The Roots

On their eighth LP, the Roots continue to evolve, exploring different musical styles without sacrificing the funk. Intelligent vocalism and neck-breaking beats still abound, and the Philly crew impresses as usual, especially on tracks like the De La Soul-esque "Stay Cool" and the explosive "BOOM!"

The planet's greatest live hip-hop band has a problem. The Roots are staggering under the
weight of their own talent and trying to figure out where they fit within the matrix of
hip-hop and pop music in general: Are they the public face of the rap underground, or are
they reaching for the big time, whatever it takes? Their sixth studio album is calculated to
display their range -- buttery pop choruses, hard-as-hell hookless spitting, jitter... More >

Foolhardy though it was to saddle such an uncrucial record with a title that dares the young and the restless to bitch about how it doesn't change the world, the rest of us are free to enjoy how confidently it develops a groove. Theme-setting Sly remake leads to varied confluences of democracy and Black Thought (try the hummed and mumbled hook of "Don't Say Nuthin'") that swing up at the end through two attention getters certain to dismay the restless--Timbabeats, how 2003! Then, to remind us they're a hip-hop band, there's a bonus cut for their sole virtuoso--which means ?uestlove, not Kamal. They understand what they can do, and what they can't. That's 2004 enough for me. (Grade - A-)