Rising Down: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
Patricio1992 (talk | contribs) |
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Rescued 2 archive links. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#ew.com |
||
| (36 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox album |
|||
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> |
|||
| |
| name = Rising Down |
||
| |
| type = studio |
||
| |
| artist = [[the Roots]] |
||
| |
| cover = Risingdown.jpg |
||
| |
| alt = |
||
| |
| released = April 28, 2008 |
||
| recorded = 2006–2007 |
|||
| Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[hardcore hip hop]] |
|||
| |
| venue = |
||
| studio = |
|||
| Label = [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] |
|||
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[hardcore hip hop]] |
|||
| Producer = Tahir Jamal, Khari Mateen, Richard Nichols <small>(exec.)</small>, [[James Poyser]], [[Questlove]], The Roots, [[L.A. Reid]] <small>(exec.)</small> |
|||
| length = 47:14 |
|||
| Last album = ''[[Game Theory (album)|Game Theory]]''<br />(2006) |
|||
| label = [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] |
|||
| This album = '''''Rising Down'''''<br />(2008) |
|||
| producer = Tahir Jamal, Khari Mateen, Richard Nichols <small>(exec.)</small>, [[James Poyser]], [[Questlove]], The Roots, [[L.A. Reid]] <small>(exec.)</small> |
|||
| Next album = ''[[How I Got Over (album)|How I Got Over]]''<br />(2010) |
|||
| prev_title = [[Game Theory (album)|Game Theory]] |
|||
| prev_year = 2006 |
|||
| next_title = [[How I Got Over (album)|How I Got Over]] |
|||
| next_year = 2010 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''Rising Down''''' is the eighth [[studio album]] by the American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] band [[the Roots]], released on April 28, 2008, on [[Def Jam Recordings]]. The album's title is adapted from [[William T. Vollmann]]'s book ''[[Rising Up and Rising Down|Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means]]'' (2004). Expanding on the dark, dense production and political tone of ''[[Game Theory (album)|Game Theory]]'' (2006), ''Rising Down'' features lyrical themes concerning issues of contemporary society, including violence, poverty, social and environmental climate, drugs, police corruption and the music industry. |
|||
The album debuted at number six on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It charted modestly in other countries and achieved moderate sales success. On release, ''Rising Down'' received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The music critic [[Robert Christgau]] named it the ninth best album of 2008. The album has sold 171,000 copies in the United States. |
|||
'''''Rising Down''''' is the eighth [[studio album]] by American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] band [[The Roots]], released April 28, 2008 on [[Def Jam Recordings]]. The album's title is adapted from [[William T. Vollmann]]'s book ''[[Rising Up and Rising Down|Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means]]'' (2004). Expanding on the dark, dense production and political tone of ''[[Game Theory (album)|Game Theory]]'' (2006), ''Rising Down'' features lyrical themes concerning issues of contemporary society, including violence, poverty, social and environmental climate, drugs, police corruption, and the music industry. |
|||
== Music and lyrics == |
|||
The album debuted at number six on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It charted modestly in other countries and achieved moderate sales success. Upon its release, ''Rising Down'' received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Music critic [[Robert Christgau]] named it the ninth best album of 2008. The album has sold 171,000 copies in the United States. |
|||
According to the band's producer, [[Questlove]], ''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."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1568922/justin-timberlake-may-team-up-with-fellow-memphis-man-al-green-on-lp | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140523092846/http://www.mtv.com/news/1568922/justin-timberlake-may-team-up-with-fellow-memphis-man-al-green-on-lp | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 23, 2014 | work=MTV |title=Justin Timberlake May Team Up With Fellow Memphis Man Al Green On LP | date=May 9, 2007}}</ref> |
|||
The album's themes are dark, as on the preceding ''[[Game Theory (album)|Game Theory]]'', with Questlove referring to this album as "the most incendiary, political album of our career to date". In the same interview, he explained, "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."<ref>[http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2008/04/4453/ "Initial Single Dropped From The Roots' New Album"], ''Baller Status''</ref> The album's title comes from [[William T. Vollmann]]'s 2004 book ''Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means''.<ref name="npr">[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90025197 "The Roots: Rising Up with 'Rising Down'"], ''NPR Music'', April 29, 2008</ref> Similar to the book, the role of [[violence]] in human society is a central theme on the overtly political album;<ref name="Murphy"/> its political message reflects the violence in The Roots' home city of Philadelphia.<ref name="npr" /> |
|||
== Music == |
|||
According to the band's producer [[Questlove]], ''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." <ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1568922/justin-timberlake-may-team-up-with-fellow-memphis-man-al-green-on-lp | work=MTV |title=Justin Timberlake May Team Up With Fellow Memphis Man Al Green On LP | date=2007-05-09}}</ref> |
|||
The album contains a large number of guest vocalists, particularly in comparison to previous Roots albums. It has many of the same guest vocalists as ''Game Theory''. [[Peedi Crakk]], [[Malik B.]], [[Dice Raw]], P.O.R.N. and Mercedes Martinez make repeat appearances. The [[Washington, D.C.|DC]] rapper [[Wale (rapper)|Wale]] appears on the album, following an invitation stemming from a Black Thought-tribute track called "Work" on his ''[[100 Miles & Running]]'' mixtape.<ref>[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]</ref> Other notable featured artists on the album include the [[Soulquarians]] members [[Mos Def]], [[Talib Kweli]] and [[Common (rapper)|Common]], as well as [[Styles P]] and [[Saigon (rapper)|Saigon]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179171,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225111117/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179171,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 25, 2008 | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | first=Simon | last=Vozick-Levinson | title=The Roots' Next CD: Track By Track | date=February 22, 2008}}</ref> |
|||
The album's themes are dark, as on the preceding ''[[Game Theory (album)|Game Theory]]'', with Questlove 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.” <ref>[http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2008/04/4453/ Initial Single Dropped From The Roots' New Album | BallerStatus.com | NEWS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The album's title comes from [[William T. Vollmann]]'s 2004 book ''Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means''.<ref name="npr">[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90025197 "The Roots: Rising Up with 'Rising Down'", ''npr music'', Apr. 29, 2008.]</ref> Similar to the book, the role of [[violence]] in human society is a central theme on the overtly political album;<ref name="Murphy"/> the album's political message reflects the violence in The Roots' home city of Philadelphia.<ref name="npr" /> |
|||
== Release and promotion == |
|||
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 Crakk]], [[Malik B.]], [[Dice Raw]], P.O.R.N. and Mercedes Martinez all make repeat appearances. [[Washington, D.C.|DC]] rapper [[Wale (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.<ref>[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]</ref> Other notable emcees making appearances on the album include [[Native Tongues|Native Tongues Posse]] members [[Mos Def]], [[Talib Kweli]], and [[Common (rapper)|Common]], as well as [[Styles P]] and [[Saigon (rapper)|Saigon]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179171,00.html | work=Entertainment Weekly | first=Simon | last=Vozick-Levinson | title=The Roots' Next CD: Track By Track | date=2008-02-22}}</ref> |
|||
The first track leaked from the album, "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", was posted on ''[[Okayplayer]]'' on 22 February 2008. The first single was initially confirmed as "Birthday Girl", which features [[Fall Out Boy]]'s [[Patrick Stump]], and which was leaked on [[YouTube]], a song described by Questlove as "an easy pop song".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=597978 |title= Fall Out Boy DVD Goes Deep On Cover Songs|website=FMQB|date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303193838/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=597978 |archivedate=March 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the song went from single to being an iTunes exclusive (bonus track), because it did not 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."<ref>[http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=42220 "The Roots Drop Fall Out Boy Song From New Album"], ''GIGWISE''</ref> "Birthday Girl" has been included as a bonus track on iTunes and some international versions of the album, along with "The Grand Return". |
|||
''Rising Down'' was first released on April 28, 2008, in the United Kingdom and the next day in the United States, by [[Def Jam Recordings]].<ref name="Lundy"/> In the US, the album debuted at number six on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart and became the highest-selling hip hop album of its debut week,<ref name="Adaso">Adaso, Henry. [http://rap.about.com/od/toprapalbumscharts/tp/TopRapAlbums51708.htm U.S. Rap Albums Chart - May 17, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225031752/http://rap.about.com/od/toprapalbumscharts/tp/TopRapAlbums51708.htm |date=February 25, 2012 }}. [[About.com]].{{unreliable source?|date=June 2020}} Retrieved October 5, 2009.</ref> with first-week sales of 54,000 copies.<ref name="Hasty">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045488/madonna-leads-busy-billboard-200-with-7th-no-1|title=Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 With 7th No. 1|last=Hasty|first=Kate|publisher= |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=May 7, 2008|accessdate=May 7, 2008}}</ref> It spent five weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="acharts">[http://acharts.us/album/35419 Album Performance: ''Rising Down'']. acharts. Retrieved April 25, 2010.</ref> The album also entered at number one on ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Top Rap Albums]],<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-17/rap-albums "Rap Albums - Week of May 17, 2008"], ''Billboard''. Retrieved April 25, 2010.</ref> ultimately spending 12 weeks on the chart,<ref name="Rap">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the roots|chart=Rap Albums}} Chart History: The Roots - Rap Albums]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved April 25, 2010.</ref> and at number three on [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]], ultimately spending 22 weeks on the chart,<ref name="R&B">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the roots|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}} Chart History: The Roots - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved April 25, 2010.</ref> Elsewhere, the album peaked at number 95 in France, at number 34 in Norway, at number 10 in Switzerland and at number 14 in Canada.<ref name="acharts"/><ref name="CAN">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the roots|chart=Canadian Albums}} Chart History: The Roots - Canadian Albums]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved April 25, 2010.</ref> By October 2009, ''Rising Down'' has sold 171,000 copies in the United States.<ref>Concepcion, Mariel, [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266952/the-roots-tv-party "The Roots' TV Party"], ''Billboard''. Retrieved April 25, 2010.</ref> |
|||
== Singles == |
|||
The first track leaked from the album was "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", was posted on [[Okayplayer]] on 22 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 [[Questlove]] as "An easy pop song".<ref>[http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=597978 FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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." <ref>[http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=42220 The Roots Drop Fall Out Boy Song From New Album - GIGWISE<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> "Birthday Girl" has been included as a bonus track on iTunes and some international versions of the album, along with "The Grand Return". |
|||
==Critical reception== |
|||
==Reception== |
|||
{{Music ratings |
|||
===Commercial performance=== |
|||
''Rising Down'' was released April 28, 2008 in the United Kingdom and April 29, 2008 in the United States on [[Def Jam Recordings]].<ref name="Lundy"/> The album debuted at number six on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart and became the highest-selling hip hop album of its debut week,<ref name="Adaso">Adaso, Henry. [http://rap.about.com/od/toprapalbumscharts/tp/TopRapAlbums51708.htm U.S. Rap Albums Chart - May 17, 2008]. [[About.com]]. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> with first-week sales of 54,000 copies.<ref name="Hasty">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045488/madonna-leads-busy-billboard-200-with-7th-no-1|title=Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 With 7th No. 1|last=Hasty|first=Kate|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=2008-05-07|accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> It spent five weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="acharts">[http://acharts.us/album/35419 Album Performance: ''Rising Down'']. acharts. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> The album also entered at number one on ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Top Rap Albums]],<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-17/rap-albums Rap Albums - Week of May 17, 2008]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> ultimately spending 12 weeks on the chart,<ref name="Rap">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the roots|chart=Rap Albums}} Chart History: The Roots - Rap Albums]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25</ref> and at number three on [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]], ultimately spending 22 weeks on the chart,<ref name="R&B">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the roots|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}} Chart History: The Roots - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> Internationally, the album peaked at number 95 in France, at number 34 in Norway, at number 10 in Switzerland, and at number 14 in Canada.<ref name="acharts"/><ref name="CAN">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the roots|chart=Canadian Albums}} Chart History: The Roots - Canadian Albums]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25</ref> As of October 2009, ''Rising Down'' has sold 171,000 copies in the United States.<ref>Concepcion, Mariel. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266952/the-roots-tv-party The Roots' TV Party]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> |
|||
===Critical response=== |
|||
{{Album ratings |
|||
| MC = 80/100<ref name="Metacritic"/> |
| MC = 80/100<ref name="Metacritic"/> |
||
| rev1 = [[ |
| rev1 = ''[[AllMusic]]'' |
||
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Brown"/> |
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Brown"/> |
||
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' |
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' |
||
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Metacritic"/> |
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Metacritic"/> |
||
| rev3 = [[ |
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' |
||
| rev3Score = |
| rev3Score = B−<ref name="Howe"/> |
||
| rev4 = ''[[ |
| rev4 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' |
||
| rev4Score = |
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name="Wang"/> |
||
| rev5 = ''[[ |
| rev5 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' |
||
| rev5Score = {{Rating |
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Mojo">{{cite journal|title=Review: Rising Down|journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|location=London|page=100|date=July 2008}}</ref> |
||
| rev6 = ''[[MSN Music]]'' ([[Robert Christgau#Consumer Guide|Consumer Guide]]) |
|||
| rev6 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' |
|||
| rev6Score = A<ref name="Christgau"/> |
|||
| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Mojo">{{cite journal|title=Review: Rising Down|journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|location=London|page=100|date=July 2008}}</ref> |
|||
| rev7 = [[Pitchfork |
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' |
||
| rev7Score = 7.8/10<ref name="Patrin"/> |
| rev7Score = 7.8/10<ref name="Patrin"/> |
||
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
||
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Rosen"/> |
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Rosen"/> |
||
| rev9 = [[Slant Magazine]] |
| rev9 = ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' |
||
| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Hughes"/> |
| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Hughes"/> |
||
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' |
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' |
||
| rev10Score = 8/10<ref name="Dukes"/> |
| rev10Score = 8/10<ref name="Dukes"/> |
||
}} |
}} |
||
''Rising Down'' |
''Rising Down'' was met with generally positive reviews.<ref name="Metacritic"/> At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 80, based on 27 reviews.<ref name="Metacritic">[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/roots/risingdown ''Rising Down'' (2008): Reviews]. [[Metacritic]]. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> [[AllMusic]] writer Marisa Brown gave it 4 out of 5 stars and wrote that it "acts as a powerful statement on contemporary society".<ref name="Brown">Brown, Marisa. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1341290|pure_url=yes}} Review: ''Rising Down'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''{{'}}s Hsu Hua commended its concise production and called it "an excellent, punchy album full of youthful swagger and anything-goes experimentation".<ref name="Hua">Hua, Hsu. [http://www.blender.com/guide/new/55102/rising-down.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> Tom Horan of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' cited ''Rising Down'' as "the best album of their long career".<ref name="Horan">Horan, Tom. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/3673248/The-Roots-Rising-Down-Pop-CDs-of-the-week.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' writer [[Greg Kot]] lauded the album's socially conscious themes and viewed its sound as "bleaker, grimier and harder-edged" than The Roots' earlier work.<ref name="Kot">Kot, Greg. [http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2008/05/the-roots-plung.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> Will Dukes of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' complimented its socially relevant themes and called the album "a thematically, unified, musically propulsive statement about the decline of contemporary society".<ref name="Dukes">Dukes, Will (May 2008). [http://spinmagazine.com/reviews/roots-rising-down-def-jam Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''. Retrieved on 2011-02-24.</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s Jody Rosen complimented its dark, dense production, stating "It's a sound that fits the dark subject matter".<ref name="Rosen">Rosen, Jody. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080506080044/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theroots/albums/album/20395971/review/20533103/rising_down Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> Tyler Munro of Sputnikmusic stated "Dark, dense and paranoid, ''Rising Down'' is surprisingly better for it".<ref name="Munro">Munro, Tyler. [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=16168 Review: ''Rising Down'']. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> |
||
By contrast, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Sean Howe expressed a mixed response towards its "bad vibes" and lyrical "gripes", calling it "a socially conscious creation overseasoned with discontent".<ref name="Howe">Howe, Sean. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192428,00.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> Harry Allen of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' perceived its dense production as overwhelming Black Thought's rapping and questioned, "is zealous love for the track submerging the band's vocalist?", but commended "the nuances of the Roots' dystopia; the rather painterly way they use sound, in the compositional modes that hip-hop affords, to render a world not only under duress, but, in fact, permanently diseased: ''[[Dhalgren]]'' on wax".<ref name="Allen">Allen, Harry. [http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-04-29/music/the-roots-bury-the-leader/ Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[The Village Voice]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' writer Oliver Wang viewed that it "doesn't replicate the balanced charm" of ''Game Theory'', but ultimately commended its "musical uniformity" and called it "the more provocative effort".<ref name="Wang">Wang, Oliver. [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/29/entertainment/et-recordrack29?pg=2 Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> [[PopMatters]] writer Zeth Lundy wrote that it "does prove to be an provocative peer of cultural riot-acting and pragmatic contextualization--though, as contemporary pop music, it provides a much more immediate delivery of social ethics from a street-level perspective".<ref name="Lundy">Lundy, Zeth. [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/57791/the-roots-rising-down/ Review: ''Rising Down'']. [[PopMatters]]. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> Nate Patrin of [[Pitchfork |
By contrast, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Sean Howe expressed a mixed response towards its "bad vibes" and lyrical "gripes", calling it "a socially conscious creation overseasoned with discontent".<ref name="Howe">Howe, Sean. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080420210416/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192428,00.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> Harry Allen of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' perceived its dense production as overwhelming Black Thought's rapping and questioned, "is zealous love for the track submerging the band's vocalist?", but commended "the nuances of the Roots' dystopia; the rather painterly way they use sound, in the compositional modes that hip-hop affords, to render a world not only under duress, but, in fact, permanently diseased: ''[[Dhalgren]]'' on wax".<ref name="Allen">Allen, Harry. [http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-04-29/music/the-roots-bury-the-leader/ Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[The Village Voice]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' writer Oliver Wang viewed that it "doesn't replicate the balanced charm" of ''Game Theory'', but ultimately commended its "musical uniformity" and called it "the more provocative effort".<ref name="Wang">Wang, Oliver. [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/29/entertainment/et-recordrack29?pg=2 Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> [[PopMatters]] writer Zeth Lundy wrote that it "does prove to be an provocative peer of cultural riot-acting and pragmatic contextualization--though, as contemporary pop music, it provides a much more immediate delivery of social ethics from a street-level perspective".<ref name="Lundy">Lundy, Zeth. [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/57791/the-roots-rising-down/ Review: ''Rising Down'']. [[PopMatters]]. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> Nate Patrin of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' commended Black Thought's rapping and the album's articulation of lyrical themes concerning contemporary society's issues, stating: |
||
{{ |
{{blockquote|If you've been paying any damn attention to the world around you, most of ''Rising Down''{{'}}s messages ring familiar, and frequently true: This is an album that tells you the entertainment industry is turning into a [[Minstrel show|coon show]], the climate (both environmental and cultural) is getting fucked up, and broke people are still struggling. But this record states these ideas with respect to the notion that you know them already, and puts all the revelation and subtext into its unyielding sound. You could call it preaching to the converted, but it also feels like a reminder to the lapsed, less a wake-up call than a shot of renewed adrenaline.<ref name="Patrin">Patrin, Nate. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/50242-rising-down Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref>}} |
||
Nate Chinen of ''[[The New York Times]]'' complimented the album's socially relevant themes and "crisp musicianship", stating "Spiked with dire intensity and stocked with head-spinning rhymes by Black Thought and nearly a dozen guest rappers [...] it’s the most potent Roots release since the one-two punch of {{'}}''[[Things Fall Apart (album)|Things Fall Apart]]''{{'}} and its predecessor, {{'}}''[[Illadelph Halflife]]''{{'}}".<ref name="Chinen">Chinen, Nate (May 4, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/arts/music/04chin.html# The Roots Issue Tracks of Their Fears, and Defiance, on ‘Rising Down,’ Their New Album]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved on 2011-02-24.</ref> ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''{{'}}s Keith Murphy commended The Roots' musical ambition and production on the album.<ref name="Murphy">Murphy, Keith. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=riYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65 |
Nate Chinen of ''[[The New York Times]]'' complimented the album's socially relevant themes and "crisp musicianship", stating "Spiked with dire intensity and stocked with head-spinning rhymes by Black Thought and nearly a dozen guest rappers [...] it’s the most potent Roots release since the one-two punch of {{'}}''[[Things Fall Apart (album)|Things Fall Apart]]''{{'}} and its predecessor, {{'}}''[[Illadelph Halflife]]''{{'}}".<ref name="Chinen">Chinen, Nate (May 4, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/arts/music/04chin.html# The Roots Issue Tracks of Their Fears, and Defiance, on ‘Rising Down,’ Their New Album]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved on 2011-02-24.</ref> ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''{{'}}s Keith Murphy commended The Roots' musical ambition and production on the album.<ref name="Murphy">Murphy, Keith. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=riYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65 Review: ''Rising Down'']". ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'': 65. June 2008.</ref> ''[[USA Today]]''{{'}}s Steve Jones gave the album four out of four stars and described its sound as "industrial-strength funk that demands to be turned up loud".<ref name="Jones">Jones, Steve. [http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2008/04/this-weeks-re-3.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[USA Today]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> [[Slant Magazine]]'s Dave Hughes called it "the most urgently malevolent modern funk record the band has assembled to date".<ref name="Hughes">Hughes, Dave. [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1380 Review: ''Rising Down'']. [[Slant Magazine]]. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> Nathan Rabin of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave it a B+ rating and praised "the electric chemistry between Black Thought's unrelenting lyrical assault and ?uestlove's epic drums".<ref name="Rabin">Rabin, Nathan. [http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-roots-rising-down,7114/ Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[The A.V. Club]]''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s Sarah Godfrey viewed that the album's ominous sound "tempers heady subject matter with much-needed thump" and cited it as The Roots' best work since ''Things Fall Apart''.<ref name="Godfrey">Godfrey, Sarah. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202483.html Review: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> In his consumer guide for [[MSN Music]], critic [[Robert Christgau]] gave ''Rising Down'' an A rating and called it "as pleasurable as prime [[OutKast]] or [[Kanye West]]", while citing it as "the most accomplished pure hip-hop album in years".<ref name="Christgau">Christgau, Robert. "[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=the+roots Consumer Guide: ''Rising Down'']". [[MSN Music]]: May 2008. Archived from [http://music.msn.com/music/consumerguide/2008/5/ the original] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712123236/http://music.msn.com/music/consumerguide/2008/5 |date=2008-07-12 }} on 2009-10-05.</ref> Christgau ranked ''Rising Down'' number nine on his list of 2008's best albums.<ref>Christgau, Robert. "[http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/deans08.php Pazz & Jop 2008: Dean's List]. Robert Christgau. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> ''[[The Boston Globe]]''{{'}}s Sarah Rodman named it the third best album of 2008.<ref name="Rodman">Rodman, Sarah. [http://www.boston.com/ae/music/packages/cds2008/gallery/14rodman?pg=3 Sarah Rodman's top CD picks of 2008: ''Rising Down'']. ''[[The Boston Globe]]''. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.</ref> |
||
==Track listing== |
==Track listing== |
||
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="liner notes">{{cite AV media notes|title= Rising Down |year= 2008 |type= booklet |publisher= [[Def Jam]]}}</ref> |
|||
{{tracklist |
|||
{{track listing |
|||
| extra_column = Producer(s) |
| extra_column = Producer(s) |
||
| title128 = The Pow Wow |
| title128 = The Pow Wow |
||
| note128 = |
| note128 = |
||
| writer128 = {{hlist|Joe Simmons|Richard Nichols|[[Black Thought|Tariq Trotter]]|[[Questlove|Ahmir Thompson]]}} |
|||
| extra128 = |
|||
| |
| extra128 = |
||
| length128 = 1:15 |
|||
| title129 = Rising Down |
| title129 = Rising Down |
||
| note129 = featuring [[Mos Def]], [[Styles P]] & [[Dice Raw]] |
| note129 = featuring [[Mos Def]], [[Styles P]] & [[Dice Raw]] |
||
| writer129 = {{hlist|Trotter|[[Dice Raw|Karl Jenkins]]|Thompson|[[Mos Def|Dante Smith]]|[[Styles P|David Styles]]|[[Mark Farner]]}} |
|||
| extra129 = [[Questlove]] |
|||
| extra129 = [[Questlove]] |
|||
| length129 = 3:40 |
|||
| length129 = 3:40 |
|||
| title130 = Get Busy |
| title130 = Get Busy |
||
| note130 = featuring Dice Raw, [[Peedi Peedi]] & [[DJ Jazzy Jeff]] |
| note130 = featuring Dice Raw, [[Peedi Peedi]] & [[DJ Jazzy Jeff]] |
||
| writer130 = {{hlist|Brent Reynolds|Jenkins|[[Peedi Peedi|Pedro Zayas]]|Trotter|Charlie Patierno|Barney McKenna|Vincent Davis|Joel Roper|[[Danny Flores|Chuck Rio]]}} |
|||
| extra130 = The Roots, Ritz Reynolds |
|||
| extra130 = {{hlist|The Roots|Ritz Reynolds}} |
|||
| length130 = 3:29 |
|||
| length130 = 3:29 |
|||
| title131 = @15 |
| title131 = @15 |
||
| note131 = |
| note131 = |
||
| writer131 = Trotter |
|||
| extra131 = Black Thought |
|||
| extra131 = Black Thought |
|||
| length131 = 0:51 |
|||
| length131 = 0:51 |
|||
| title132 = 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction) |
| title132 = 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction) |
||
| note132 = |
| note132 = |
||
| writer132 = {{hlist|Trotter|Thompson}} |
|||
| extra132 = Questlove |
|||
| |
| extra132 = Questlove |
||
| length132 = 3:15 |
|||
| title133 = Becoming Unwritten |
| title133 = Becoming Unwritten |
||
| note133 = |
| note133 = |
||
| |
| writer133 = {{hlist|Trotter|Jenkins|Thompson|Tahir Jamal|Radji Mateen|Khari Mateen|Radhwan Mateen}} |
||
| extra133 = {{hlist|The Roots|Tahir Jamal|Radji Mateen|Khari Mateen}} |
|||
| length133 = 0:36 |
|||
| length133 = 0:36 |
|||
| title134 = Criminal |
| title134 = Criminal |
||
| note134 = featuring Truck North, [[Saigon (rapper)|Saigon]] & Kevin Hanson |
| note134 = featuring Truck North, [[Saigon (rapper)|Saigon]] & Kevin Hanson |
||
| writer134 = {{hlist|Trotter|K. Mateen|Jenkins|Jamal Miller|[[Saigon (rapper)|Brian Carenard]]}} |
|||
| extra134 = The Roots, Khari Mateen |
|||
| extra134 = {{hlist|The Roots|Khari Mateen}} |
|||
| length134 = 4:08 |
|||
| length134 = 4:08 |
|||
| title135 = I Will Not Apologize |
| title135 = I Will Not Apologize |
||
| note135 = featuring P.O.R.N., Dice Raw & [[Talib Kweli]] |
| note135 = featuring P.O.R.N., Dice Raw & [[Talib Kweli]] |
||
| writer135 = {{hlist|Trotter|Jenkins|Greg Spearman|Nichols|[[Fela Kuti]]}} |
|||
| extra135 = The Roots, Richard Nichols |
|||
| extra135 = {{hlist|The Roots|Richard Nichols}} |
|||
| length135 = 4:34 |
|||
| length135 = 4:34 |
|||
| title136 = I Can't Help It |
| title136 = I Can't Help It |
||
| note136 = featuring [[Malik B]], P.O.R.N., Dice Raw & Mercedes Martinez |
| note136 = featuring [[Malik B]], P.O.R.N., Dice Raw & Mercedes Martinez |
||
| writer136 = {{hlist|Trotter|Jenkins|[[Malik B.|Malik Smart]]|Spearman|Nichols|Thompson|Pedro Martinez}} |
|||
| extra136 = The Roots, Richard Nichols |
|||
| extra136 = {{hlist|The Roots|Richard Nichols}} |
|||
| length136 = 4:39 |
|||
| length136 = 4:39 |
|||
| title137 = Singing Man |
| title137 = Singing Man |
||
| note137 = featuring P.O.R.N., Truck North & Dice Raw |
| note137 = featuring P.O.R.N., Truck North & Dice Raw |
||
| writer137 = {{hlist|Trotter|Jenkins|Miller|Spearman|K. Mateen|Thompson}} |
|||
| extra137 = The Roots, Khari Mateen |
|||
| extra137 = {{hlist|The Roots|Khari Mateen}} |
|||
| length137 = 4:07 |
|||
| length137 = 4:07 |
|||
| title138 = Unwritten |
| title138 = Unwritten |
||
| note138 = featuring Mercedes Martinez |
| note138 = featuring Mercedes Martinez |
||
| |
| writer138 = {{hlist|Trotter|Jenkins|Thompson|Jamal|R. Mateen|K. Mateen|R. Mateen}} |
||
| extra138 = {{hlist|The Roots|Tahir Jamal|Radji Mateen|Khari Mateen}} |
|||
| length138 = 1:22 |
|||
| length138 = 1:22 |
|||
| title139 = Lost Desire |
| title139 = Lost Desire |
||
| note139 = featuring Malik B & Talib Kweli |
| note139 = featuring Malik B & Talib Kweli |
||
| writer139 = {{hlist|Trotter|Smart|[[Talib Kweli|Talib Kweli Greene]]|Jenkins|K. Mateen}} |
|||
| extra139 = The Roots, Khari Mateen |
|||
| extra139 = {{hlist|The Roots|Khari Mateen}} |
|||
| length139 = 3:58 |
|||
| length139 = 3:58 |
|||
| title140 = The Show |
| title140 = The Show |
||
| note140 = featuring [[Common (rapper)|Common]] & Dice Raw |
| note140 = featuring [[Common (rapper)|Common]] & Dice Raw |
||
| writer140 = {{hlist|Trotter|[[Common (rapper)|Lonnie Lynn Jr.]]|Jamal|Thompson|Jenkins}} |
|||
| extra140 = The Roots, Tahir Jamal |
|||
| extra140 = {{hlist|The Roots|Tahir Jamal}} |
|||
| length140 = 3:44 |
|||
| length140 = 3:44 |
|||
| title141 = Rising Up |
| title141 = Rising Up |
||
| note141 = featuring [[Wale (rapper)|Wale]] & [[Chrisette Michele]] |
| note141 = featuring [[Wale (rapper)|Wale]] & [[Chrisette Michele]] |
||
| writer141 = {{hlist|Trotter|[[Wale (rapper)|Olubowale Folarin]]|Jenkins}} |
|||
| extra141 = Questlove, [[James Poyser]] |
|||
| extra141 = {{hlist|Questlove|[[James Poyser]]}} |
|||
| length141 = 4:23 |
|||
| length141 = 4:23 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Track listing |
{{Track listing |
||
| headline |
| headline = Bonus track |
||
| extra_column = Producer(s) |
| extra_column = Producer(s) |
||
| collapsed = yes |
|||
| total_length = 53:58 |
| total_length = 53:58 |
||
| title142 |
| title142 = Birthday Girl |
||
| note142 |
| note142 = featuring [[Patrick Stump]], Shane Clark, Kelli Scarr & Mercedes Martinez |
||
| extra142 |
| extra142 = {{hlist|Questlove|Shane Clark|Richard Nichols}} |
||
| length142 |
| length142 = 4:03 |
||
| |
| title143 = The Grand Return" {{small|(featuring Dice Raw & Wadud Ahmad)}} / "Pow Wow 2 |
||
| note143 = hidden track |
|||
| note142-2 = featuring Dice Raw & Wadud Ahmad |
|||
| |
| extra143 = {{hlist|The Roots|Pedro Martinez}} |
||
| |
| length143 = 5:17 |
||
| title142-3 = Pow Wow 2 |
|||
| note142-3 = |
|||
| extra142-3 = |
|||
| length142-3 = 3:18 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Sample credits'''<ref name="liner notes"/> |
|||
* "Rising Down" contains an interpolation from "Nothing Is the Same", written by [[Mark Farner]]. |
|||
* "Get Busy" contains excerpts from the "Pee Wee Dance", written by Vincent Davis, Joel Roper, and [[Danny Flores|Chuck Rio]], as performed by Joeski Love. |
|||
* "I Will Not Apologize" contains excerpts from "Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism Is The Boss", written and performed by [[Fela Kuti]]. |
|||
==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
||
Credits for ''Rising Down'' adapted from [[Allmusic]].<ref>[{{ |
Credits for ''Rising Down'' adapted from [[Allmusic]].<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1341290/credits|pure_url=yes}} Credits: ''Rising Down'']. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.</ref> |
||
{{col- |
{{col-begin}} |
||
{{col-2}} |
{{col-2}} |
||
* A.J. Benson – A&R |
* A.J. Benson – A&R |
||
| Line 195: | Line 210: | ||
{{col-end}} |
{{col-end}} |
||
== |
==Charts== |
||
{{col-begin}} |
|||
{|class="wikitable sortable" |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
===Weekly charts=== |
|||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="col"| Chart (2008) |
|||
!Charts (2010) |
|||
!Peak<br/>position |
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=239}}</ref> |
||
| 100 |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|14 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|14|artist=The Roots|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|[[VG-lista|Norwegian Albums Chart]]<ref name="acharts"/> |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|34 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|France|95|artist=The Roots|album=Rising Down|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|French Albums Chart]]<ref name="acharts"/> |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|95 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Norway|34|artist=The Roots|album=Rising Down|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|[[Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref name="acharts"/> |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|10 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Switzerland|10|artist=The Roots|album=Rising Down|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="acharts"/> |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=The Roots|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|US ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]]<ref name="R&B"/> |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|3 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|3|artist=The Roots|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|US ''Billboard'' [[Top Rap Albums]]<ref name="Rap"/> |
|||
|- |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
|||
{{album chart|BillboardRap|1|artist=The Roots|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 13, 2020}} |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
{{col-2}} |
|||
===Year-end charts=== |
|||
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="col"| Chart (2008) |
|||
! scope="col"| Position |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 13, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
| 88 |
|||
|} |
|||
{{col-end}} |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 232: | Line 259: | ||
{{The Roots}} |
{{The Roots}} |
||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
[[Category:2008 albums]] |
[[Category:2008 albums]] |
||
Revision as of 03:11, 13 July 2024
| Rising Down | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 28, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2006–2007 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop, hardcore hip hop | |||
| Length | 47:14 | |||
| Label | Def Jam | |||
| Producer | Tahir Jamal, Khari Mateen, Richard Nichols (exec.), James Poyser, Questlove, The Roots, L.A. Reid (exec.) | |||
| the Roots chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rising Down is the eighth studio album by the American hip hop band the Roots, released on April 28, 2008, on Def Jam Recordings. The album's title is adapted from William T. Vollmann's book Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means (2004). Expanding on the dark, dense production and political tone of Game Theory (2006), Rising Down features lyrical themes concerning issues of contemporary society, including violence, poverty, social and environmental climate, drugs, police corruption and the music industry.
The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It charted modestly in other countries and achieved moderate sales success. On release, Rising Down received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The music critic Robert Christgau named it the ninth best album of 2008. The album has sold 171,000 copies in the United States.
Music and lyrics
According to the band's producer, Questlove, 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."[1]
The album's themes are dark, as on the preceding Game Theory, with Questlove referring to this album as "the most incendiary, political album of our career to date". In the same interview, he explained, "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."[2] The album's title comes from William T. Vollmann's 2004 book Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means.[3] Similar to the book, the role of violence in human society is a central theme on the overtly political album;[4] its political message reflects the violence in The Roots' home city of Philadelphia.[3]
The album contains a large number of guest vocalists, particularly in comparison to previous Roots albums. It has many of the same guest vocalists as Game Theory. Peedi Crakk, Malik B., Dice Raw, P.O.R.N. and Mercedes Martinez make repeat appearances. The DC rapper Wale appears on the album, following an invitation stemming from a Black Thought-tribute track called "Work" on his 100 Miles & Running mixtape.[5] Other notable featured artists on the album include the Soulquarians members Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Common, as well as Styles P and Saigon.[6]
Release and promotion
The first track leaked from the album, "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", was posted on Okayplayer on 22 February 2008. The first single was initially confirmed as "Birthday Girl", which features Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, and which was leaked on YouTube, a song described by Questlove as "an easy pop song".[7] However, the song went from single to being an iTunes exclusive (bonus track), because it did not 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."[8] "Birthday Girl" has been included as a bonus track on iTunes and some international versions of the album, along with "The Grand Return".
Rising Down was first released on April 28, 2008, in the United Kingdom and the next day in the United States, by Def Jam Recordings.[9] In the US, the album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart and became the highest-selling hip hop album of its debut week,[10] with first-week sales of 54,000 copies.[11] It spent five weeks on the Billboard 200.[12] The album also entered at number one on Billboard's Top Rap Albums,[13] ultimately spending 12 weeks on the chart,[14] and at number three on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, ultimately spending 22 weeks on the chart,[15] Elsewhere, the album peaked at number 95 in France, at number 34 in Norway, at number 10 in Switzerland and at number 14 in Canada.[12][16] By October 2009, Rising Down has sold 171,000 copies in the United States.[17]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100[18] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [19] |
| Blender | [18] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B−[20] |
| Los Angeles Times | [21] |
| Mojo | [22] |
| MSN Music (Consumer Guide) | A[23] |
| Pitchfork | 7.8/10[24] |
| Rolling Stone |  [25] |
| Slant Magazine | [26] |
| Spin | 8/10[27] |
Rising Down was met with generally positive reviews.[18] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received an average score of 80, based on 27 reviews.[18] AllMusic writer Marisa Brown gave it 4 out of 5 stars and wrote that it "acts as a powerful statement on contemporary society".[19] Blender's Hsu Hua commended its concise production and called it "an excellent, punchy album full of youthful swagger and anything-goes experimentation".[28] Tom Horan of The Daily Telegraph cited Rising Down as "the best album of their long career".[29] Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot lauded the album's socially conscious themes and viewed its sound as "bleaker, grimier and harder-edged" than The Roots' earlier work.[30] Will Dukes of Spin complimented its socially relevant themes and called the album "a thematically, unified, musically propulsive statement about the decline of contemporary society".[27] Rolling Stone's Jody Rosen complimented its dark, dense production, stating "It's a sound that fits the dark subject matter".[25] Tyler Munro of Sputnikmusic stated "Dark, dense and paranoid, Rising Down is surprisingly better for it".[31]
By contrast, Entertainment Weekly's Sean Howe expressed a mixed response towards its "bad vibes" and lyrical "gripes", calling it "a socially conscious creation overseasoned with discontent".[20] Harry Allen of The Village Voice perceived its dense production as overwhelming Black Thought's rapping and questioned, "is zealous love for the track submerging the band's vocalist?", but commended "the nuances of the Roots' dystopia; the rather painterly way they use sound, in the compositional modes that hip-hop affords, to render a world not only under duress, but, in fact, permanently diseased: Dhalgren on wax".[32] Los Angeles Times writer Oliver Wang viewed that it "doesn't replicate the balanced charm" of Game Theory, but ultimately commended its "musical uniformity" and called it "the more provocative effort".[21] PopMatters writer Zeth Lundy wrote that it "does prove to be an provocative peer of cultural riot-acting and pragmatic contextualization--though, as contemporary pop music, it provides a much more immediate delivery of social ethics from a street-level perspective".[9] Nate Patrin of Pitchfork commended Black Thought's rapping and the album's articulation of lyrical themes concerning contemporary society's issues, stating:
If you've been paying any damn attention to the world around you, most of Rising Down's messages ring familiar, and frequently true: This is an album that tells you the entertainment industry is turning into a coon show, the climate (both environmental and cultural) is getting fucked up, and broke people are still struggling. But this record states these ideas with respect to the notion that you know them already, and puts all the revelation and subtext into its unyielding sound. You could call it preaching to the converted, but it also feels like a reminder to the lapsed, less a wake-up call than a shot of renewed adrenaline.[24]
Nate Chinen of The New York Times complimented the album's socially relevant themes and "crisp musicianship", stating "Spiked with dire intensity and stocked with head-spinning rhymes by Black Thought and nearly a dozen guest rappers [...] it’s the most potent Roots release since the one-two punch of 'Things Fall Apart' and its predecessor, 'Illadelph Halflife'".[33] Vibe's Keith Murphy commended The Roots' musical ambition and production on the album.[4] USA Today's Steve Jones gave the album four out of four stars and described its sound as "industrial-strength funk that demands to be turned up loud".[34] Slant Magazine's Dave Hughes called it "the most urgently malevolent modern funk record the band has assembled to date".[26] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club gave it a B+ rating and praised "the electric chemistry between Black Thought's unrelenting lyrical assault and ?uestlove's epic drums".[35] The Washington Post's Sarah Godfrey viewed that the album's ominous sound "tempers heady subject matter with much-needed thump" and cited it as The Roots' best work since Things Fall Apart.[36] In his consumer guide for MSN Music, critic Robert Christgau gave Rising Down an A rating and called it "as pleasurable as prime OutKast or Kanye West", while citing it as "the most accomplished pure hip-hop album in years".[23] Christgau ranked Rising Down number nine on his list of 2008's best albums.[37] The Boston Globe's Sarah Rodman named it the third best album of 2008.[38]
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[39]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 128. | "The Pow Wow" |
| 1:15 | |
| 129. | "Rising Down" (featuring Mos Def, Styles P & Dice Raw) |
| Questlove | 3:40 |
| 130. | "Get Busy" (featuring Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi & DJ Jazzy Jeff) |
|
| 3:29 |
| 131. | "@15" | Trotter | Black Thought | 0:51 |
| 132. | "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)" |
| Questlove | 3:15 |
| 133. | "Becoming Unwritten" |
|
| 0:36 |
| 134. | "Criminal" (featuring Truck North, Saigon & Kevin Hanson) |
|
| 4:08 |
| 135. | "I Will Not Apologize" (featuring P.O.R.N., Dice Raw & Talib Kweli) |
|
| 4:34 |
| 136. | "I Can't Help It" (featuring Malik B, P.O.R.N., Dice Raw & Mercedes Martinez) |
|
| 4:39 |
| 137. | "Singing Man" (featuring P.O.R.N., Truck North & Dice Raw) |
|
| 4:07 |
| 138. | "Unwritten" (featuring Mercedes Martinez) |
|
| 1:22 |
| 139. | "Lost Desire" (featuring Malik B & Talib Kweli) |
|
| 3:58 |
| 140. | "The Show" (featuring Common & Dice Raw) |
|
| 3:44 |
| 141. | "Rising Up" (featuring Wale & Chrisette Michele) |
|
| 4:23 |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 142. | "Birthday Girl" (featuring Patrick Stump, Shane Clark, Kelli Scarr & Mercedes Martinez) |
| 4:03 |
| 143. | "The Grand Return" (featuring Dice Raw & Wadud Ahmad) / "Pow Wow 2" (hidden track) |
| 5:17 |
| Total length: | 53:58 | ||
Sample credits[39]
- "Rising Down" contains an interpolation from "Nothing Is the Same", written by Mark Farner.
- "Get Busy" contains excerpts from the "Pee Wee Dance", written by Vincent Davis, Joel Roper, and Chuck Rio, as performed by Joeski Love.
- "I Will Not Apologize" contains excerpts from "Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism Is The Boss", written and performed by Fela Kuti.
Personnel
Credits for Rising Down adapted from Allmusic.[40]
|
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
References
- ^ "Justin Timberlake May Team Up With Fellow Memphis Man Al Green On LP". MTV. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Initial Single Dropped From The Roots' New Album", Baller Status
- ^ a b "The Roots: Rising Up with 'Rising Down'", NPR Music, April 29, 2008
- ^ a b Murphy, Keith. "Review: Rising Down". Vibe: 65. June 2008.
- ^ Wale Confirms New Mixtape, Album and Roots Collaboration
- ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (February 22, 2008). "The Roots' Next CD: Track By Track". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008.
- ^ "Fall Out Boy DVD Goes Deep On Cover Songs". FMQB. February 26, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2008.
- ^ "The Roots Drop Fall Out Boy Song From New Album", GIGWISE
- ^ a b Lundy, Zeth. Review: Rising Down. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ Adaso, Henry. U.S. Rap Albums Chart - May 17, 2008 Archived February 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. About.com.[unreliable source?] Retrieved October 5, 2009.
- ^ Hasty, Kate (May 7, 2008). "Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 With 7th No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- ^ a b Album Performance: Rising Down. acharts. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Rap Albums - Week of May 17, 2008", Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Chart History: The Roots - Rap Albums. Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Chart History: The Roots - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Chart History: The Roots - Canadian Albums. Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel, "The Roots' TV Party", Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Rising Down (2008): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Brown, Marisa. Review: Rising Down. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Howe, Sean. Review: Rising Down. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Wang, Oliver. Review: Rising Down. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ "Review: Rising Down". Mojo. London: 100. July 2008.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Rising Down". MSN Music: May 2008. Archived from the original Archived 2008-07-12 at the Wayback Machine on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Patrin, Nate. Review: Rising Down. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Rosen, Jody. Review: Rising Down. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Hughes, Dave. Review: Rising Down. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Dukes, Will (May 2008). Review: Rising Down. Spin. Retrieved on 2011-02-24.
- ^ Hua, Hsu. Review: Rising Down. Blender. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Horan, Tom. Review: Rising Down. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Kot, Greg. Review: Rising Down. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Munro, Tyler. Review: Rising Down. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Allen, Harry. Review: Rising Down. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (May 4, 2008). The Roots Issue Tracks of Their Fears, and Defiance, on ‘Rising Down,’ Their New Album. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2011-02-24.
- ^ Jones, Steve. Review: Rising Down. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ Rabin, Nathan. Review: Rising Down. The A.V. Club. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Godfrey, Sarah. Review: Rising Down. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Pazz & Jop 2008: Dean's List. Robert Christgau. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Rodman, Sarah. Sarah Rodman's top CD picks of 2008: Rising Down. The Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b Rising Down (booklet). Def Jam. 2008.
- ^ Credits: Rising Down. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 239.
- ^ "The Roots Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – The Roots – Rising Down". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Roots – Rising Down". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Roots – Rising Down". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Roots Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Roots Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Roots Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
