The Roots

Things Fall Apart

holy moly

Come back to 1999. Find an online message board or a group of friends at a bar, and try to discuss hip hop's merit as a valid art form. Keep going, find as many conversations about that topic, and take note of your jaw dropping at just how many people will write you off as putting your chips in the wrong pile. With the deaths of Pac and B.I.G. fresh on the mind and the new wave of shiny suit raps dominating the charts, it wasn't uncommon to believe that hip hop was going to cave in on itself ... read more

I think this might be THE essential hip hop album

This album is one of the most acclaimed hip-hop records and obviously one of the most important for hip-hop culture, especially with the socially engaged cover. Before you press play you already know that this album will make an impact on you, and it does.

Oh and J Dilla, who is one of, if not, the best hip-hop producer, elevates this album to an even higher level. With the outstanding vocal performances and thought-provoking lyrics from Black Thought and Rakim B, they've managed to make an ... read more