The Roots

Product Details

* Audio CD (July 13, 2004)
* Format: Explicit Lyrics
* Label: Geffen Records
* ASIN: B0002A2WAY
* Also Available in: LP Record
* Average Customer Review: based on 143 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,549 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music)
Yesterday: #14,319 in Music

Listen to Samples
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1. Star/Pointro Listen Listen
2. I Don't Care Listen Listen
3. Don't Say Nuthin' Listen Listen
4. Guns Are Drawn Listen Listen
5. Stay Cool Listen Listen
6. Web Listen Listen
7. Boom! Listen Listen
8. Somebody's Gotta Do It Listen Listen
9. Duck Down! Listen Listen
10. Why (What's Goin' On?) Listen Listen
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
On their sixth album, the Roots backslide a bit on the creative promise they showed with 2002's Phrenology. Instead of expanding into more ambitious and experimental areas--the way Outkast has, for example--the Roots tend to fall back to basics with vigorous, but ultimately conventional, lyricism. There are definitely some truly great moments here: the album opens with near-magic on "Star," a mesmerizing song that is one of the finest of the group's career, and Black Thought is a one-man tour de force on "Boom!" where he mimics Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap down to their velour sweats. But The Tipping Point also has some of their blandest production ever, and, at 10 tracks (plus two hidden cuts), the compactness of the album makes the problem spots stand out more than usual. "I Don't Care" and "Duck Down!" in particular seem derivative and commercially tailored. The main thing missing here is an overall guiding concept, something the Roots have never lacked before. --Oliver Wang
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
Hip-Hop, it's not pop like Kylie Minogue, August 26, 2004
Reviewer: Alan Pounds "music obsessor" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This was the first album I've purchased by The Roots. I absolutely loved it, so I went out and bought Things Fall Apart and Come Alive. All three of these are excellent; but I did notice some differences between the albums.

There is some great lyricism and music on all of the albums; but I got to say, I love all the loose, free flowing jams they kick out on The Tipping Point. It seems that it focuses more on the jazzy rhythms to convey it's message of chillness; and it succeeds admirably.

The first track - Star/Pointro is probably the best song I've heard yet from The Roots. Some other stand-out tracks would have to be - Guns are Drawn and Stay Cool. It starts to loose a little steam after track seven, although the last track - Why (What's Goin On?), is killer with ?uestlove going off with some crazy drum soloing.

All in all The Tipping Point is a great album, and has inspired me to discover more of their discography. Don't hesitate to pick this one up.

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Can't Believe I Slept On This..., September 19, 2005
Reviewer: Ludacris88 (New York) - See all my reviews
Now I've been a Roots fan for a while now, and before this week, I had every Roots album besides 'The Tipping Point' (yes, I even own 'Organix'). I hadn't really heard many good things about it, and was going to pick it up eventually, but it wasn't a priority. When I was at the CD store to buy the new Smif N Wessun album, I saw this CD sitting on the used shelf for only about $7.99, and I realized that under the used wrapping, it was brand new (factory sealed and all). So, I decided to buy it too (along with the 'He Got Game Soundtrack' used for only about $5.99), not with very high expectations. After listening to it 3 times, I can safely say it's definately up to par with all of the Roots other work.

For this album, the main criticism is that "the beats are too bland and boring". Although I don't think the beats are lacking at all, I think that The Roots made the beats a little more simplistic, so the album could center around Black Thought a bit more. I actually think this is a good thing, because Black Thought is one of my favorite MC's in the game, and one of the best of all time, and he truly shines on this album.

The production on the album is handled by The Roots, and affiliates, like all of their other albums. ?uestlove ('Star', 'Guns Are Drawn' & 'I Don't Care'), Anthony Tidd, Frank "Knuckles" Walker, & Richard Nichols ('Guns Are Drawn' & 'I Don't Care'), Scott Storch ('Don't Say Nuthin' & 'Duck Down'), Melvin 'Chaos' Lewis ('Stay Cool' & 'Boom!'), Robert 'LB' Dorsey ('Web'), Tahir Jamal ('Somebody's Gotta Do It'), & Zoukhan ('Why? (What's Goin' On?) all provide pretty much dope beats.

As for the album lyrically, its top notch. As I said, Black Thought drops hot verses throughout the entire album, that are good enough basically to carry the album if the beats were really lacking.

Top 5 Songs (In Order):

1. Star/Pointro - One of the smoothest rap songs I've ever heard, classic Roots production (with a great Sly The Family Stone sample) and Black Thought opens up the album with some of his best verses

2. Guns Are Drawn - Another that quickly became one of my favorite Roots songs. Love the beat here, and again one of Black Thought's highlights lyrically

3. Boom! - The best flow on the whole album, and as the Amazon Editorial Review said, it really does sound like a Kane or G Rap imitation. I even think he might have lifted a G Rap line: "Homonyms, synonyms good like M&M's"...Not sure but I think I recognize that from some G Rap & Polo song

4. Why? (What's Goin On?) - Love the production here, and Black Thought slows it down a bit to make a GREAT song

5. I Don't Care - Love the drums and bass, also the catchiest hook on here (do I even have to mention that Black Thought spits fire again?)

Worst Track:

Duck Down! - The beat can get kinda annoying (its not BAD, but the worst on the CD). And Black Thought is decent on here...Just overall is an "OK" track

Lyrics/Substance/Subject Matter - 9/10
Flow/Delivery - 9/10
Production - 8.5/10
Overall Feel - 9/10

Guest Apperances - 6/10 - Riq Gees, Jean Grae & Mac - All on one song ('Somebody's Gotta Do It'), and the only one I'm actually a fan of is Jean Grae, but they all drop decent/pretty good verses. But, the song doesn't stand out, and they don't play an important role here at all.
Overall Rating - 8.5/10 - Highly reccomended, and a must have for any fan of The Roots...This one surprised me, and just might surprise you… (más)