I’ve been meaning to address this all week…my bad. My favorite hip hop group (still putting out records,) The Roots, are creating major buzz behind their upcoming release “Rising Down” (Def Jam) which will drop April 29th. ?uestlove, leader and founder of the outspoken hip hop band is calling the project their “most political album to date dealing with addiction, nihilism, hypocritical double standards in the prison system and overall life in Philadelphia. I’d say it’s more mature and intense than all of our efforts but not a ‘downer’ as most people expect us to do.”

MATURITY IN HIP HOP?! Get that what a novel concept. Perhaps the dopest part of the album is in it’s concepts. The title which comes from William T. Vollmann’s “Rising Up and Rising Down” and the release date falls on the 16th anniversary of the Rodney King riots in L.A. Plus peep the cover. The Artwork is SICK. ?uestlove addresses the idea behind it on their OkayPlayer Message Forum.

Their first single “Birthday Girl” featuring Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump is dope and I’m sure is a pre-cursor of what’s to come. Other guests on the album include the Neo-Soul Treo (Common, Mos Def, and Kweli) Saigon, Dice Raw and of course Chrisette Michele.

I’ve got so much respect for The Roots. The STILL are the only accomplished Hip Hop Band. You would think their succesful formula would breed copycats however you can’t just ProTools live music. Its a testament to the complexity of their craft and their authenticity. If only Rahzel could have stuck around…