Things Fall Apart

Description

Les Racines, that’s a name that suits the sonic blend concocted by the jazzy-leaning rap quintet from Philadelphia. Music strongly infused with old-school flavors and unwaveringly guided by the principles of the peaceful Zulu Nation dear to Afrika Bambaata. The Roots are above all a live rap group, meaning with musicians in the flesh, like the excellent drummer and true driving force of the band, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. Inspired by the block parties of yesteryear as well as by the freshness of the Native Tongues clan (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers), The Roots are the standard-bearer of virtuous American rap: lead rapper Black Thought only shares the mic with conscientious lyricists such as Common, Mos Def or even Erikah Badu, and his words never go off the rails.