[Rank a Discography] The Roots
- Chris Harrison
- Nov 22, 2017
- 6 min read
We all love to argue on the internet, even when all parties involved like the same thing. We may love the same artist, but for different reasons. We might fight over which album is a classic and which one is hot garbage. Here, at Narrativity, we're going to take a shot at ranking the discographies of some of our favorite artists. Obviously, these rankings are all 100% accurate and should be taken as historical facts.
Today, I'm going to attempt to take on The Roots' expansive catalog. They've been my favorite band for years but their work is exceptionally difficult to rank because they're the rare group that has reinvented their sound on multiple occasions. The jazz rap of Organix and Do You Want More?!!??! sounds nothing like the more traditional '90s East Coast rap of Illadelph Halflife, the dark Game Theory, or the more avant garde work at the end of Undun. At the very least, it was easy to decide on a starting point.
12. ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (2014)
Their most recent album was their second attempt at a concept album after the fantastic Undun. Unfortunately, this time, it felt a bit flat. There were still a few strong tracks, like "When the People Cheer" and "Understand," but nothing that would have been a standout on stronger Roots albums. What disappointed me the most was that the song with the best beat, "Black Rock," still didn't quite work. It's probably telling that I've seen them live twice since the album dropped and they've performed zero songs from it.
Best song: "When the People Cheer"
11. Organix (1993)
Organix was the album that started it all. It has a unique, loosely improvisational feel and songs like “Essawhamah?” and “The Anti-Circle” (this song has a mean-ass bass line) showed off the band’s considerable potential and Black Thought’s ridiculous rhyming ability. It’s far from their best work, but it was a sign of things to come.
Best Song: "The Anti-Circle"
10. Wake Up! (2010)
The Roots decided to throw everyone for a curveball by releasing an album of remade '70s protest songs with John Legend. While the album isn’t without its share of highlights, the band got away from its bread and butter a bit and Black Thought’s involvement was minimal. John Legend’s voice sounds great over some tracks, like “Hard Times” and “Little Ghetto Boy,” but feels a bit lacking on others.
Best Song: "I Can’t Write Left-Handed"
9. Phrenology (2002)
Phrenology was highly experimental, featuring everything from frantic punk-influenced instrumentals to a smoothed-out love song (“Break You Off”) that transforms into a long orchestral piece. “The Seed 2.0” is one of the most iconic songs in the band’s history and both “Rolling With Heat” (the song that got me into Talib Kweli’s music) and “Rock You” are definite head-nodders.
Best Song: "The Seed 2.0"
8. Rising Down (2008)
Rising Down, at the time of its release, was easily the darkest album in the band’s catalog. The tone is set from the start with the ultra-pessimistic title track and continues through “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction),” on which Black Thought absolutely demolishes a grimy, bare-bones drum and sousaphone instrumental with a three-minute marathon verse, dropping a few dozen n-bombs on the way. "I'm in the field with a shield and a spear, nigga/I'm in your girl with her heels in the air, nigga" is maybe the hardest shit I've ever heard. “Singing Man,” is even bleaker, as Greg Porn, Black Thought, and Truck North take on the personas of a school shooter, child soldier, and suicide bomber, respectively. The album does finally hit an optimistic note, though, on the upbeat “Rising Up,” the last non-bonus cut on the album.
Best Song: “Get Busy”
7. The Tipping Point (2004)
The Roots used a more stripped-down production style on The Tipping Point, with the intention of appeasing demanding record executives expecting them to make a radio hit. That didn’t quite work out, but, while some of the beats fall a little flat (“Somebody’s Gotta Do It” might be the best example), the album is mostly good as hell. “I Don’t Care” has a dope bass line and an infectious chorus and “Duck Down” has a very cool, off-kilter beat. “Web” and “Boom” are Black Thought as his finest. The former is three minutes of Black Thought doing his damn thing (it's a the spiritual predecessor of "75 Bars") and the latter has Thought impersonating Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane over a phenomenal break beat from Questlove. The bonus tracks also do a great job of bringing the energy of their world-renowned live shows to listeners at home.
Best Song: "Web"
6. Things Fall Apart (1999)
Things Fall Apart is often hailed as the pinnacle of the band’s work by those who prefer their earlier jam-heavy offerings to their more recent work. TFA is an excellent listen from start to finish, with highlights ranging from the thoughtful “Act Too (The Love of My Life)” to “You Got Me,” the low-key romantic song that would end up being their breakthrough into commercial radio, to “100% Dundee,” an absolute banger.
Best Song: "Double Trouble"
5. Do You Want More?!!??! (1995)
The Roots’ second album was the last of their jazz rap records. It also easily stands among their best work. The title track somehow manages to successfully use bagpipes in a rap song, “What Goes On Pt. 7” is ridiculous from a lyrical standpoint, and “Proceed” is as laid back as it gets. The album doesn’t sound like anything else out there and is a definite must-listen for open-minded rap fans.
Best Song: "Do You Want More?!!??!"
4. Illadelph Halflife (1996)
Illadelph is the closest thing The Roots have ever done to straight-up East Coast hip-hop. Before revisiting it recently, I’d nearly forgotten how on point Black Thought’s rhymes were on this album. Lines like “I’m livin’ life within a labyrinth of nonsense/this is a consequence of being Philly residents” are pure gold. Thought’s in rare form throughout the entire album, which is full of memorable tracks like “What They Do,” which, along with Common’s “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” is one of the definitive songs written about the state of hip-hop (not to mention its excellent music video, which sadly now has its subtitles edited out). “Clones” is another standout track and it has one of the hardest drum breaks you’ll ever hear.
Best Song: "What They Do"
3. Undun (2011)
Undun is a rare example of a concept album in rap that actually works. The story follows Redford Stevens as his environment corrupts him until his early demise. It’s some of their most poignant work and features some of their finest songwriting. The instrumentals are very much on par with the lyrics too, from the sweeping coda of “Make My” to the warbly guitar riff on “Kool On.” It’s also their bleakest album by far, as, unlike How I Got Over or Rising Down, it does not end on anything approaching a hopeful note. Dice Raw’s final verse on “Tip the Scale” is absolutely heartbreaking.
Best Song: "The OtherSide"
2. Game Theory (2006)
Despite them being my favorite band, I was more than a little late to the party with The Roots’ music. I grew up on rap, but my collection was almost entirely made up of old school stuff that my parents raised me on and whatever shit was hot at the time. I discovered The Roots around the time Game Theory came out and it changed what I thought rap music was capable of. I was fixated on both the live instrumentation and the dark undertones and more serious themes in their music. My obsession with this album led to me looking up all their old stuff, then all their collaborators, and so on until I’d basically discovered a web of new rappers through them.
Anyway, Game Theory is an excellent piece of work, with everything from bangers (“Here I Come,” “Game Theory”), to serious, reflective songs (“Clock with No Hands”) to darker, more political tracks (“In the Music,” “Don’t Feel Right,” “Livin’ in a New World”).
Best Song: "In the Music"
1. How I Got Over (2010)
How I Got Over is proof that a rap group can still make relevant, interesting music as they approach middle age. The album’s structure is also a big part of what makes it a special listening experience. It’s a very compact, concise album with no wasted tracks, which allows it to build momentum throughout. It starts off in a very dark place, with the excellent “Walk Alone,” and the somber “Dear God 2.0,” then gradually becomes more and more hopeful as the album progresses, culminating in the hard-hitting “Right On” and the incredible “Doin’ It Again (Remix),” where Black Thought reprises his brilliant BET Cypher verse over a beat with strong bass, hard-hitting drums and an added touch of piano.
Best Song: "Doin’ It Again (Remix)"
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