Rising Down

Infobox Album |
Name = Rising Down
Type = Album
Artist = The Roots


Released = April 29 2008
Recorded = 2006-2007
Genre = Hip hop
Alternative Hip Hop
Length = 52:05
Label = Def Jam
Producer = ?uestlove
Reviews =
*About.com Rating|4|5 [http://rap.about.com/od/reviews/fr/RootsRisingDown.htm 2008]
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfoxzljldje 2008]
*"The A.V. Club" (B+) [http://www.avclub.com/content/music/the_roots 2008]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (B-) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192428,00.html 2008]
*illroots.com Rating|4.5|5 [http://illroots.com/2008/05/10/review-the-roots-rising-down/]
*"Paste" (favorable) [http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/7199/review/music/rising_down 2008]
*Pitchfork Media (7.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/50242-rising-down 2008]
*PopMatters (7/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/57791/the-roots-rising-down/ 2008]
*RapReviews.com (9/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2008_04_risingdown.html 2008]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theroots/albums/album/20395971/review/20533103/rising_down 2008]
*ThisIsRealMusic.com Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.thisisrealmusic.com/albumreviews/30408/theroots/risingdown.php link]
Last album = "Game Theory"
(2006)
This album = "Rising Down"
(2008)
Next album =

Rising Down is the eighth studio album by Philadelphia-based hip hop band The Roots, released on Def Jam on April 29 2008. It is the band's second album with the label, following 2006's "Game Theory". The album's title presumably comes from William T. Vollmann's 2004 book "Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means".

Collaborations

The album contains a large number of guest vocalists, particularly in comparison to previous Roots albums. The album features many of the same guest vocalists as "Game Theory". Peedi Peedi, Malik B., Dice Raw, P.O.R.N. and Mercedes Martinez all make repeat appearances. DC rapper Wale appears on the album, following an invite stemming from a Black Thought-tribute track called "Work" featured on his 100 Miles & Running mixtape. [ [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6401/title.wale-confirms-new-mixtape-album-and-roots-collaboration Wale Confirms New Mixtape, Album and Roots Collaboration] ] Other notable emcees making appearances on the album include Native Tongues Posse members Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common as well as Saigon and Styles P. [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179171,00.html Inside the Roots' next CD | The Roots | Music Preview | Music | Entertainment Weekly | 1 ] ]

ound

According to the bands' producer ?uestlove, "Rising Down", "is an electric record, more synthy. The darks are darker and the lights are lighter. But all I know is making quality hip-hop stylistically. We tried to do something we never did before. Kamal had to be the sacrificial lamb this time. The one instrument that has defined the Roots has been the Fender Rhodes. This is the first year he's had to change his instrumentation and try other sounds out. We have a bunch of keyboards and synthesizers we're using on this record. It feels like the musical equivalent of 'Blade Runner' sometimes. We've also added a horn section."

More specifically, the album's themes will be following in the darkness established in Game Theory, with ?uestlove referring to this album as "the most incendiary, political album of our career to date." In the same interview, he explains: "Add up the crime and high school drop-out rates in Philadelphia, plus being in your mid-30s and working 300 nights a year and this being an election year — yeah, all that’s what this album’s about.” [ [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2008/04/4453/ Initial Single Dropped From The Roots' New Album | BallerStatus.com | NEWS ] ]

ingles

The first track leaked from the album was "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", was posted on Okayplayer on 22nd February 2008. The first single was initially confirmed as "Birthday Girl", which features Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, and which leaked via Youtube, a song described by ?uestlove as "An easy pop song". [ [http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=597978 FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! ] ] However, the song has gone from single to being an iTunes exclusive (bonus track), because the song didn't fit with the album's motif. “It was just sticking out like a sore thumb...Then we were going to have a 'halftime' thing where it was gonna come in the middle of the record as a break from the political thing, but that didn't work, either. Then we tried to make it the last song on the record, and that wasn't working. Then we tried to make it the hidden track, and that wasn't effective. Basically the album was complete; it starts with 'Rising Down' and it ends with 'Rising Up,' so that makes more sense to me." [ [http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=42220 The Roots Drop Fall Out Boy Song From New Album - GIGWISE ] ]

"Birthday Girl" has been included as a bonus track on iTunes and some international versions of the album, along with "The Grand Return"

Reception

Following its release, the album debuted at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 54,000 copies in its first week. [cite web
url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003799874
title=Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 With 7th No. 1
last=Hasty
first=Kate
publisher=Billboard
date=2008-05-07
accessdate=2008-05-07]

Tracklisting

*Bonus tracks included on International versions of the album.

References