The Roots have, and always will be known, as one of the most underrated acts in hip hop music. Besides having two incredibly talented lyricists as their leaders: Black Thought, and Malik B, they still don't get the respect they rightfully deserve as being considered legends. Their musicanship abilities are above anybody else in rap due to the fact that they dont even create instrumentals with a synthesizer. Nope. The Roots are actually a live band, who records their beats live in the studio, then fine tunes them on the computers. They've created a very unique style of combining jazz elements into hip hop to produce a fresh new sound, as only they can provide.

Since their onset, the Roots have continuously grown as better musicians and lyricists. They've experimented from every style you can think of. From soul, to even beat boxing, the more unorthodox style of hip hop music. Nobody can produce a record in the same fashion or on the same level as the Roots, and they prove on 1996's Illadelph Halflife that the first two albums were NOT a joke, and that they are indeed here to prove themselves.


Track List & Rating

34. Intro (NOT RATED)
35. Respond/React (5 Stars)
36. Section (5 Stars)
37. Panic?!!!??! (4 Stars)
38. It Just Don't Stop (5 Stars)
39. Episodes f/ Dice Raw, The Jazzfatnastees (4 Stars)
40. Push Up Ya Lighter f/ Bahamadia (4 1/2 Stars)
41. What They Do f/ Raphael Saadiq (5 Stars)
42. ? vs. Scratch (NOT RATED)
43. Concerto of the Desperado (4 1/2 Stars)
44. Clones f/ Dice Raw, M.A.R.S. (5 Stars)
45. UNIverse at War f/ Common (5 Stars)
46. No Alibi (4 1/2 Stars)
47. Dave vs. US (NOT RATED)
48. No Great Pretender (5 Stars)
49. The Hypnotic (4 1/2 Stars)
50. Ital (The Universal Side) f/ Q-Tip (4 1/2 Stars)
51. One Shine (NOT RATED)
52. The Adventures in Wonderland f/ Ursula Rucker (NOT RATED)
53. Outro (NOT RATED)


After a short intro, we get to the first track of the album, "Respond / React". Featuring a tight piano-driven instrumental, Black Thought and Malik B basically welcome themselves back into the hip hop game, and promote their realness. Both emcees drop amazing lyrical verses, loaded with braggadiocio, drastically improving from their previous albums. Their maturity is shown, and they prove that they are two of the illest emcees ever. Check out this ill verse from Black Thought...

The attractive assassin, blastin the devil trespassin
Master gettin cash in an orderly fashion
Message to the fake n*gga flashin....
Slow up Ock, before you get dropped and closed like a caption
Fractional kids don't know the time for action
Styles got the rhythm that of an Anglo-Saxon
Round of applause then avalanche of clappin
{*BLOW*} that's what happen, now what's your reaction
We heavyweight traction, pro-pornographin
Specialize in science and math and, original black man
Bustin thoughts that pierce your mental
The fierce rippin your sacks and
Vocal toe to toe impeccable splittin your back son
Simple as addition and subtraction
Black Thought, the infinite relaxed one
Shorties say they love it with a passion
Bring the international charm, see a squad I harass

WOW...

Thats just a taste of what is in store on Illadelph Halflife. It appears to me that the mission of the Roots on this album was to try their best to destroy commercial rap, whether in battle style, or in introspectiveness. So we are hit with a variety of tracks with Black Thought and Malik B dropping subtle disses, and sort of making fun of commercialism and materialism. Not to mention their clever braggadiocio and lyricism is top notch, as they drop metaphors, similes, and clever wordplay throughout the entire album, mainly aimed against standing up for the underground.

On tracks like "Section", "UNIverse at War" with Common, and "No Great Pretender", we see Black Thought and Malik B. trade intellectually lyrical verses about the fakeness of commercial rap, the over-usage materialistic value, the lack of creativity, and the fact that the underground will reign supreme. Out of all of these, id have to say "UNIverse at War" is my favorite. Common's poetic, intelligent flow matches beautifully with the Roots production, and luckily this would NOT be the only time they would collaborate.

Of course, out of all of these anti-commercial tracks, the most famous and greatest would have to be the lead single from this album "What They Do". Featuring a laid-back, calm, and cool r&b / soul instrumental, with a low drum clap, low bassline, and some guitar plucks, this track is very laid back and nice to listen to. But the main event would have to be Black Thought's lyrics, since he is the only one who raps on here. Basically, Black Thought spits an amazing multi-syllable flows filled with intelligent punchlines and narratives about bringing back hip hop to an artform, which is great subject matter, and they pull it off masterfully with this classic. Amazing production over amazing rapping, and oh yes.... Raphael Saadiq gives us a memorable performance with the chorus.

On "Clones", The Roots are joined by the angry emcee M.A.R.S. and Dice Raw... as they spit venomous battle rhymes, dissing commercial rap once again. Each emcee drops clever verses on this crew joint. The Roots basically call the commercial rappers as "clones" because all they do is copy everybody else's style. In my opinion, Dice Raw and Black Thought drop the illest verses on this track, and their punchlines are clever and witty, and of course, multi-syllable all the way.

The Roots get introspective on "It Just Dont Stop". The Roots get more in depth in rapping about the struggle of streetlife, and the abnormalities that go on in the streets. The Roots get intelligent about the homicides and rape going on in the planet, and they basically claim that it will never stop, and want to give up hope. Instead of giving us a plea to stop the violence, they basically just narrate the situations, with pure street poetry.

The last track on Illadelph Halflife with the actual Roots performing on it is "Ital (The Universal Side)". The Roots are joined by the legendary Q-Tip. This is also one of my favorite songs on the album. Q-Tip and Black Though trade verses off Red/Meth style. Basically, its pure braggadiocio and battle rhymes. Q-Tip returns to his old "Tribe Called Quest" style with his intelligent musical braggadiocio. Funny thing is, the production, though produced by the Roots, sounds a lot like something that "Tribe Called Quest" would produce... with its low, laid-back jazzy bass-driven sound which thumps in you're stereo... its very nice to listen to and a great outro. This is followed by a poem by Ursula Rucker, and the close of the album.

If you can look past all of the interludes, which really aren't bad at all, you'll get yet another tight selection of songs from the Philly's own Roots. Black Thought and Malik prove that they haven't fallen off at all and continue to improve as lyricists. The rest of the Roots prove that they can still make a live beat like no other act in hip hop, and dare i say... music itself. So if you're in the mood for intelligent, laid-back hip hop... Illadelph Halflife is a worthy purchase.

4 1/2 Stars... rounded up to 5....


Other Reviews with The Roots:

The Roots - Phrenology (2002)

The Roots - Things Fall Apart (1999)


Interesting fact: The past three reviews ive done, including this one, are from albums from 1996. I guess that was a good year for hip hop. Nice coincidence...


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Reading or Studying