1. Star / Pointro Opened is the album with the classic "Everybody is a Star" by the legendary funk group Sly & The Family Stone. This is played from an old record, as does the static clearly. The following is an reibunsloser transition to the beat of "Star" , of course, on the of "Everybody is a star" is based. A very nice intro. The track "Star" itself is a foretaste of what the listener expects here a whole album long. Very good rap inspired on rather quiet soul and funk beats. In terms of content Black Thought gets going right the first time. The development of today's young people in big cities is addressed until then more about the development of the rap scene, with, unfortunately, "a lot of bullshit floodin the scene", so "much garbage flooded the scene" in the third stanza. A super start, for a super album. Immediately followed on the opening track of the album actually intro. "Star" gradually fades out and the "PoIntro" begins. 2. I do not care (feat. DOM) The track was one of the first that was recorded for the new album. Although? Uestlove and his musicians had the track in just 10 minutes away ready, a very good beat came out. Black Thought rhymes over and DOM provides the background vocals. 3. Do not say nuthin ' The first single from the album is the only track that has no soul or Fuk influences but sounds more electronic and more bassy is. That makes the song of course not bad, but definitely stands out from the album and adds variety to the overall concept. 4. Guns are drawn (feat. Aaron) Here is one of the best songs on the album. The politically motivated text of Black Thought is completed by the Hook of Aaron Livingston. The beat is melodic and quiet again. It was created in principle by the sampling of the recordings for this song. Thus, the Roots have first a bit they jammed, and then taken the best parts of this jam session and constructed so that the beat. All over the track was later laid still EchoFX whereby the vocals seem even better integrated into the beat, which makes the song sound even better. However, that was not intended, but? Uestlove explains that the EchoFX was used to prevent Sampling ... The following is a live Outro the last tour that the same is the intro for the next track. 5. Stay cool For this track was "Harlem Hendo" Al Hirt sampled that even De La Soul for their track "Ego Trippin '(Part 2)" are used. The Roots rooms so once again the rumor that they had an anti-sampling group. The track is indeed by no means bad, but in proportion to the rest of the album he is a bit below average. Musically it sounds not always around. 6. Web From a technical perspective, this rap track is certainly the best of the album. The beat goes towards very old-school. It is a simple drum-bass beat around it without much. Black Thought rhymes on 85 bars through, without hook or chorus. 7. Boom! On the old-school style is "Boom!" Seamlessly. However, there is still a small hook. The track is the only album that anything goes in the direction of an old-school party jams. 8. Somebody's gotta do it (feat. Jean Grae, Mack Dub & Devin The Dude) For oodles of features the Roots never were known, the more it surprised the longtime fan now if equal cavort three guests here. Jean Grae was already several times, brought by the Roots themselves, as the successor of Scratch as a new group member from this week. At least for this album, it is not yet come, but they may contribute a verse here. ? Uestlove speaks of it as "the best MC, from which you have never heard." Devin can of course sing the hook, and Mack Dub carries verse number 3 in. In this particular an excellent rhyme technique and puns fall at Jean Grae on. 9. Duck down The beat of this track I do not like really good. It sounds a bit raw and metallic. Little after the live band The Roots. This is not to say that it is bad, because a bad track does not have this album, but it just does not sound like the Roots. It is directed against its critics and the superficial fans, while pretending to be a fan, but actually not even know the name of a song or an album. 10. Track number 10 actually hide three tracks. The advertised Track "Why (What's going on?)" And two hidden tracks I now simply durchnummeriere times with a), b) and c). 10 a) Why (What's going on?) The track is part of both content and musically to the best of the album. The song is very critical of society. On the subject of rather sad and quiet beat matches the sampled "Why?" In the chorus. A very good track! 10 b) The mic The track was originally planned as a regular album track, was then but only for Hidden Track. The more rapid beat rises again more from the album off, but sounds good is mainly the only track on the album of absolutely Dancefloor is fit without sounding like a modern pop-rap track. Black Thought tells of his first and only love, "The mic". 10 c)? A small semi-acapella track. ? Uestlove drums, the rest of the song consists of mouth-made music. However, it is not a pure beatboxing. Definitely a ineressante idea, a nice bonus, and above all really well done! Only at the end of the track is a keyboard melody to that takes little by little the whole and then fades out the track and therefore the whole album. Conclusion: As a fan of Roots one is now used a lot. As old-school rap band they came anno 1992 to the big stage of rap. At the latest with "Do you want more !!! ???!" Took over the soul influence the music. On "Things fall apart" and "Phrenology" they experimented then with virtually all music-directions, thereby responding one hand, more new fans but also many old-school fans slightly disgruntled. 2004 Report then suddenly with fresh but pure rap, without experimentation and only with light soul and funk influences back. The Legendary Roots Group therefore goes "Back to the Roots". Overall, the album includes 10 tracks and although 2 hidden bonus tracks, but these 10 have it in them. Quality instead of quantity is not just a saying here. Both musically and lyrically, the group supplies an absolute top album that at least in my hand now is a very strong contender for the title "Album of the Year 2004".
