Things Fall Apart
by The Roots

The album has 13 tracks of total fire. The other 5 are very good, but push the album a little past its welcome and are the album's only weakness.

"The Return to Innocence Lost" is an unexpected tribute to groups like The Last Poets and the Watts Prophets.

Perfect production and a great showcase of talent. Fusing Jazz and Progressive Rap, this is a classic hip-hop album. 9.5/10!

From C_Krug2009 02/11/2023 16:43 | #293934

This album is great. The keyboards are chime-y and its laidback grooves are great but somehow they are upbeat at that same time. I've never heard an album quite like this. Love the lyricism and instrumentals. Not something to miss for hip hop heads

A fantastic album that progressively gets better as you go through the record. This is due to the storyline that you are guided by the brilliant delivery of the lyrics which are packed full of passion and emotion. This is then backed by some great beats and amazing instrumental performances which are very well layered allowing us to have a lot to explore on later listens. The features are picked perfectly and only add to the quality on display with outstanding performances from Common, Mos Def and Erykah Badu to name a few. The music also fits together so well and with each song neatly leading into the next making the record feel complete which is due to the genius production. Having said that, I do have a few issues with this record and one of them is the length which is a bloated 68 minutes. There is definitely moments on tracks that could be trimmed down drastically that would make the album a lot more digestible. Another issue I have is that in places it does sound a bit dated and a few songs feel a little cringey. Overall, a must listen album with a fantastic concept that deserves more appreciation.

The Root's magnum opus! It has everything. It might be the best produced hip hop album of all time. The features are incredible, and Back Thought is as good as always. 10/10 classic.

From Larcx13 07/14/2021 21:49 | #271622

It's becoming clearer and clearer how badly strictly rock fans listen to music by the low ratings on albums like this. Not to mention the ignorant yet self-righteous comments that come with it.... reminds me of myself at a YOUNGER age lol.

It's got a concept, it's got live instrumentation, barely anything that qualifies as battle raps or braggadocio since this IS a concept album.... and most of the tracks are actually very well built up. The only track I don't like is Without a Doubt because it sounds like it was produced in 1992 by a no name.

From planetneutral 02/01/2021 04:11 | #265457

This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.

Strange how this classic isn't ranked higher in the charts. There something quite intriguing about this, the combination of live instrumentation and conscious lyrics really put something special

superb

From jeremih724 09/06/2014 19:30 | #121385

fantastic raps, nice minimal production. far above average.

From Graeme2 08/30/2014 19:09 | #120821

Another level to the vast majority of rap music.