By: Jacoby Miles
The Roots album undun seems to encompass the true essence of original hip-hop with smooth beats and thought provoking lyrics, but also straddles the fence with awkward orchestra pieces that appear out of place. However, MC Black Thought is ontop of his game on this 14-track album and the production, for the most part, incorporates funk with unhurried, steady drums from Questlove. The best way to describe the bulk of the album is very chillax hip-hop tracks with harmonious hooks. Tracks such as “The Otherside” and “One Time” will make unbelievers, and past fans, wakeup to why the Philly-formed band is one of hip-hop’s best novelty acts.
This album is a far cry from their hell bound album The Tipping Point released back in 2004, and The Roots appear hungry for their due respect on this album and are curiously experimental. Moreover, MC Black Thought is more lyrically aggressive and grim than normally, but is effectual. Just to get this off my chest, I really wish the song “Sleep” wasn’t only two-minutes and 16-seconds long – I don’t understand! Anyway, this album is convincingly enjoyable despite its gauche tracks such as “Finality (4th Movement)” and all the rest of the symphony-inspired songs.