art. It certifies that The Roots are indeed "the ultimate." Money well spent.
Published on Sep 18 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
Things Fall Apart is a fantastic album, their best in my opinion, musically speaking at least. It is rare that a group can compose songs that impose a deep connection between you... Read more
Published on Jun 18 2003
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