The Roots, undun
The Roots return with their latest studio release, as they bring some friends to tell a story with this tragic yet beautiful concept album undun…
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The Roots may be best known in the mainstream for their nightly gig as the house band on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and through the years they’ve justifiably become attached to an extrordinary live show. Now, though, they’ve returned to the studio for their latest retail release, undun, where they take a new approach: a concept album, with the storytelling in reverse order.
Recounting the first-person tale of Redford Stephens, a hustler who didn’t make it past 25, the Philly based band begins the record with his death, and tracks the tale backward, as the album’s ill-fated protagonist faces the street life and its often inescapable woes. The crew beautifully arranges harmonic strings, gloomy keys and sturdy drums with seamlessly implemented guest spots from the likes of Big K.R.I.T., Phonte, Dice Raw and Bilal, as questions of fate and free will persist; how much of Redford’s story was already determined due to the circumstances under which he was born?
Multiple voices converging to tell one story results in a far more interconnected listen than it probably should, but this oddity is part of what’s so great about undun. It’s a bit unorthodox but magnificent sonically, as well, as five of the 14 tracks don’t have vocals: the opener, as well as the last four. This allows the necessary means to ease in and out of a heavy album, giving an opportunity to soak in the track-by-track events and story as a whole.
Each song seeps smoothly into the next; most are able to stand on their own, but shine when reinforced by what precedes and follows. A concept album with an equally heavy focus on musicianship and rhymes, undun fantastically transports into the tragic narrative. —Adam Fleischer
y’all tripping how this didnt get a XXL in orginality and Lyrics…..wtf….XXL all the way.
I gotta say I disagree with the mag on this one. 10/10, XXL rating, five stars, whatever you choose this is one of the best I’ve heard all year
XXL. Album was absolutely fantastic. great storytelling, great lyrics (how many artists talk about existentialism and stuff like that) and great beats. best thing out in a long time, a classic
Maybe it wasn’t the greatest album ever made, but this desereved atleast an XXL in Originality and Lyrics. Totally agree with lil b
Thats it. I”m going back to the source. I feel like 4 and a half mics means more than an XL rating. How was this not original? ITS THE F****** ROOTS! THEY’RE THE MOST ORIGINAL RAP GROUP OF ALL TIME! HOW WAS THE BEATS NOT AN XXL! THEY’RE PLAYED BY A BAND! YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS TO DO?!?!?! A F****** BAND! AND THE LYRICS NOT AN XXL? BLACK THOUGHT???? BLACK THOUGHT ONE OF THE MOST GREAT LYRICIST OF ALL TIME? GO TO HELL XXL. THE MOST BIASED MAGAZINE EVER.
Whenver XXL has a Lil Wayne album to review, they have a lil wayne fan thats apart of the staff review the album. Same with Drake. Same with every other rapper. Thats why these albums aint been gettin nothin but XL ratings. you’re losing your credibility. Its a real biased system, XXL. This album deserved AT LEAST an XXL for beats and originality. Does your staff even know what they’re doing? Your rating system is the least respected in the business. SMH.
gotta get that album, love the roots. rising down is my fav
i see hella garbage albums get xl ratings.why this album didn’t get a an xxl rating is crazy to me.
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!
are you kidding me?
xxl is going the way of the source.
i mean although incredible, this was not perfect.
However, considering Drake’s Take Care and 2Chainz TRUReligion both got XL this is about a XXXXXXXL in comparison. this is blasphemy. i am no longer using this site i will only use hip hop dx from now on