The Roots - Rising Down

3.0/5
The Roots are one of the most respected rap groups in the game. Led by MC Black Thought and drummer ?uestlove, they make dark, politically conscious rap with a full live band. Their new album Rising Down has substantial highlights, but the album as a whole struggles with being TOO dark. A few songs have great beats, like "Get Busy" and ?uestlove's drum-thumping in "75 Bars", but most of the beats are uninspired. Of course I've always been one to overwhelmingly appreciate a song's musicality and melody more than the lyrics, and the same goes for rap. I care much more if the track has a sick beat than if the lyrics are good. So those who have an affinity with lyrics may appreciate the album more than me. But even paying close attention to the lyrics, I find that they lack any kind of sense of humor. Even politically conscious rap can be clever, but I find these tracks lacking in that cleverness. Besides the two tracks I mentioned before, "Criminal" is a great song with an enjoyable chorus and "Rising Up" is probably the catchiest song on the album. Good stuff, but it could have been better.