[Music for My Kids] The Roots - Things Fall Apart
I am not cool, nor would I present myself as such. But, at this moment in time, I am likely at or near the apex of my coolness, headed quickly towards a downward trend. As such, I’m launching a new semi-regular feature here at CotP: music for my kids. Thankfully, for both the potential children and for me, I don’t yet have daughters or sons, but I figure it’s best to pass along knowledge before I grow up and think that a night seeing Kenny G Jr. play the xylophone is the highlight of me year (because, really, there’s no other option for how things will go). Knowledge will be passed along in album reviews. The letters will likely make predictions that are jokes and unlikely to come true, so don’t sue me for libel.
Album #1: The Roots – Things Fall Apart
Dearest daughter(s) and/or son(s),
My first recommendation is of a rap group from Philadelphia. Rap was a genre of music when I was growing up. Actually, the rhythm structures are pretty similar to modern pop music with one unique distinction: rap music, during the 20 years after its inception, was actually good, whereas the crap you guys listen to is crap. But I digress…
The Roots hold an interesting place in music history. They came up during the heyday of major record labels – companies that simplified the lives of artists through organizing their tours and distributing their music (when music was distributed physically on tapes and compact discs) – and their career trajectory was affected by their place in time. The Roots were unique for a rap group of the time in that they featured a full band that played both on their records and at live shows. The primary MC or vocalist went by Black Thought; he was among the most respected rappers of his generation. He and Questlove, the group’s drummer, were the creative directors of the group over the years and are recognized as the most important members of The Roots.
After struggling to find mainstream success, The Roots broke through with their 1999 album, Things Fall Apart. This album was my favorite for the year of its release and I spent many an Etna night listening to it on repeat on my boom box. Things Fall Apart was a bit out of place in its mainstream acceptance and critical acclaim. That is, at the time, the smooth, jazz-influenced rap music was not a major presence on the music scene. There were plenty of quality artists making this kind of music at the time – A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Black Star, to name a few – but the youth wanted to listen to crap like boy bands manufactured by record labels and fusion bands mixing rap with metal.
Things Fall Apart is The Roots masterpiece, when they realized the full potential of their group. Black Thought and Malik B, coupled with guest rhymers like Common, Mos Def, Dice Raw, Beanie Siegel and Eve, told stories of life in urban America, love and growing up. But heavier lyrical content didn’t distract from the music; Things Fall Apart is a soulful record, but still has some party-ready jams. At the start of a decade-long obsession with the sampling of funk, R&B and soul records, The Roots and their producers creation of a meaningful, worn album largely without the use of samples was a welcome change. They were a treat to see live, particularly during their tour in support of Things Fall Apart and improvised throughout their shows over the years, often interspersing interludes with live performances of the popular rap beats of the day.
mp3: The Roots - Double Trouble (feat. Mos Def)
mp3: The Roots - Act Too (The Love of My Life) (feat. Common)
The Roots have long-since been remembered as the band of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon or as the band with the afroed drummer, but before they were known as all that, they were known as the last great rap band of their era.
More to come, daughter(s) and son(s). With love,
Your father
