The Roots

Features

Best Hip-Hop of 2006

By Quentin B. Huff

Quentin Huff's top-ten list of mixtapers, hustlers, protesters, emcees, and self-proclaimed kings finds hip-hop very much alive and well in 2006. [15 December 2006]

Reviews

The Roots: Rising Down

By Zeth Lundy

Eighth studio album from Philly's legendary hip-hop crew, a minor-key rush of synthesizer-heavy vamps and distrustful rhymes, features cameos from Mos Def, Talib Kweli and more. [29 April 2008]

Roots: Game Theory

By Jeff Vrabel

What in the name of Memphis Bleek were the elegant, politically fiery, underappreciated Roots, who could establish a foundation to begin donating the street cred they’d amassed over the years, doing hanging the hat on the door of the blingiest big-shot in the game, the guy re-touring with R. Friggin’ Kelly by day and spooning with Beyonce by night? [29 August 2006]

The Roots: Home Grown! The Beginners Guide to Understanding The Roots

By Will Layman

Spectacular hip-hop from A to Z, a collection of depth and wonder from Philly's hometown heroes -- beats, rhymes and riffs to end the discussion of how 'musical' rap really is. [29 November 2005]

The Roots: The Tipping Point

By Terry Sawyer

The Roots: Phrenology

By Dave Heaton

Audiotistic: Mos Def + Talib Kweli + The Roots + Outkast

By J. Victoria Sanders

Audiotistic isn't/wasn't meant to be purely hip-hop, though. Billed as the Future Sound Festival in Southern Cali, it's typically been a cutting edge sort of venue with electronica and house at the center of its agenda. [24 April 2002]