Years back, Canadian Rock band The Guess Who released a song called “Undun.” The song starts with the line, “She’s come undun / She didn’t know what she was headed for / And when I found what she was headed for / It was too late.” Sharing a title with The Roots’ 14th studio album (including the recent release of Betty Wright: The Movie) is befitting – as The Guess Who painted a picture of a woman who spirals downward in a manner similar to Redford Stephens, the lead in The Roots’ first concept album. After close to two decades of music, world tours, Jimmy Fallon, and Grammy Awards, The Roots have crafted an album that not only elevates Hip Hop, but raises the bar for anyone who dare call themselves a “Hip Hop Band.”
It’s difficult to pinpoint one particular song on undun, as the entire work moves fluidly as one cohesive soundtrack. It begins where the story ends (as evidenced through the psychotropic opening instrumental “Dun”); Redford has already reached his “tipping point,” and the rest of the album moves counterclockwise. Each piece forms a puzzle that ultimately contributes to Redford Stephens’ downfall. Sure, there are standalone cuts – the smoothly dark “Make My” 
shows Big K.R.I.T. flanking Black Thought with lines like “Addicted to the green / if I don’t ball, I get the shakes.” We learn early on that Redford is tethered to the streets by both money and drugs. It’s a familiar concept to most successful top-tier rappers, though few tread the territory of self-destruction in the manner that The Roots are here. The heavy-hearted keys and cymbals on tracks like “One Time” (with Phonte) and “Stomp” provide the sonic backdrop that compliments the intense bars relaying a very specific message. Fans of the Roots crew can draw many parallels on undun to prodigal member Malik B (The Roots made previous innuendos to Malik’s demons on “Water” off Phrenology). There are also similarities to Jill Scott’s “Rasool.” They all hover around Philly, but anyone can understand the tales.
“Tip the Scale” begins with a flawless drum intro from ?uestlove, similar to that of “Silent Treatment” (off Do You Want More?!!!??!), with Dice Raw’s welcomed commentary: “A lot of niggas go to prison / how many come out Malcolm X / I know I’m not / Shit, can’t even talk about the rest,” adopting the role of the protagonist who at this point is at the wake of his cataclysm. The remainder of undun speaks through the instrumentals, where innocent pianos and violins turn into reckless percussions that fade into searing strings suggesting Redford has died.
undun is not an album for the faint of heart, nor is it an album for the one-dimensional Hip Hop aficionado. Like The Roots accomplished with Phrenology, this is a work to prove that they could do it, and they’ve done it tenfold. Many assumed mainstream success and a house band gig with Jimmy Fallon would evolve into an inevitable stasis for new Roots music. They couldn’t be more wrong.
I loved this album, I just wished there were more Black Thought on the last tracks. But still, they kind of have a cinematic ending, perfect for a concept album.
Support the Roots! Buy the album!
Ha! That is nice to see these guys giving the roots album a perfect 5. I think they deserve it. I didn’t like there last album as much, but this one is crazy. DX is right it’s not for the faint of heart though it’s pretty depressing. I try not to listen to much of that kind of hip-hop anymore cause it get’s me zoned, but I can’t deny it!
salute to The Roots. The last 4 albums (this included) were all touching on perfection. Still think Kanye should’ve got one last year.
Damn, a perfect 5?! When was the last time we saw one of those? But The Roots are an amazing band anyway. Gonna cop this tomorrow.
And just like “Jet World Order” I will be buying and dowloading this from Amazon at 4am b4 work.
this is gods music folks.. black thought most slept on mc ever! copping this tomorrow for sure.. love the roots! parise yahweh…
Tight!
Great review.
album is ok, but there is barely any tracks? lol i knew it was gonna get a 5 anyway, certain artists get good reviews no matter what…the roots could shit in a dumpster and people would say it was the best shit theey have ever smelt or seen.
there are 14 tracks man. i actually prefer albums in the 10-15 track range that dont drag on forever like 16+ track albums. Also yea, i admit most ppl give the Roots a little leeway because of all the classics theyve crafted. I didnt think they could come back with something even better than HOw I Got Over, so i gta give this a listen
the last 4 tracks are just beats…like a min long…those arent really songs.
isn’t there 14 songs on the album? How many do you want?
The Roots get good reviews because they put out good music. When do they ever just mail it in?
it’s a concept record, not a bunch of randomly selected tracks and a few singles thrown together to sell the record, it’s a concept album, I think most of ya’ll need to understand that statement before you listen
thats right! Album of the year muhfugga!! Dare you to disagree
Wack beats and lyrics… Boring album…
Dude suck a dick
Go and listen to Waka Flocka Flame whoever he is
Need to listen to this when do hhdx ever gives 5s!!!
Streamed it off NPR, and I have to say it is one of the most intricate and intelligent albums I’ve ever hear, in any genre. If you don’t like it, it’s probably over your head. That’s all good though. There are plenty of new Waka Flocka Gucci Mane collabs for you to look forward to.
yeah, well now that you’ve gone on your high ground for listening to the Roots, how about you buy the fucking album?
lol yea wtf anyone who doesnt like the Roots is an ignorant GUcci fan eh? Get over yourself man
hahahahahahahahaha.
This album is the truth. I’m hoping to see Common get 5 stars as well.
yeah, not gonna happen, Common isn’t doing well to be honest.
As for Undun, copping it tommorow!
uhhh, common not doing well??? Have you listened to what he’s released so far off this record, everything is fire. Anything less than 4.5 will be a shock, that’s your album of the year contender dropping just in time for the new year
I’m a huge Common fan but I don’t get the hype about his new album, what I heard is average, I know there’s a lot of crap out there but if you think that’s Common at his best you never heard Like Water For Chocolatte
Have to agree with tresdemayo, I sense were about to witness Universal Mind Tricks Part 2 or a failed version of resurection. If he were about to drop something like “Like Chocolate For the Water” THEN I would expect to see a 5 and nothing less. Im a huge Common fan aswell so I’d hope I wasnt being too harsh.
YALL TRIPPING EVERY TRACK OFF THAT NEW COMMON ALBUM IS DOPE
Like Water For Chocolate is my personal favorite Common album, followed closely by One Day It’ll All Make Sense. Besides, never doubt Common’s chemistry with No I.D. (I Used To Love H.E.R., ’nuff said). And the three songs that came out for this album (Ghetto Dreams, Blue Sky and Sweet) were AMAZING so far. If you’re not a fan of that sound oh well, but to say it’s UMC Pt. 2 is foolish.
totally worth it
Definitely in the Top Three Albums of the Year (if the Common album exceeds my expectations). I was more impressed by Section.80 just because I didnt expect it to be *that* good but can’t disagree if Unduns named AOTY!
Definitely the best album of the year.
Just to note: The last album HipHopDX gave a 5 was Brother Ali’s “Undisputed Truth” all the way back in April ’07!!!
This album is truly beautiful music and for anyone for believes this doesn’t 5 X’s, just remember, this cd can relate too any kid caught in gang violence today.
It’s real music, it’s real feeling.
Big K.R.I.T stole the show with a chilling verse of what sounds like Redford begging the Lord for forgiveness after his murder. The story transistions well between tracks in reverse format from ending to beginning with a dark and funeral like tone. It’s as if Redford was doomed from the day he was born. Undun will surely go over the heads of the people wanting boom bap rap or club music. This album is a musical masterpiece and one of the best I have heard in many years! 5 stars.
AWESOME
YES! finally HHDX got it right. This album was unreal. This sums it up perfectly: “”undun” is not an album for the faint of heart, nor is it an album for the one-dimensional Hip Hop aficionado.”
And fools will still be screaming MBDTF !
This perfect album available for free download on:
hip-hoproom.com/the-roots-undun
Has elements of soul & jazz, but they all packed it up in hip hop. Beautiful to listen to.
Great album, definitely a 5 star deserved piece of art. The Roots never fail to put together great music opposite of mainstream or anything considered hip-hop nowadays. Album of the year I would say but they’re in a class all by themselves.So I will restrain myself from saying how many albums this album is better than just to say this is real music right here.
Horrible. If this shit got a perfect 5 then Carter IV and Take Care are EXTREMELY UNDERRATED.
Lil Wayne is garbage. I don’t see how he continues to hold nigga’s attention span with his rhymes. He continues to yell about Jay because he’s not comfortable in his own skin.
Drake is officially a R&B artist that just rhymes sometime. Mary J. Blige was better than that piece of shit, T-Pain wannabe.
Ya’ll niggas need to stop holding these niggas dicks that make records bragging about what they got and listen to shit that speaks to the masses.
everyone has an opinion, thanks for sharing yours. I haven’t even listened to the album yet but if your throwing those two records in a review of Undun your proving the reviewers point to a T, as one dimensional as they come.
this is why I hate hip-hop fans, one album/artist/group being great makes other albums/artists/groups automaticly trash
I bump the roots AND drake. Good music is good music, fuck the labels
@meh: Well spoken. Why people think you gotta listen to one type of artist/artists is beyond me. Good music is good music.
Good music is good music, I totally agree with that. But when you hear great music doesn’t it expose bad music? Yes you can be a fan of drake(why I don’t know?) and still appreciate the roots as well. But if you trully appreciate the depth of the Roots there is no comparison to a Carter or Take Care LP that is so surface, so basic, so commercial, so radio. I can’t do it. I know a cliche when I hear it and I know when a artist has taken their time and thought and put it all in their work. Some people listen to and feel art, others admire sound. Which one are you? That is the line in the sand and thats what separates Wakka Flakka from the artist in my Ipod.
Man Lil Wayne shouldn’t even be mentioned here, he doesn’t even posessed the top 3 verses on his whole album, and with Drake at least his heart is in the right, The Roots keep on moving up the ladder past groups like EPMD & Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. Their Catalog is amazing.
Check out the lyrics, the narrative is locked in on every verse on every song..Most rappers can only lock into a narrative for a few bars and then they star talking about whatever can rhyme with the previous line or lines..A WHOLE ALBUM sewn together in one narrative (BACKWARDS)!!!!!! Then there is the music, next level musicianship!
This review is too short to justify Undun being a greater album in hiphop history compared to How I Got Over. I’m going to study your sh*t and give you some honest read time HipHopDX. How I Got Over is the piece of music that will define hip hop for generations to come, so your bold review of Undun is indeed that: BOLD. Let’s GO!
got my first listen last week via npr…..that was a great look by the way. excellent album, hopefully it does raise the bar for future hip-hop albums
havent heard it but just wondering when they gonna review and rate mop and snowgoons the other 5 star classic.
AGREED!!!
Can someone please explain what all elements in this album made it deserve a perfect 5
I wanna like this, cuz I heard that ROOTS is deep.
Check out the lyrics, the narrative is locked in on every verse on every song..Most rappers can only lock into a narrative for a few bars and then they star talking about whatever can rhyme with the previous line or lines..A WHOLE ALBUM sewn together in one narrative (BACKWARDS)!!!!!! Then there is the music, next level musicianship.
Thank god there are still reviewers with a ear for the art form hip hop! This right here is Golden.
Totally Agree about the M.O.P./Snowgoons album wich should score atleast 4.5/5 stars
Man, I don’t understand this. They reviewed Rihanna’s album also Mary J Blide’s. And they haven’t reviewed Sparta yet.
In this days of shuffle listening, putting out a real album (not just a collection of songs) like this takes courage.
It won’t crack sells, Flex might not bomb any track, you surely won’t hear it in your local club, but man that is art, music that grows in you, shit you play start to finish in your crib and be like ‘damn’ at the end of the CD and listen again just cuz it’s beautiful.
Not that fake storytelling concept album like “Take Care”. People don’t sleep on Undun.
this is real rap, not the whining of Drake and others like him
Why can’t you just be positive? Hate is completely unnecessary. I’m glad you like the roots, and I do as well but what does hating on Drake accomplish? Don’t take this comment as disrespect just food for thought.
i think he’s just mad drake made an r&b album and disguised it as an Rap/hip-hop album, makes me a lil mad too
Roots…does it get any better?
classic
epic.
epic one.
The Roots!!!
the roots allways good !
Love them 🙂
(I remember ,can you remember?
how it was ,i do .rememeber?do you?)
Amaizing!
How the fuck did you manage to spell amazing with an ‘i’?
how i got over is crazy!!! i dont really like the instrumentation as much on this album but it is a work of art. i love dear god!!! lyrics and the video are deep
roots 4ever!!!!!!!
Best album of the year
HIPHOP!!
5 stars? fuck dat! dis ne soul group is wack. Gucci Manes new album is betta den dis shit. swag
1/5
Kill yourself dumb nigga
Don’t Mean to be a party pooper but “Howw I Got Over” > “Undun”
Why you gotta compare them? This is not the same thing, How I Got Over was a Roots album, this is a concept album, now if you don’t like the concept that’s one thing, this is a great album front to back just like HIGO, they can’t be compared, the rhymes was there, the music was there, hands down they both are 5’s, The Roots is do’n they damn thing, and they dropped a album with Betty Wright. Aside from Common, Black Star coming back, that new Lupe mixtape, and a possible new Nas album gotta love this for Hip-Hop.
black though isn’t even rapping most of the time is my main complaint, it’s good but i’m not sure it’s classic. I still Think Saigon’s Greatest Story Never Told is Album of the year, i do like this better than kendrick lamar though
I feel you I love Saigon GSNT, I still gotta cop that, I love Section.80, can’t wait for The Dreamer The Believer, I wasn’t tryna go at you yamean. I copped 2 of HIGO one for me and one for my fiance. We just seen The Roots when they came out here in Cali, we from Jers, for the Emmy’s, they was at the House of Blues, aside from Tribe and Wu they my favorite, I gotta put them in another category cus the a band, with a emcee/vocalist, that make music yamean. We on the same page though yamean, I might just be biased cus they one of my favorite groups period. If you like this type of Hip-Hop you should check us out yamean. I produce/deejay check the website http://www.beautifulnoizeent.com
i’ll check it out, meanwhile i’ve never seen the roots in person mos def will check them out when they comeback to the windy city, speaking of windy city i’m still waiting for that new common album, THE 5 SONGS HE RELEASED SO FAR ARE AWESOME. Love the roots thought They’re my 4th favorite group of all time, The last 6 years since game theory i’d say they’ve surpased the likes of Public Enemy, EPMD & Mobb Deep but I still rank De La Soul, Wu, & Tribe in front of them all time
I don’t like this guys to me they sound to pop
Do you understand the meaning of a concept album, it’s a story fam, this album is the truth. The Roots is on another level, first off they’re a band with a emcee/vocalist, and they make music real music for the culture of hip-hop, they have never been just rap. This is a classic, just like How I Got Over
….i hope that comment is a troll
ARE YOU FUCKIN SERIOUS?
the roots sound pop? what a fucking idiot
you might want to circle back through their catalog then.
Classic
5 star album, just like the last one.
The Roots been representing Hip-Hop since 93′ and for them to still be relevant and continually experimenting is amazing. You dont have to like them but i cant see how someone can call themselves a true fan of hip-hop and not respect them.
This is what you call evolution/progression in Hip-Hop music. Going from the streets to the club is not progression. This is pure artistic evolution and pure Hip-Hop. You gotta love the roots for furthering the culture that has been blurred, misrepresented, and falsely claimed thought the years.
Respect
You can always count on the The Roots for Hip Hop dun right. A very mature album, finally someone is willing to embrace adulthood and transcend basic Hip Hop tropes, and present music in a bold and daring context. I am continually amazed by Black Thought’s deft prose and the band’s sound scapes are challenging our conceptions for Hip Hop. Classic
It’s a good album, but if this deserves a 5, then a shit load of others deserve a 5, too.
What else deserves a 5? i am just curious
Kudi’s first 2. Cee-lo’s album I thought was great.
Kid Cudi, really?
His albums are decent, I suppose, but there isn’t much lyricism in his verses. A catchy hook here and there, but 5/5 for an entire album?
To be fair to Cudi, Man on the Moon was pretty much a flawless album. The second one, not so much. (Although Ashin Kusher goes hard as fuck)
food and liquor deserves a 5
@sox: Food & Liquor did get a 5 on this site.
F&L got a five. I think 4.5 is what Kid Cudi’s first album should have. Cee-lo
s album was nice, but there were a couple skippable songs on it.
can’t believe someone suggested cudi get a perfect rating lol wtf
SWEET AND FUEGO. 8)
No offense but 5 Stars? Give me a fucking break!
I am sick & tired of people who don’t know anything about Hip Hop but call themselves Hip Hop.
This is the worst Roots LP by far
I own every Roots CDs and I will not be buying this crapfest.
It is full of filters, it’s short and it lacks what The Roots have always brought to the game.
I am not surprised at all since they went Mainstream being the band on Jimmy Fallon Show.
The last 4 Tracks on this LP make no sense at all.
This album is so NOT mainstream you sound like an idiot right now.
Did you really listen to it or skim through it? This album doesn’t have one song on there that’s heavily saturated with commercialism. The last four songs they switched up into classical instrumentations. What’s wrong with bringing different elements into the genre? Why are you hating on this album so hard?
your last 4 feeble minded sentences make no sense at all, cmon son
Yup. agree with all of this. stellar album
100% agree 5/5. this album is a work of art!! Another roots classic. Anyone who doesn’t agree needs to go back and listen again.
classic period
dis album is unoriginal classical music. lmao
Odd Future >>>>>>>>>> the roots.
1/5
swag
hang yourself, faggot.
You can’t compare Odd Future with The Roots… Two completely different type of hip-hop. They’re both phenomenal, but no one can handle the experience that The Roots have gone through. They are the best thing to ever happen to hip-hop.
oh my fucken Jesus. Odd Future is da best hip hop group of all time. Golf Wang is betta den dis trash….. swag
Shove your swag up your ass
Shove your swag up your ass!
odd future wouldn’t even say their better than the roots lol so funny
really deep album
yessir
finally! this site had the balls to give an album a perfect rating, i was thinkin the same thing when listening to it.
Only thing is i felt some of the features couldnt rap, but really great, deep album.
hip hop is dead and untitled got 5 from this site
hip hip aint dead pussies. Tyler, The Creator & Lil B bring back real hip hop. swag
LOLOL Hip Hop is Dead an album by Nas. Think before you speak and I like Tyler but by you saying hip hop is back because of him a Lil B makes your statement even more meaningless
^ they got 4.5 stars actually.
undun is getting universally flawless reviews right now, its not just HipHop DX
Untitled got 4.53 and Hip Hop Is Dead got 4.44..
Amazing
for any TRUE roots fan out there…this’ll hopefully help y’all before listenin to it. this ain’t cha typical roots album. it’s hiphop wit a maturity and execution i’ve never seen in the genre, maybe of MUSIC period. so just tell yourself before you listen to it that you won’t compare it to any other roots work, YET. just take it in for what it is and the storytelling aspect of it…i’ll admit, it was kinda like that for the rising down album, i wasn’t feeling that one on a first listen either. but it was like i wanted to hear it again right away. then it grew on me like a WILDFIRE. same wit this one, its way too complex to try to take it all in on one listen. first time, i listened to the music. thought it was different, but it works for the storytelling pace. allows the words to be audible. second time i closed my eyes and listened to the lyrics, trying to focus on them moreso than the music. all subsequent times i’ve listened to it (now like 5), i let the lyrics and the music paint a picture while i close my eyes and SEE this jawn like a movie playing right in front of me. to say the least, this is a POWERFUL movie. 5 outta 5 whatevas from me.
Come on now 5?? please you need to stop that!!
damn…yo this album come hard out the box…’sleep’ track inspires me to want to kick lyrics over it but then when bt starts flowing, he did it…so i’m thinking its like most peoples albums…they put their hardest song up front to get your attention, but wow, the album just keeps going hard and doesn’t sell out to the new fades like most artist (i.e. doesn’t auto tune it – even Jay-z did it once, doesn’t go over the top and kanye west – even lupe did it with his lasers albums…did’t try to mainstream it for the clubs…even Common did it on his last album though he kept the lyrics tight). They remained true. Only artist still doing it and making money like that is Nas and Dre 3000 which is pretty good company (can’t include kanye because his style seems loosely based off Dre 3000 and outkast love below ecletic styling).
Modern Masterpiece….
The album is a sad movie. It needs a film to go with it.
It makes a better soundtrack to Menace to Society.
they’re releasing short videos for every track
The Roots never disappoint. Any Drake fans wondering how an mc or hip hop act can sing without compromising their manhood needs to go thru the Roots entire catalog for evidence.
Yeah…this album reflects exactly what is going on in the hood. Mad ni99as get locked up or killed by 25. All for the champagne taste.
This is truth and I thought I would not like it. I don’t think it would be popular for the radio – but people got to listen to the whole album – not just tracks.
“Mad ni99as get locked up or killed by 25.”
Really? That hasn’t been touched on by an album before…
Great review for a classic album
boring beats
This is music for people with a soul and a functioning brain. Step your music game up man.
this guys nuts this beat was dope it has feeling to it my man what are you thinking?
You are kidding.. Right?
Or you haven’t listened to this album at all.
This is near perfection, not boring.
Get your mind right.
“This is music for people with a soul and a functioning brain”
haha. hilarious…..
meh. The beats go nowhere, the rapping is undistinctive, and there are a handful of wack poppy hooks. The best song on the album is redford which sums it up. It’s not a bad album, but there is nothing amazing here. I don’t get the hype….
^best song on the album u tastle bastard is Cool On
Once you learn how to spell, then come back and reply. I think that’s more important than someones taste in music.
Anyone else bored to tears listening to this? I can’t be the only one…
“undun” is not an album for the faint of heart, nor is it an album for the one-dimensional Hip Hop aficionado.”
What he said ^^
That’s the problem with you simple minded, bottle feed, crying for your mother, “one-Dimensional” RAP FANS. If a CD doesn’t have a HOOK or some dumb as bragging, it’s “BORING”. RZA CALLED THAT SHIT R & B: RAPIN’ BULLSHIT in 1997.
REPRESENT
This is a classic…i’m done talking.
to call someone simple minded because they dont like an album…. that is simple minded my friend.
^ true but man black thought’s thoughts and vocabulary absolutely crush present day lil wayne or drake. You lack good taste then u fool
who said anything about black thought, lil wayne or drake? All he said was that he was bored listening to this album… You’re making up things to argue bro.
HOLY SHIT 5 Stars, this album really deserves it too, but it takes a few listens to get into, but there’s no faults with this album
Cant say nothing bad about this…haters keep hating, Saying the album is boring?? go back to listening to little wayne, this is real msic over here.
Dope! Should have gotten a grammy nod
It will next year. It didn’t release in time for this years Grammy.
My god an album got a 5?!
So glad it’s The Roots, one of my all time favourites. Haven’t checked this album out buy it’s definitely on my to do list.
Nothin’ more to say…Raw classic Hip Hop by a legendary band
I normally don’t ever post. But this album has been on repeat since the moment I heard it. It won’t ever get da attention it deserves, but in a way, real hip-hop heads can appreciate it more. I’m sure The Roots are aware of this and God bless them for makin’ real music time and time again. They’ve been holdin’ it down since Tribe disbanded….
I can’t believe some people are mad that this got a perfect score. This album is going to be a hip-hop classic. A stature for any artist trying to make a concept album in the hip hop genre. The Roots have many classic albums and this new one may very well be their masterpiece. ‘I Remember’ is one of the best rap songs I’ve ever heard.
finally a 5 star album on dx
i think the last one was food and liquor right?
This album really IS deserving of the rating it got. Melodies that haunt you and stay in your head, a strong cohesiveness, a good story to add depth, strong performances all around. This is a classic album.
A well deserved 5 stars. This is a tremendous album that defies the realms and parameters of hip-hop. A fantastic effort; completely enthralling. This is how music should be, beautiful craftsmanship with a true purpose. Thank you.
I’m really pleased to see that the one time HipHopDX does decide to give an album 5 stars, they give it to an album and a group that really does deserve it. I’ve been streaming this album for the past few days, trying not to over-do it. I’m buying it as soon as possible.
perfect album, great rating, oh myyyy
This album really is a 5-star wonder.
“I Remember” is my new favourite song.
I was supposed to go to sleep, but I’ve listened to this album.. Twice, and still haven’t gone to sleep.
It’s catchy, you can’t stop listening when you first press play..
This IS tue HipHop in it’s best form, not that mainstream bulls*it.
I truly recommend this album to everybody!
One of the true gems of this year.
Black Thought is the single most underrated MC on earth.
For Real.
He most certainly is not: hip-hop heads know he is one of the very best MCs alive, a technician with a mastery of flows, diction, breath control and every other aspect of MCing.I have never heard anyone who knows hip-hop say Black Thought is not one of the greatest, most intelligent, most complex MCs of his era.Well, sure the average mainstream hip-hop fanthose who like hip-hop as opposed to those who live for itmay not pay much mind to Thoughts work because hes too complex for them or because hes not consumed with image and marketing and limelight or because he doesnt wear his ego on his sleeve and demand all eyes on him or some other lame reason.
I completely agree. I’m saying, that when I hear/read ‘top MC’ discussions from friends, blogs, critics, etc., whether we like it or not, he does get left out the majority of the time.
but as long as the true fans know it, nothing else really matters.
big roots fan but i think Skyzoo & especially Pharoahe Monch are thee most underrated rappers currently.
he may have skills, but he sounds like everyother rapper.
5 is a BIT much id go 4-4.5 but not perfect. theres no such thing as perfect. this editor is trippen but it is an amazing album
I think only in time do things really deserve a 5. If this album matures well enough then this rating may not be too far fetched.
absolutely not. because if you give an album a 5 your saying there is NOTHING AT ALL you would change or didnt like even a little bit. and your lying to urself or bias if you say that. call it what it is a great album but theres never been nor will there ever be a perfect album of music. perfection means its undeniable by every fan in the world.
So you’re saying that no album should be given a perfect score… That is ridiculous. I agree that no album/film/show etc is prefect, but something deserves a perfect rating if it is the best of its kind. And a personal rating has nothing to do with being “undeniable by every fan in the world”, it’s what you, the individual reviewer thinks…
Hahahaha you fucking tripper! What the fuck is the point in the 5th star if you’re never going to award it to someone?!? You FUCKING IDIOT hahahahahahahahaha
I agree this deserves a 4.5, not sure about the 5. Still an amazing album regardless.
But there ARE such things as perfect albums… Illmatic and Marshall Mathers LP are two that come to mind immediately.
Illmatic is my favourite albvum of all time. But it isn’t perfect. Every song isn’t 10/10.
hella
This album is sick. A ghetto symphony of sorts. The Roots as a band keep getting better and better as time goes on. You can really see the progression from Organix/Do You Want More until now. Yeah I know this might miss quite a few people but if Phonte can put out an album about life and get a warm reception this joint is definitely worthy of praise. This albums moves and isn’t your tipical linier turn the drum machine on hip hop. I hope The Roots never stop just like the great bands of old. Timeless music perfect for the times.
This album is one of those rare masterpieces that are not only great hip hop music but great music period. Whoever gives this less than 5/5 simply didnt understand it with his lil BJ.Coleflockadrake mindstate.
the roots > shady 2.0
thats so blatantly obvious that its unnecessary 2 say
Dude this group has long transcended hiphop, they are a group that makes spectacular music and they have risen above being labeled in a genre. Shady 2.0 is a hip hop group, when they make something like this or Cunninlynguist’s new album come talk to me.
even though they are completely different
I’ve been bumpin the Roots since their real 1st Album “Organix” and I told cats DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS GROUP. Even when they dropped “Do You Want More?!!!??!” I told People the same thing these Cats are so underrated especially Black Thought who’s in my TOP 10 EMCEE’S OF ALL TIME yes I said it. My favorite Album of all time from them is probably “Illadelph Halflife” but either way they got CLASSICS for days so I’m not surprised this Album got 5/5. Congrats on the new Album Roots and I sure hope y’all are spitting over a couple of J Dilla Beats. Peace to all the Roots Fans World wide and RIP J DILLA aka King of the Beats. And yes I know DJ Premier and Pete Rock are Kings when it comes to the Beats too.
One!!!
well said – black thought doesn’t get enough credit as one of the great mc’s. for one, the band has stayed true throughout the years and black thought has driven that. wordplay, insight, flow, passion, realness and rawness, black thought is absolutely one of the best of all time. top ten is warranted; maybe even top five – guy is that good and that important to hip-hop in the context of its short history.
this shit weak more white people music 1/5
What is white people music?
The opposite of black people music.
Sadly, I think he means anything thats about ignorance is black people music these days…You know…Cars, rims, bitches, blunts, strip clubs etc.
yeah, cali dro got ur brain on retard mode
hahah if your referring to this music- intelligent, conceptual, meaningful- white people music… then thank you…. take that as a compliment
so I guess black people music is plies & lil jon (w/ sam & bo) fuck outta here with that, i’m black and I own every single roots album, i’m on umemployment and I will 10 dollars of my check will go to the roots lol
TRASH!!!!!!!!! OverRated
I suppose Black Thought is just too much for your feeble mind to comprehend.
You really cant take a man that calls himself “El-Tigre” seriously though.
ur a fag
I fucked your girl
lol @ the I fucked your girl comment, but you are retarded for calling one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all-time trash
ROTFLMAO @ thought dog
Fair enough if you weren’t feeling the album. But you can’t call it trash, you have to appreciate music that others find enjoyable.
Fuck All You N.I.G.G.E.R.S !!!!!!!!!
It doesn’t have the dem bow riddim, he can’t listen to it.
who’s better then Black Thought? Been listening to the roots since 92 baby! Your favorite mc will tell u he can’t fuck with Black Thought. If you disagree peep the following this yr alone (Last verse on Shaolin vs Wu Tang Master of Fate and So Long, last track on Saigon’s greatest story never told!
Now let the haters and the debate begin.
Perfection. Genius. Art.
i said it again, ill say it before..if its a “mainstream” album, the review will rate it horribly on HHDX..if its an old school rapper/rap group or something indie, hhdx will rate it high…fucking scam
nah
yo mainstream artists dont know how to put together albums nevermind come up with concepts within their music, dipshit.
it’s The Roots my friend, they are on television. how are they not mainstream?
so this is the first time you’ve said this or…what? i’m confused.
stfu and go listen to your Riff Raff tracks.
I hope this is just shitty sarcasm and not total ignorance. Mainstream albums aren’t given poor/average reviews because they are mainstream, it is because the overwhelming majority of mainstream music follows the same unoriginal forumula’s labels have perfected with the occassional risky track but always with one thing in mind – appealing to the majority. Which leads to popular music, but not great music, just much of the same.
But you can still have a mainstream album receive universal acclaim – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – that just takes the rare touch of genius and brilliance that doesn’t come along too often, e.g. Michael Jackson.
But to cut myself off short, you need to become a true fan of music plain and simple. Because repetition isn’t music.
5 stars !? checking this out asap
awesome
funny how so many so called ‘real’ Roots fans already have an album that’s not even out yet on repeat.
They released it to stream. Anyone could have listened to it online days ago bro.
I’ve been streaming for days. Waiting to buy it
I completely agree with the rating, and I’m typically the one to let an album stand the test of time before handing it such an honor. However, there are just times when an album just hits you and you know it is special.
This album is unlike any other album I’ve ever heard. It’s quintessentially a hip-hop album, but it’s also a 60’s soul album, a rock album, a jazz album and wraps up as an orchestra.
It is flat out beautiful music. Each song is composed with purpose from start to finish with each rhyme and chorus holding a distinct meaning not only to the song but the broader concept of the album.
While the concept of the album isn’t groundbreaking in itself (plenty of rappers and other musicians have broached the topic before), the way it captures the total story by displaying the raw emotions and complexities of Redford Stephen’s inner struggle is unmatched.
You hang onto every word, and for good reason. Each is important to the deep and complex story being told.
It is a complete story from start to finish, and I love how they took the time to make the sequencing right and force the listener to think throughout the entire record.
The Roots are simply amazing. Just when you think they are on top of their game, they raise the bar again.
If you love hip-hop or just great music, you have to listen to this album.
Nuff said.
The Roots have always drop classic cd’s from 94 til now and still making great music i havent heard that album undun but i dont have to listen to their to know it’s good like outkast’s music only two rap groups that i can say that about
Real talk: I don’t know if any group/artist has bigger stans than The Roots do.
Eminem
Actually Nas and Eminem have WAY bigger stans than The Roots. Especially the Nas stans. They defend him so much that they are oblivious to the fact the guy once made two albums called “I Am” and “Nastradamus”.
I think that most Nas fans will admit that Nastradamus is a weak album.
and its funny how “nastradamus” is better than most of the bullshit thats coming out now… #HIPHOPISDEAD
eminem has the biggest stans, some guy told me he’d track me down and beat me up on hhdx ‘s fb page because I sad eminem needs to retire
Okay, maybe you got me with Eminem. But my point was that this group could release anything and it would be praised like it’s 36 Chambers.
Eminem, 2pac and lil wayne have the most stans, but Eminem’s stans are the most annoying because most of them are little kids who don’t know shit.
ur fucking ignorant…. id definetly call myself one eminems bigger fans if that makes me a stan so be it but i listen to all hiphop dumbfuck and have been my whole life just cuz i kno hiphop well enough to kno damn well that shadys one of the nicest MCs on the mic dont mean i dont listen to all hiphop… how u gonna come out n say most of his fans are little kids who dont kno shit… most little kids who dont kno shit listen to wiz khalifa, mac miller, n meaningless music like that… ur livin in a damn box if u dont recognize the skill set eminem brings to the table
I’m gonna find you bitch! im gonna find you and rape you… JK
The fact is The Roots are one of the dopest and most consistent Hip Hop groups ever, so they deserve all the praise they get.
Not sure this deserved a perfect 5, but probably a 4.5. I thought How I Got Over was superior, that was a perfect 5 to me.
I think nas fans are Stans and I think he is the GOAT at the same time. Nas fans seem to think everything he has done is perfect, Nastradamas was a bad album but in today’s standards one verse wrecks every mainstream album and that was the last words verse. Although eminem fans take worship to a whole new level, not only can he do no wrong and everything he releases is golden even relapse(lol) but the actually think that because he raps faster that makes the lyrics better as well…
I refuse to listen to more than ‘Make My’ at the moment. That would be like digging through my Christmas gifts three weeks too early. I’m this far from getting dressed and running to the store. Da Roots crew has done it AGAIN.
so you mean to tell me you have to explain why you gave this album a 5? you already know this album wasn’t a 5…but i have yet to hear it. but the cuts ive heard has already dropped it from 5 in my zone
So, what are you sayin?
Jus finished it, concept is good, the beats are good, all tracks flow reallly well together, thats something that many albums cant do. ie., games red album. this album is solid as fuck.
I knew it!!!! I knew dx would give this album the perfect 5!!! This album is a classic! The roots DUN it again with this one. Great, GREAT concept album. Loved every minute of it
Man I pre-ordered this on Itunes and I just got the notice that I can download…I’m pumped to hear what it’s all about!
Um wow. This is an album much deserving of a 5 from this website. Album of the year? I would say so.
this is a true masterpiece from what I’ve heard so far. and it couldn’t have come at a better time for myself. music is the power
i agree 100% . just what I accepted from the Roots. DX you did your top albums of the year a little too early …
Can’t wait to go buy this album, ive been raised on the roots music and love it with all of my heart
About time. 5 Stars all day.
Apart from Ghostface I can’t think of anyone with as strong a catalogue as The Roots, so consistent.
Cosign.
best comment
Agreed!
Best album of the year. It “undid” kendrick for first.
HHDX reviews have been lacking substance of late. For example on the Drake review they were quite non-committal on whether the album was good. They have also been off the mark on a couple of record this year. Most notably, the 4.5 stars on the Joell Ortiz album, Free Agent and the 4 stars on Game record.
This review is unfortunately both. There is a lack of substance because there make no effort to justify the 5 star rating and I also think that they are overrating it. The review reads like a letter from a Stan. I have listened to the album a number of times now and I simply do not agree that it is perfect or that it is even better than How I Got Over.
The Concept is cool but it is the videos more than the songs that bring it to life.
LMAO y u mad
Newsflash, music is subjective. everyone have their own opinion. my favourite roots album is do you want more, where as most people like illadelph and things fall apart.
There’s nothing wrong with not agreeing with a 5, I don’t think it’s the best roots album, but I’m Glad SOMEONE out there has the balls to give it a 5/5
Word up Suggamatic. Well put. Picking a favorite Roots album is like picking a favorite sexual position, none of them are bad
Perfect.
Indeed
Best album of the year.
Word
Word up
If this album doesn’t sale 100k plus first week hiphop officially dead! I’m 33 been listening to hiphop since 86
stop the bullshit you fake fans the roots got albums released on tape so i doubt if you are old enough to be a REAL fan most of you kids treat hiphop like it just started when you got into it most of you dont bother to listen to old albums or even do research on the history of a artist.
I’m 20, And I’ve heard every single roots album. I even own a few physically.
Why is it so hard to believe that the roots have fans?
The Roots are one of my artists. I’ve bought almost all their albums on CD. I first got into them when I bought Things Fall Apart back in 2006. Shut the fuck up with that kids shit, I’m only 20 but I can appreciate The Roots just as much as you can.
The songs I have heard been great. I can’t wait to peep this in full.
One of my most anticipated releases of this last half of the year, The Roots’ already 13th album undun is finally here. undun is a conceptual album, it’s a story about a fictional character named Redford Stephens. But what makes this different, it’s that is reversed, it starts from the end and ends with the star. Nas made a song with that format, The Roots take it on the next level. Sonically, it’s following the footsteps of How I Got Over, but taking maybe a lighter sound. I don’t really mind, How I Got Over is one my all-time favourites, so a follow-up is welcome. The only thing I’m worried that if the Roots stick with this sound. It shouldn’t really be a problem, but not changing is against the concept of the Roots itself, if you ask me! It’s always been about changing, and if they change to a group that stops changing (wait what) I’m not really happy. Until their next album, we will see. Now let’s get to undun.
undun begins with a short instrumental and then proceeds to a sad, introspective “Sleep”. After that, “Make My”. After twenty listens I’m starting to feel that it’s one of the greatest tracks this year. Big K.R.I.T’s evolutions as a rapper are fulgurant, and the song is just great from every aspect. The sad piano, the evolving bass and the overall vibe of the song! I’m looking for these, because it fits the winter so well.
Basically, every song is good here. Musically, it’s full of pianos and it just sounds like an evolved version of How I Got Over. The run they make from “Sleep” to “The OtherSide” is nothing short of great, and there are some gems later on to come. Musically, this album is great, and the rapping too. Technically Black is still bringing it, although he has calmed down these days. There is a storyline here, but I haven’t fully understood it yet. I tried playing it backwards, normally and every other way, and I still haven’t fully got it, but I’m gonna get the plastic copy so we’ll see if it helps. This certainly feels like a “normal” album, and I wouldn’t have noticed a storyline if I hadn’t known it. There are still some flaws. Dice Raw is still unable to sing, and let’s face it, P.O.R.N is not a good rapper and the hook on “I Remember” gets a little redundant.
I still think of this as one of the strongest releases of this year. Replay value is big to me, always looking forward to hear it again. I understand why people tend to not like this and wanting a different Roots album, but what you’re gonna do? I’m just as scared as you are if they don’t change for the next one, but I’m happy for every album they have released. undun is sure to receive more plays from me. The music is great on every track, it’s just flawed by some hooks and passable verses, but otherwise, it’s great from beginning to end. I hope I’ll fully understand the story one day, but it’s still highly enjoyable without it!
Rating: 4
Great honest review, as a matter of fact, most of the reviews I’ve read in the comments section have been very positive. I haven’t heard the album yet, but in due time.
Dice Raw’s chorus on Tip the Scale is incredible. I disagree with the unable to sing part you said, however he was a little annoying on lighthouse.
Incredible album. 4.5 or 5 to me. This and How I Got Over are two of the best albums I’ve heard in the last decade. How I Got Over is critically underrated IMO.
almost classic.
man im a huge roots fan but i’m not diggin this album. kool on is dope i can’t bear the other shit black thought should just do a solo with madlib 9thwonder and dilla beats. they fuckin up with the white rocker suicide music.
If you a true roots fan then you know their albums grow on u and get better with time, understand it more, deep ass album – story backwards got damn and Black thought has so many quotables!
Roots Crew done did it again.
I NEED TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS! HAPPY TO HAVE THIS IN THE PLAY LIST, BUT FOR NOW IT IS ON REPEAT.
LEGENDARY. Classic. Dope. Hip-Hop. 5 STARS, YES! THE ROOTS CREW BABY! Love this album! I dig full ALBUMS, where you listen through each track and get a whole piece of music that connects the whole story like this. THANK YOU ROOTS. There is not too much real stuff left like this.
The Roots dun did it again!
This is an amazing album – my only complaint is that it’s so quick; about 40 minutes from beginning-to-end, but worth every second.
After my first listen I can say how I got over is a better album. This is good but honestly the 5 instrumental songs kinda killed it for me. I understand what they are trying to do but I rather have actually song cuts. I’ll listen to it again. So far I give it 4, right now it’s no where near a Food and Liquor rating.
Light house is the best song on the album to me.
Light house is the best song on the album to me
incredible album, don’t know about 5 stars considering nothing has been since 07, but better this than say a drake album.
wow a 5/5 rating.. i havent seen any of those on HHDX in…. never! but after hearing this album i completely understand why.. its incredibly put together! Roots forever!!!!!
this is just so fucking refreshing
This album is dope but you have to listen to it carefully not just go through the tracks to just listen to the beats or hook. This is real rap/hip-hop none of that Lil Wayne or Drake shit so if you don’t feel it cool don’t hate go listen to those wack ass pop artists. That’s right I said pop cause anyone can say what they want but I know as a true Rap/Hip-Hop fan and also as someone who writes poetry/raps for fun is artists like Wayne, Drake, Nicki, Rick Ross are fake and for the most part pop and they are not Hip-Hop and do not represent real Hip-Hop. Now as far as the rating I would give this album a 4-4.5 because its not perfect such as some of the hooks which were good but some could have been better and my main criticism of this album which is its length and the album being to short. But I can see why this album got a 5 cause it’s one of the best albums I have heard in a long time the beats, the concept, the lyricism and even the fact that something as small as the album cover. It’s clear that these actually put time into this album and I listen to all the old school shit and the good new school from 2Pac, Nas, Biggie, Big Pun, Big L, Common, The Game, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Twinz, Warren G, Kendrick Lamar, Wu Tang, Cudi, DJ Quik, Outkast, Mobb Deep and so many more so I can say without a doubt that this album is one of the best I’ve heard in a while and the last album that I thought was this unique and amazing was Cudi’s Man On The Moon. The only album that can match this albums level this year I think is Common’s Dreamer and Believer and that remains to be seen.
stfu 2 much reading, wayne dope drake dope,
but 90 cats carrying the torch for hiphop,
Na I disagree. I’m not trying to hate but drake and wayne are pop artists tell me this how can you call these guys dope when there not even doing music coming from the heart it’s all about making money, fame and publicity. Nothing wrong with trying to make some cash but artists who are fake and not even hip-hop like Drake and Wayne shouldn’t be selling 900 000. The Roots, Common, The Game, Kendrick Lamar these guys should be selling that amount. How can you be dope when what your doing is fake or not even part of the genre like Drake. I agree with you on the 90’s rappers carrying the torch they should keep doing there thing keep real hip-hop alive
AMAZIIIIIIIIIIIIN
I agree with the rating, not so much the review. I do think this is the hip hop album of the year. The minor grievances here and there pale in comparison to the how flawlessly executed this album is. The brevity of it (only 40 minutes) is masked by the fact that the album flows so incredibly. It really is meant to be digested as a complete piece, and as such, it is a refreshing change of pace from the albums that have come out. The arrangements at the end (I won’t call them instrumentals because I want to give Questlove legit credit as a composer) continue the narrative with no words spoken and are beautiful from a music, not just hip hop, stand point. That, my niggas, is art to the highest degree.
The Roots have always been the group that I refer to people who have a negative image of hip hop music/culture. They continue to make genre expanding music. Salute for this shit.
So you DO agree with the review too. That’s exactly what it said lol
the only thing i don’t like is the sonic cacophony at the end. should have just stuck with the symphonic sound. and why are people complaining about it only being 40 minutes. back when records were popular most every album was less than that. “Talking Book” only had 10 songs and is one of the greatest albums ever made
Shout out for mentioning Stevie Wonder!
One of Top Album Of the Year!!
Yessir!!!
solid LP definitely in top 10 this year, but slightly overrated 5/5 for this?? really…???
4.5 at best my rate is 4/5
Legendary!
Just because something is “different” or “experimental” doesn’t means it’s actually GOOD.
I respect the Roots earlier work, but no way in hell is this a 5 mic album.
Shut up hater, you must have you face resting on drakes nuts. You obiviously don’t know what classic means. It means in ten years this album will still e getting played, while people will be saying young money who? sort of like Steady B, who? exactly.
how the fuck was he hating? that was the most sensible shit ive read. and why the fuck are you bringing up young money and drake? people he doesnt like what you like? nigga grow up you sound like a hating ass bitch. acting like anybody who does agree with you must be a young money fan, fucking outta here bitch ass hating ass nigga. fucking nazi fuck your opinion
SMH @ the “shut up hater”. people cant even have opinions anymore. he wasnt even hating. the fuck is up with these teenage girls calling everybody that disagrees with them a hater this year?
I can’t stop listening to this!
I know, I gave it 3 spins in a row earlier & it’s been in the car for days.
Called HMV yesterday and the bastards said they didn’t have it. Called today and they said it came in yesterday. Pickin it up today after work. Can’t wait!
I give it 4.5 because of all the instramentals at the end. But it was a good album.
Were the instrumentals too daring for your sensitive Hip Hop ears?
why yes, yes it was..
You nailed it! Rather they nailed it! This Album is DEF a *5*! I have been a Roots fan since they dropped their 1st album. I have seen them live on 3 different occasions! They are like no other! They just keep on evolving! Todays artists lack the creativity that the Roots capture, album after album! Refreshing to the ear! After hearing this joint, I cant wait until the next! Do Want More?? Y YES!!
finally listened to it and was very impressed by the entire project. worthy of the all the praises this album has garnered.
This album was the titties but idk about a perfect 5 rating. Love the Roots’ refreshing perspective and simple laid back sound. I thought How I got over was nicer than this tho.
last 5 star album i heard was MBDTF
MBDTF was 4,5/5. Album is brilliant!
MBDTF Ain’t 5 stars in any way, punk !
no kanye album is 55 to me, he’s just 2 futuristic enshit, but i like m though btw half of that shit rza
2 futuristic enshit.. well explained.
Blackthought and the Roots are the ONLY group that i know that has NEVER EVER EVER come WACK!
Ummm…Tribe, De La, Gangstarr, Dilated Peoples. There are at least a few of ’em!
@ Evolve Learn Revolutionize NOT the ONLY group. @Precision4 Agreed.
listen to “the other side”. i just cringe and bop my head when black thought says “step in my arena let me show you who the highness is”
5 rating from hiphopdx >>>> 5 mics in the source
Absolutely.
Big K.R.I.T’s verse on the first track gives me chills !
MBDTF aint 5 stars, at least not on a rap platform. That album was just mixed genre with short rap verses.
How can you even say that? Where do you build your argument from.
Undun 10x better than MBDTF. Hands down.
Wow that’s a dumb thing to say. I guess anytime someone decides to make a hip-hop album that isn’t chock full of cliches, that negates their validity as a hip hop artist? Get outta here with that closed-minded BS. MBDTF is as much of a hip-hop album as any album The Roots have ever dropped.
Colin obviously is a Kanye stan. Or his secret gay lover.
Dude you can’t even be seriously regarding MBDTF as an upper echelon piece of work. That LP is very overrated and damn near trash. Over produced. Over saturated. And just a train wreck really.
Hell…it’s not even Ye’s best LP. It’s not his 2nd best. He hasn’t made a LP worthy of seriousness hip hop standard since Late Registration.
Undun is better than MBDTF hopes to be. If Ye stuck to his original script for that LP, then maybe (fact that “Chain Heavy” was ommitted is a crime punishable by stoning) we can talk. But no… NO!
How can anyone compare the Roots to Kanye West? Whats the point, for real?
I wouldn’t even be comparing this album to previous work by the Roots. Its different, its refreshing, its a hit in my book. These guys cant help but make epic albums back-to-back. These guys are some of the best to ever do it. Period.
It sounds like How I Got Over – they are easily comparable. But both are classics in my opinion.
5/5 – album of the year for me. So rare to have a cohesive album as one entity in music today as opposed to an album of “hits”.
this album is so dope i loved how i got over but this is slowly becoming my favorite
(rate)
What this perfect album rating means is that 95% of HipHopDX readers should not listen.
I agree that this is a very dope album, but I would think that albums that receive 5 stars should be game changers. Dr Dre’s The Chronic, Nas’ Illmatic, Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang, and Tupac’s All Eyes On Me come to mind. These albums changed the face of hip hop as we know it. The Roots album is dope and is rare in this day and age, but I dont think it will have the appeal and the lasting power of the albums I previously mentioned.
You just aged yourself 2 decades ago. You didn’t name 1 album from 2000 and beyond. Your opinion is seen as invalid because you haven’t been paying attention to the last 10 years.
I think me not mentioning the 2000s might tell you something about where I see hip hop right now.
I see what Bubba’s saying exactly. It’s all about timing. It’s about being revolutionary in the grand scheme of things (when people are looking back at “hip-hop”). It gets harder and harder to change the game because everything been done, but that shouldn’t deter somebody away from listening to such a great piece as this. That’s kind of like saying don’t listen to Liquid Swords because it wasn’t the game-changing album that 36 chambers was.
Madvillain for the 00’s
I understand Bubba clearly and that’s actually how I rate my LP all time and over time and the present time.
To say this LP is a 5 is something that will take time. Basically to say this is a classic LP. I can’t say that yet, but I can indeed say this is a very superb joint.
Is this LP going to be game changing as the others mentioned and some forgotten to be mentioned? Can’t say for sure but I’m going to doubt it.
And no Madvilliany doesn’t not go into that class, either. If any LP that doom did, it will be Operation Doomsday but then again that didn’t set a precedence become RZA and Wu-Tang set that element years ago.
Albums don’t need to be game changers to be perfect. Someone mentioned above about Liquid Swords and 36 Chambers. Just because albums like Liquid Swords and Cuban Linx… came after 36 Chambers doesn’t mean they don’t deserve perfect ratings.
Back to this album. It deserves a perfect 5 because it is one of the best albums released in the last decade and plays through flawlessly.
Game changer?
Just cause its not a game changer does not mean its not classic. The albums you mentioned were the first albums from new artist (except for Dre, new in a sense that this was his first solo album) who were going in a different direction than the massses. The Roots have always gone in a different direction from the masses, their whole concept is game changing.
Artists could try and imitate the artists you mentioned, but the Roots cannot be imitated or duplicated, which is why they are the Roots of HIP HOP. They are the standard of a HIP HOP Band.
It good to see the good reviews of the Roots. People have criticized the Roots in the past, just because. I hope people will see that they are living legends and should be given their respect.
215
RESPECT!!!!!!!!
Love this, but Saigon dropped my favorite album of 2011.
^I agree
agreed, greatest story never told is a classic, i love undun also but saigon had such a long album
Funny you mentioned the Saigon joint because I thought of that LP after hearing this. Saigon and Just Blaze executed that LP very precise and nice as far as the sequencing goes. I give it to this Roots LP just because they went from the death and every event rewinded.
But I can’t knock if Saigon is your favorite LP of this year at all. It was a very damn good joint.
Amazing album. If you don’t get it then it’s not for you.
Gotta hand it to The Roots, they made yet another great album, the only thing is- while it’s a great album, I don’t think it’s quite a 5.
4.5 sounds more in my area code and this would be album of the year if it weren’t for CunninLynguist’s “Oneirology”, one of the most slept on albums in my opinion. That shit was a perfect 5.
But nonetheless I’m glad that The Roots are still making great music. One of the most consistent music groups in history. I tip my hat and say thanks once again.
The Cunninlynguists are my fav artists ever and I loved Oneirology. But damn I think the Roots might just have topped it. It’s def close.
But Im glad HHDX gave the roots a 5. unfortunately they messed up the CL review and gave it a 3.5 or 4.
Im a big fan of both myself. I think undun might tilt the scales over oneireology but in terms of a best album between the two, id go with a piece of strange everytime.
I love this album it definitely deserves the 5/5 rating! This is not only of the best albums of 2011 but also one of the best albums to come out in the last decade
Amazing The Roots again prove why they are my favorite band of all time
album is perfect. flawless
Dope as @%$#
classic material
5 means that you don’t skip a track – it’s all quality – a classic.
4.75 – 5.0 /5.0
Even the Redford Jazz Suite (last four tracks) at the end is ill.
This SHOULD a grammy nod and HOPEFULLY push them for a grammy win. And I mean for Album of the year – not just for best HipHop/Rap album.
Man…
(listening to the album now)
I have to play this joint 3 times straight when I finally got to listening to it. This reviewer doesn’t do it justice.
Basically this LP is Nasir Jones’ “Rewind”. The instrumental suite tells the LP in regular forward motion.
The production on here is just amazing.
The concept is just amazing.
The lyrics. Amazing.
My God. This is such a beautiful LP.
This also is so transcendent in so many ways as far as the LP caters to many situations that people go through in life and the decisions made based upon the struggle within. I always say “Life is about the choices you make and the experiences you gain from them”.
Just a wonder LP. This is so far LP of the year.
Ok, Common. You have fierce competition to get LP of the Year. This LP is beautiful.
I’ve lost a lot of sleep to dreams…. Album is slick as it gets. Eclectic sounds, tight ass lyrics just all round dope..
album of the year.. Goes to Lil B.. i mean lil Wayne.. i mean GTFOH..
The Roots Bitches!
Take notes young players from the Coaches. Dope Album all the way!!
album of the year
a masterpiece regardless if it is game changing or not. Excellent music will always be recognized and appreciated. Best concept album ive heard in a while. great follow up. The roots are on a roll dropping very commendable music. respect. Now go cop it!!!
This is exactly why I gave this album a 5-Star rating…This album does not get lazy, but, more conceptual and guess what; IT’S REAL HIP-HOP!!!!
A classic album without all the media-hype!!! I give it a 4.5 4.7, which, makes it a 5.
The Masterpiece.
Great consept album. The Roots never did wrong. 5/5
*concept. learn to spell please
^Concept.
Had this on repeat last two days, gets better every time
if you want to rate this album,compare it to older Roots albums. By comparing it with game changers and such you are not doing it justice.The shift of hip hop from artform where you would be challenged by the music and lyrics is long gone,so to compare it to that is wrong,it’s 2011..how does it hold up now?..based on what is now more or less the standard,this album is as important as Illmatic,not because it changes how you feel about the artform,it shows you that there is room for the artform to progress and mature,a word that isn’t used a lot anymore..by anyone in this artform..that makes it a classic by my standards..
C.L.A.S.S.I.C.
Flawless victory…Fatality.
amazing.
AMAZING
What’s this I hear in my eardrums? finally some real hip-hop. its been on repeat for the past week. shit don’t get stale.
I’m waiting for that com’ joint to drop but IMO album of the year.
This is an amazing album.I would love to see any of the ringtone rappers try to get on the level that this album’s on
Best album of 2011. The concept is amazing. The video clip is amazing. The soulful beats with Q’s dope drums are amazing. Black Thought…. I don’t even need to talk about how great he was. Verse after verse he stays the most consistent rapper in my book. All the features were dope and consistent. Black Thought was lyrically mesmerizing throughout. This is the type of concept album that really gets in your head and stays there. 5/5 is right.
top 5 hip hop releases of the year
Kind of puts Drake’s “talent” in perspective doesn’t it…….
^^^ Exactly. lol I’m like now THIS is how it’s done, folks. This is how you tell a story and handle a concept CD.
love DX, the only hip hop site that actually takes peoples criticism as constructive.
you have a life long fan.
The legendary roots crew have outdone themselves. Incisive, hypnotic beats with soulful straight talking lyrics.
Take a bow sirs, I believe you deserve it
this album is a classic
I think words like “CLassic” get thrown around too much. I liked the album but this aint no perfect 5. More like a solid 4 or 4.5 for me.
I disagree with it being a 4, or a 4.5, this album is a 10/5. Classic gets tossed around a lot, so I’ll just say it is a masterpiece.
This is the Roots magnum opus.
This music is incredible. Absolutely mesmerizing. A must have for any fan of music in general. WHAT ARE YOU WATING FOR, GO GIVE IT A LISTEN!
This album is a fucking CLASSIC!.. yea that word gets thrown around allot.. Go and listen to ANY FUCKING hip hop song or album that has come out recently.. THEY ALL SOUND THE FUCKING SAME. {drugs – sex – money -} “I HAVE THIS AND YOU DON’T KNOW ANY THING ABOUT THAT” modern hip-hop is like a gay-ass commercial encouraging mindless consumerism.. “go and buy champagne you fucking morons” anytime something comes out that isn’t following that formula and it comes from a talented source and from the heart it will be a fucking classic. no matter what it sells.
C4 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
r u serious
5/5 as simple as that.
C’mmon! XXL! Give yourselves a break and re – rate this album. You know it. I see you! You know it’s beyond a 5!
5 ALL THA WAY!
Beautiful.
Hip Hop
I enjoyed “How I Got Over” slightly more, that deserved a 5 as well
Easy to listen to Album,this is the first “The Roots” album I’ve heard, and i was really impresed. Real Hip-Hop right here.
Classic!
amazing album… i thought true hip hop was dead but the past 2 years especially 2011 had some real great artist putting out high level rap..just ingore all that young money mainstream bullshit..theres some real great shit out there n this one might be the best of them all
One of the best…ever…to be honest…
first to say…the four words that get my underwear moist are “the roots…concept album”
Great album. 5* all round.
The Roots >
It’s a good, solid release from the Roots. They have better though, some of y’all are overrating it a tad. Still one of the better albums released this year.
classic
classic .
incredible album..
wow, great album.
Masterpiece of an album from the Legendary Roots Crew. The musical sequencing of this album is to be heard to be believed. When are they gonna start getting recognized as quite possibly the greatest act in Hip Hop history?
Musically they have few if any peers, they are a REAL BAND. And lyrically Black Thought has no peers.
Philly in the building!
……time to dig in my pocket and shell out some cash for this one……
decent album, no classic
One of the best albums i have bought this year.
pitchfork gave this album a 7.3 outta ten….thats .6 more than wale’s album and less than drakes. needless to say i hate that website. along with section 80, return of 4eva, and house of balloons this is one of the best album ive heard this year
first off this is not a hip-hop album…this is a Emo-Rap album. second, this album is boring as fuck…just a bunch of slow or mid tempo tracks that pretty much all sound the same. and third there is more singing and instrumental tracks on this album than actually hip-hop tracks. hip-hop = rapping/MCing not singing. people say this is a concept album…so what exactly is the concept…is the concept to make boring sleepy ass sounding album??? also, just so u know, this is not back pack rap this is emo fag rap plain and simple…yall can call it whatever you want, but me, i see things for what they really are. in closing it got a 5 out of 5…i wonder if that had anything to do with all the advertising dollars def jam pumped and continues to pump into this site.
DON’T MIND ME Y’ALL… I TAKE DICKS UP MY ASS… I’M JUST UPSET BECAUSE MY UNCLE JOE RAPES THE SHIT OUTTA MY SKINNY ASS… THEN HE MAKES ME GIVE HIM ORAL SEX LIKE JERRY SANDUSKY… MY LIFE SUCKS..
brian, brian, brian… You sound foolish professing your unwritten rules of hip hop. You spend waaaay too much time hating on the roots album. Brian the dictator!
Seriously! Emo Rap? You must have a little little brain. Have you ever thought of any music conceptually? Or do you just minimize everything you don’t understand? You’ve got a long way to go buddy.
This album is eerie especially if you’re from the hood. Now whenever I walk down the streets to the train, I feel like the kid walking through his hood. It’s whatevert to Brian. This is indeed not backpack rap. This is something bigger than rap. It’s like Marvin Gayes What going on Album. This albums captures the essence of hood life in 40 mins. It captures the essense a 25 yrs of life (Redmonds life) in 40 minutes. Its always harder to explain a complex problem with less. Think mathematics and efficiency – trying to solve a problem in the least amount of steps. That’s what the roots did. They captured a 24 year tragedy as efficiently and emotionally than actually having lived it.
so hood life’s soundtrack would be slow r&b sounding shit??? i don’t think so…maybe in your hood, but not in mine.
i like how yall get all emotional and want to get all deep by saying something is bigger than rap…nothing is bigger than rap you fucking moron.
So Brian you just ignore the efficiency of the album? Also take a look at the mini movie that comes with it. The beats are hot. Maybe you like the new beats of Drake (that electro synth sound everyone’s using) but I like a good RZA beat (Sleep sounds like something RZA could have used on Kill Bill or Ghost Dog soundtrack. To understand you better, what do you call good hip hop? What album is better? The beats aren’t boring by the way – they are somber to create a somber/nostalogic mood.
you call the beats “somber”, but me…i call them boring. hip-hop isn’t supposed to put u to sleep…if anything it’s supposed to wake u up…obviously you are still dreaming.
Brian is probably man who’s trying to kill this movement because he wants us to stay dumb, deaf and blind.
Brian: Keep listening to Jay Z talk about how he sold coke and look at where he is now. That’s backpack music. Don’t listen to the Roots explain how a lot of folks end up (the other side of the story) from living that way.
movement??? you’re really gonna call the roots and this album a movement??? what??? did you start listening to music yesterday or something??? the roots have been around for what seems like forever. i like how yall get all emotional and want to get all deep by saying something is bigger than rap…nothing is bigger than rap you fucking moron.
yes a movement that started and stop – intelligent music that isn’t dumbed down. There haven’t been many albums as intelligent as this in a minute.
i didn’t hear one line on this whole album that made me hit the rewind button…PERIOD.
Brain–>Hardest ass of all time.
also for the record this album is boring because it sounds boring…not because it doesn’t sound like the bullshit on the sucker free countdown
did you even understand what they were trying to portray from this album? this is such a complete piece of art, that tells a story that so many fans can relate too.. and you just said”hip-hop = rapping/MCing not singing” … first of all hip hops a culture, rap is just a part of it, and i didn’t know there was a rule book on what qualified as rap. no singing? guess the fugees aren’t hip hop then..
Exactly anony1, that’s the movement real hip hoppers i was speaking of that real hip hoppers understand.
so Fugees “Killing Me Softly” is hip-hop??? Nope. No Fucking Way.
haha shows what you know.. killing me softly is just a cover ms hill did of an older song by roberta flack. if thats the first song you think of when i say fugees then go educate yourself a lil more.. im done with this until then cause you clearly don’t know what your talking about
Yo Brain… Bitch, get out of here.
If you don’t like the album, you don’t like the album. 1 is 1, and you are a cock suckkah. Shut the fuck up now.
Brian! Have you ever experienced any degree of enlightenment?
The roots have found there holy grail with this album. And the last classic i heard before this was the fix so that is saying alot…..This is real as hiphop can get!!!! Open your ears people
this is their “holy grail”…what about “do you want more”…SMH
Listened to it once. Did not disappoint. 2nd Listen is always the best.
Top 3 Album for Me………
listened to it once and it’s a “top 3 album”. you stupid fucks…this is exactly what i’m talking about. SMH
you didn’t even finishing reading the sentence you moron
2 weeks from now no one will be listening to this album…you know it, i know it, EVERYONE knows it…it’s new so everyone is jocking it but it will soon be collecting dust like 95% of the so called hot albums that came out in 2011…PERIOD.
again, hey brian actually that’s pretty awkward cuz it’s been two weeks since release and i’m still listening to this album nonstop every day.
Still listening. Your prediction was wrong. It’s okay to be wrong but you should learn from it.
how about we just give every album a 5…kinda like how every kid that plays little league baseball gets a trophy. seriously…yall (hiphopdx users) need fucking help…i’m not sure what kind of help yall need but i would probably start by giving ya a bullet in the head.
ayo brian…. shut the fuck up. if you put up 70 fuckin comments about how you don’t like the album and not one person agrees with you then maybe its time to try a different website. How you gonna reply to every positive comment, have nobody agree with you, and still think you’re the smart one? Eat a dick you fuckin loudmouth
u would like me to eat a dick wouldn’t you…faggot.
two weeks from now no one will be listening to this album…you know it, i know it, EVERYONE knows it…it’s new so everyone is jocking it but it will soon be collecting dust like 95% of the so called hot albums that came out in 2011…PERIOD.
ayo brian…. shut the fuck up. if you put up 70 fuckin comments about how you don’t like the album and not one person agrees with you then maybe its time to try a different website. How you gonna reply to every positive comment, have nobody agree with you, and still think you’re the smart one? Eat a dick you fuckin loudmouth
hey brian actually that’s pretty awkward cuz it’s been two weeks and i’m still listening to this album nonstop every day.
Brian….. You act like a child. Please excuse me if you are. But if not pulled your head out your….
Loved the album although I had to listen to it from start to finish about three times before it all clicked. I do miss their old, more energetic style though. Get Busy might’ve been the last song they’ve released that could get played at a get-together without killing the vibe.
exactly…it’s boring as fuck…take that Starky Love.
@Briand …boring as fuck? Really? You don’t know anything about Hip Hop.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Brian, you’re ears are just not developed enough to understand it… I get it. And it’s ok, because you will one day. And when that day comes, you will feel like a dumb-ass.
Let me make it clear for you: This is a CONCEPT ALBUM. It was not the Roots’ intention to get you dancing to it or to have your neck snapping like its some Lex Luger shit. It was meant to tell a story, give a message and have you listening to some beautiful instrumentation while doing so.
I’m sure they will get back to rocking out on their next project
.
well it’s time for me to go to sleep so i guess i’ll put on The Roots new album “Undun”…less than 5 minutes later ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
DON’T MIND ME Y’ALL… I TAKE DICKS UP MY ASS… I’M JUST UPSET BECAUSE MY UNCLE JOE RAPES THE SHIT OUTTA MY SKINNY ASS… THEN HE MAKES ME GIVE HIM ORAL SEX LIKE JERRY SANDUSKY… MY LIFE SUCKS.. PRAY FOR ME
DON’T MIND ME Y’ALL… I TAKE DICKS UP MY ASS… I’M JUST UPSET BECAUSE MY UNCLE JOE RAPES THE SHIT OUTTA MY SKINNY ASS… THEN HE MAKES ME GIVE HIM ORAL SEX LIKE JERRY SANDUSKY… MY LIFE SUCKS.. PRAY FOR ME
thats brian’s life… bitch ass negro
only faggots use facebook
RJ, straight ass.
Brian and these other hatin a## nigg#s
Yall some hoes. Shut the fuck up.
Hoe ass niggas.
The ROOTS are living lengends. The only HIP HOP group that can do whatever they want and still be conscience.
@achpe WORD!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
brian maybe when you grow up and start living in the real world you’ll be able to relate to the content of this album, until then just stfu and get over it already, noone agrees with you, now fuck off
Sucks to be lost. Then again what you don’t know won’t hurt you.
that’s brians daily life… bitch ass
let me guess…your name is “RJ” because you suck on “random jocks”???
fuck u wanker
Haters everywhere… This is the greatest album of 2011.
this is my last comment on this issue………………….so you’re telling me this album is better than cold corner 2, cats & dogs, a world with no skies 2.0, greatest story never told, honkey kong, dr. lecter, population control, the wonder years, well-done, sparta…the answer is NO FUCKIN’ WAY. PERIOD.
good job making the list, but this album is better than most of those mixtape caliber albums that you mentioned. You see that’s the problem with hip-hop fans. You don’t know what real music or a real album should sound like.
@Brian You know how it says “‘Undun’ is not an album for the […] one-dimensional hip-hop afficianado”? He is talking about you. This album is NOT for you. The albums you mentioned are all solid. The thing is that most of them stick to hardcore or battle rap. They aren’t pushing the limits of their music or of the genre. That’s great because each of those artists is being himself. But from a critical standpoint, the albums that deserve higher scores are the ones like “Undun” that will satisfy the listener who is interested in a wide range of music. There is nothing wrong with your taste dude, but that doesn’t mean that your opinion is perfect.
How is this album pushing the limits. There is nothing on this album that is pushing the limits. And that one-dimensional comment is narcissism at its best. ‘Oh, I listen to the roots, so I must have a higher IQ.’ It’s ridiculous. I listen to a wide variety of genres, but I ain’t feeling this. They need to go back to some harder shit. Their last 2 albums have been a bore.
^^ How is this album pushing the limits?? Ummm…
1. It only ended with a 4-movement instrumental that had pianos, an ill drum solo from Questlove, and string arrangements.
2. It was a concept album that told a story BACKWARDS, and addressed a serious issue in the black community without coming off as “preachy” or “conscious”.
3. Musically, the album had everything from boom-bap LIVE drums, string sections and electric guitars, which are soooo common in hip-hop (obvious sarcasm).
I guess you’re right, the album pushed NO limits.
The Roots last two albums “How I Got Over” and “undun” are the type of albums that REAL music heads know are special and deserve the high praise they are receiving. The rest of yall muhfuckas will realize it when you’re like 60 years old listening to old records trying to reminisce and shit.
For Brian to even mention a fucking producer’s album (9th Wonder’s Wonder Years) in comparison to this shows what type of ear he has for this music shit. Wonder Years was created by like 20 different artists and the only common theme between any of the songs was that 9th produced them.
I’m sure 9th himself would tell you not to compare one of his compilation albums to an album by the Legendary Roots Crew, let alone one of the best of their career.
Thank You Mu for your well thought out comments!
I agree with the rating i would probably give it a 4.5/4.75 myself but i have no problem with it getting a 5 …. also i think people need to realize that since the album plays out like a movie its hard to do a detailed review without spoiling it for peopl who havent listend to it yet …part of the fun is figuring out whats going on …
Great album. Instant classic. It feels so The Roots, yet also like something I’ve never quite heard before.
Every is sublime from the sounds, to the themes, and the flow of the album. Only a few lyrical mis-steps by Black Though, such as rhyming life with life without wordplay or prior words pairing each other.
5/5 as for the review, very well written, bu Feel like it could have been more in depth. I made sure I’d only read it after buying the album and jamming for days nn-stop.
People are commenting about all the haters. But The Roots have always had more groupies than haters. And all these comments prove that further.
And you’ve determined this how? Distinguish speculation from fact.
I will give it a criticism…It should have been longer. This album left me wanting to hear more verses in sleep, more verses on the 2 minutes joints. To be honest, since first few albums (Illadelph Halflife), I thought the Roots were trying too hard to fit stand out because they were rappers with live bands instead of focusing on the vibe of the album. But honestly, the last albums since Game theory have been pretty good and honestly, on this albums has left me wanting more and wishing it had been longer. My taste – I personally thought they couldn’t reach the level of Illadelph Halflife again. They may have surpassed that level though its hard to compare the albums because the styling are so different.
i dont think this was a album it was a message to someone, and its dope
Corrected:
I will give it a criticism…It should have been longer. This album left me wanting to hear more verses in sleep, more verses on the 2 minutes joints. To be honest, since first few albums (Do you want more!?!!!, Illadelph Halflife), I thought the Roots were trying too hard to live off the fact that they were rappers with a live bands instead of focusing on the vibe of the album. But honestly, the last albums starting from Game theory have been pretty, but Undun is the only Roots album that has left me wanting more and wishing it had been longer. My taste – I personally didn’t think they couldn’t reach the level of Illadelph Halflife again. They may have surpassed that level though its hard to compare the albums because the stylings of the two albums are so different.
How I Got Over was a classic and superior to this. It was just as good as Illadelph Halflife IMO, however they are difficult to compare since The Roots sound has evolved so much since then.
The album is cool, but the story is incomplete…its like Big’s READY TO DIE, but without “Me and My B****” or “Suicidal Thoughts”…we dont even know how Redford Stephens died, nor did we know his name was Redford Stephens unless we read an interview about the album…my non biased opinion as a ROOTS fan.
Your opinion is biased. You compared to Ready To Die? WTF? The music is encrypted. That is the beauty of it. Seek and you shall find.
yeah i feel it its cool but i was suprised and how short it was. honestly i didnt think it was that good to have a 5. action bronson and statik selektah was better than this.
just copped these together both are classics IMO. its like comparing a drama to an action movie.
why did this get a perfect rating? I hear no story other than the one implied by the roots. There are def some great tracks on there, but this is not a hiphop classic
a lot of you guys are hating on Brian…and Brian you are kinda stepping out of your lane by saying this album sucks and its background music…but it def lost my interest halfway thru. I dont feel that this broke the boundaries of hiphop whatsoever. I dont know how you guys gave Boy Meets World a 4.5 but then hail Undun as the perfect album. HHdx ha shown a lot of inconsistency because of this.
CLASSIC!FUCK YOU LIL WAYNE!
Good album, not a perfect 5 though
The Roots last four albums have mirrored life in general for most Americans and those affected by the worldwide economic crisis. The tone of these albums, save for a few songs have been dark and brooding, IMO they have crafted consecutive classics with each of those releases.
I feel like i felt with Kendrick’s Album (section 80)… It’s a good lyrical hip-hop album, but sometime’s the choruses get soooo cheesy it takes away from the whole song (one time, lighthouse, I remember)… I feel it could have been more raw, less preachy.
I liked the features, they’ve added a lot to the songs (Big Krit’s verses is one of my favorite) and I liked the whole concept (which is kinda hard to figure out if you just listen to the album without researching or listening to interviews).
Favorite tracks : Sleep, Tip the Scale, Stomp, The Otherside, the last 4 instrumental tracks.
Section 800 was mad cheesy, bording on corny in parts.
This shit right here…. Master Piece.
AMAZING ALBUM! The Roots are in a creative place right now that is not matched by many in hip-hop right now. Lyricism (4/5), Production (5/5), Execution of the concept (3/5).
My only critique of this album is that the concept could have been executed a little better. That could’ve been accomplished by having less Greg Porn and more Black Thought verses. I also thought they could’ve done a better job of making the story of Redford feel more like an actual story. Instead, it feels more like a series of songs about his thought-process during different phases of his life. Basically, the character could have come alive more if there were more details about how be became “undun”. I never thought I’d say this, but the lyrics are at times too poetic instead of explicitly discussing the pros and cons of street life. That’s just nit-picking tho… cop this album NOW if you haven’t done so already. One. 4.5/5
Good critique, I’m with you.
Lyricism 5/5
Production 5/5
Execution of the concept 4,5/5
Greg Porn killed it on Kool On, even beat out Black Thought on that one IMO, but I’m not sure he needed three guest spots. Overall, the album was too feature-heavy for me. Roots albums are pretty much the only time we get to hear Black Thought rhyme, so I think he should have held most of it down himself. I’m pretty sure most people tune in because he’ll be rapping, not to hear loads of features, even though Dice Raw and others are dope in their own right.
Fuck critics.
Music is about feeling.
Shit felt like a 5!
agreed. still a 5 star album, but take out the features from greg porn and that one from truck north and you have a perfect album. really, they should just add dice raw back to the group he was on like half the songs anyway. but yes, more black thought where wack features are.
rooooooots
Great critique of the album!!!!
Hell of an album, but short. Although it pains me to give such a high rating, the content in this album makes up for the abruptness of this work of art. classic roots with fresh music. Definite buy.
Master
Piece
this and watch the throne – album o the year
the roots rocks!
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I agree it could have been longer and certain songs left me wanting more but it’s like a fine wine. You don’t chug it until you’re drunk cuz you’ll miss it for what it is. You sit back and slowly drink it in and enjoy it for it’s unique flavor. We can get punch drunk off of all the other “discount liquors” but if you drink this in too fast it’ll only leave you wanting more. Let this one breathe a bit.
it was decent, didn’t think it was brilliant though
You’ve got f’n ish in your ears. You’re ego controls too much of you and inflicts with your ability to listen.
all the way 5 should be a 10 tired of the garbage finally some real hip hop about life and the world.. hip hop ain’t dead it’s just nobody listens!!
lol.. wats worth listening to!? besides a few creative lines this album reminds me of a trip to a gym, fukn hot headed rap, sorry excuse me.. should not be considered rap, it should be considered a haiku due to lack of bars. B-E-A-UTIFULL beats to listen to though.
WOW.
Already a fan. Scooped release day. Pleased.
I like it more than HIGO almost as much as Rising Down.
But that had Kweli Def and Peedi Crack so comparing ain’t fair.
The Roots are like fine wine.
They were great when they came out. But as they grow they keep adding different tastes and flavors than brings together a more complicated and better product. Congrats.
Anyway.
It’s New Years and I just noticed that this album is highest rated user, editor and most discussed. That never happens.
Congrats again.
Real hip hop
Really good music, released at just the right time. I highly recommend this CD, it isn’t for everyone though, but it is worth a listen.
Classic…but the hatas gon hate, this is expected and always projected. The message is clear, the music is great…anything less than 5 stars and you need your heads checked.
I loved this record but I really don’t understand what’s so challenging about it. It’s just 9 beautiful songs that are very, very accessible. And I’m sorry, but I don’t see how an album of only 9 tracks can be a 5 star record. I’m not hating on it, I just disagree with some of the comments made about it. If you don’t own it, though, go buy it.
best album of 2011
truth.
Man HHDX was high reviewing this one, yeah it’s a great album, but it’s a 4.5 at best, Section.80 was way better, The Dreamer/The Believer too. Not hating on The Roots though, they’re awesome too, but this album ain’t a 5 star album.
Great album. Together with Common’s “The Believer/The Dreamer”, “Undun” is yet another solid piece of work and an encouraging sign that maybe, just maybe, hip-hop is returning, even if on a small scale, to good, old-fashioned, quality hip-hop, solid beats, rhymes and relevant subject matter!
not that good
good album but the concept was not well executed… stop promoting mediocrity..
STUNNING!! This album is amazing, how it shows a life from birth to death. Everything about this concept album is perfect, and i don’t say that much. Five stars one of the most artistic albums of all time i am simply amazed
Just a great album
already one of my favorite albums ever
One of the best albums of the last five years!
GREAT ALBUM!!! 5/5…but still gotta give Tha Carter IV rap album of the year
Hell No
your dumb. watch the throne was 10x the album of the carter 4
And undun, Section.80, Hell: The Sequel, Oneirology, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), Success Is Certain, The Greatest Story Never Told, R.E.K.S. (Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme)
The Dreamer/The Believer, All 6’s And 7’s, Charity Starts At Home, L.A. Riot, XXX, Free Agent, The Wonder Years & When Skies Fall are ALL better than both Watch The Throne & Tha Carter IV…
5 stars!
very good
🙂
one the best albums ever
GOAT album, still listen to it once a day
still bumpin
beautiful