Shit is fucked. Whether on the micro scale of hip-hop itself, to the median of the descent of the music industry, to the macro scale of world politics, shit is fucked. The seeds of discontent germinating within The Roots crew date back to their humble beginnings, as demonstrated in the album’s opening skit, which offers a glimpse behind the scenes of a fateful day in 1995. During a recorded crew conference call thirteen years ago, we find the frustration reach a boiling point, as the call erupts into a screaming match between Black Thought and ?uestlove (here played by Tariq Trotter and Ahmir Thompson). That being said, if emotions were flying off the hook back then, just imagine how things are for The Roots in this day and age.

Whether through the sound of the music or the context of the lyrics, the anger and frustration with today’s state of affairs comes through on Rising Down, picking up directly where Game Theory left off. A sequel - but hardly the same album - this LP takes an even darker turn than it’s predecessor. The album’s first song “Rising Down” surprisingly does not place Black Thought center-stage, as the first voice we hear is actually that of Mos Def, who presents us with one of his most refreshing performances in recent memory. Black Thought gets his time to shine however, warning the dangers of global warming, while Styles P vents on tricknology. Dice Raw’s compelling hook is also food for thought – “Every thing is for sale, even our souls / Somebody get God on the phone….” This guest heavy track sets the stage for the album, as pretty much every track after it is a collaboration with one or more artists.

The darkness creeps in on meaty tracks like “Get Busy” (feat. Dice Raw and Peedi Peedi) and “75 Bars”, where the menacing style of production seems more suited for some 90′s gangster rappers. Instead, it provides the sinister backdrops needed to animate the album’s politically charged lyrics. The latter, “75 Bars”, is one of the few tracks without guest contributions, as Black Thought shows off his 80′s fast-rap style, obliterating the track with thought-provoking, raw lyrics that would make Big Daddy Kane proud.

Nouveau Riche collaborator Khari “Ferrari” Mateen, who helped out on Game Theory, also makes his presence known here as well. “Criminal”, for instance, features a trademark breezy hook, as Saigon murders the track, along with strong verses from Thought and Truck North. Later on “Singing Man”, has a dark, bluesy feel, again employing Porn, Black Thought, and Truck North, as each of them lend disturbing verses from the perspectives of different types of killers – serial killer, freedom fighter, and dictator – each verse rich with political commentary. “Lost Desire” is perhaps one of the most poignant moments on the album, as each Black Thought, Talib Kweli, and good-to-have-him-back Malik B, that sums up the slacker mentality of today’s apathetic generation.

As the album closes out, seeds of positivity are planted. “The Show” (feat. Common and Dice Raw) suggests that despite the fact that, yes, shit is fucked, ultimately the show must go on, despite the hardships of an uphill battle. The album closes with “Rising Up”, which finds sliding back into their traditional element, as Chrisette Michelle lends a timeless hook, as Black Thought and Wale get down with almost a little bit of D.C. go-go flavor.

The gripes that will accompany this record are the breaking of traditional Roots formulas. Black Thought is more than capable emcee of holding down the entire album himself, but much of the mic-time is shared with guest emcees, most of whom hold their own next to Thought. Secondly, the sound of The Roots continues to evolve, as this record is more Public Enemy than A Tribe Called Quest. Gone are the days of The Roots being a “hip-hop jazz band”, so once you can come to terms with that, then you can enjoy this album. While these are valid points, one could argue that instead, these changes have kept The Roots from creating the same album over and over again. Coupled with the fact that they have not slipped musically in doing so, this instead turns into a positive for the group.

So, while the proverbial shit may ultimately be fucked, it’s also helped The Roots create some of the most dynamic and important music of their career. Rising Down is easily the group’s darkest and discontent album released to date, yet also one of it’s boldest. – Pizzo