The Roots - The Tipping Point: Album Review

The Roots, The Tipping Point (Geffen, 2004)
Or, as I like to call it, The Meh Album.

WARNING: I hadn't done one of these in a while, and listening to this crap (it really is), got me in one of my moods. And before anybody goes and brings it up in the comments section (just like they've done in all of my other reviews), I'll go ahead and admit it: I'm white. I know, I know, it's horrible. I went to the bank today and they actually approved me for a loan. In fact, one of the bank managers ended up being my cousin and actually offered me a job. No more flipping White Assholes for me! Later on tonight, I'm going to have sex with... with... a white girl!

STAR/POINTRO

Ooh, sampling Sly Stone! Very Arrested Development! And not the TV show for any kids who might be reading this (even though, from what I understand, this site gets blocked out at most schools), but the rap group from the early '90s. They had this song called "Tennessee" that went "Tomorrow we can drive around this town / And let the cops chase us around / The past is gone but something might be found to take its plaaaaace." Perhaps you've heard of it. Why is this shit 7 minutes long?

I DON'T CARE

Here's the chorus to this song, sung by some random nu-soul singer. We'll just say it's Cody ChestnuTT.

"I don't care as long as the bass line thumping / The drum line banging away / Make one move and I'll throw you away / One false move and I'll blow you away"

I'll let you decide for yourself whether or not this is a good song.

DON'T SAY NUTHIN'

I knew this album wasn't going to be any good when the first single came out sounding like the kind of shit Lloyd Banks (What kind of name is that anyway?) might rap over. Here's a question for all you rap fans out there: Would this song be more or less boring if they actually brought Mr. Banks himself in to rap on it? The same? Does anybody even give a shit?

GUNS ARE DRAWN

They stole that little drum intro thingy from some song. I rewinded it about 5 times trying to figure out what it was, but then I just said fuck it. Actually, I think it might be from "Looking at the Front Door" by Main Source, but if that's what they were going for, then they couldn't even get that right. Anyhoo, that's about the most interesting thing about this song. I guess I could also mention that they brought some Jamaican fellow in to sing the chorus. It's not that good, but, I mean, he is Jamaican. Having Jamaican people on your album is the new ska.

STAY COOL

I guess this is supposed to be some kind of tribute to "Ego Trippin' (Pt. 2)" by De La Soul. The little instrumental breakdown in the chorus is kinda cool, but the rest of it, with the guy singing (is that Pharrell from the Neptunes?), I could've done without. In general, it's just too slow and "grown and sexy" sounding and besides, I've heard this before anyway.

WEB

Just to say something positive, I guess I could mention that I was a fan of "Thought @ Work" from the last album. This one's kinda like that one, only not at all worth listening to. Seriously, this is just, like a straight, boring ass drumb beat with a thud maybe every 10 seconds or so. Even the thud wasn't that good. I've heard more convincing thuds on a fucking Jason Mraz album. Not that I've actually heard a Jason Mraz album. Would a "no homo" be appropriate here? Aren't The Roots down with John Mayer now?

BOOM!

Actually, I guess this one's more like "Thought on the John," or whatever it's called in that the beat has more to it than just, you know, a thud. Otherwise, it's pretty much the same old shit. I don't like this old school tribute sounding bullshit. Here's an idea for all of these dumbass rap groups doing tributes to the so-called old school: Do a tribute to yourselves back when you were still good. Make it album-length and actually release it instead of whatever other modern bullshit that you thought was such a good idea. I'll even buy a copy. And, of course, your fans will buy it anyway because they're, you know, stupid. Dude, that's like, an extra $.90 in your pocket!

SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO IT

Jean Grae raps on the second verse of this, if you're into that sort of thing. In fact, this whole song sounds like they just took one of the songs from that one Jean Grae album and dubbed a Black Thought verse over it. Very laid back and, um, ball-less. If it had a better chorus, it could be their "chick" single.

DUCK DOWN!

OMG, this shit sounds like "Urrbody in the Club Gettin' Tipsy," which, if you'll recall, was pretty much just a rip-off of the Neptunes' beat for the Clipse' "Grindin'." Who wants to bet that this is the second single? They can bring in Chingy and J-Kwon and whoever else to do a remix and then have whoever did the infamous "Tip Drill" video to do the, um, video. Somebody get me on the phone with BJ Wineglass, or whoever The Roots' management is these days.

WHY (WHAT'S GOIN ON?)

Hmm, yet another song that sounds vaguely reminiscent of... some other song. In this case, it's Brand Nubian's "Slow Down," which, some of my older readers might recall, was basically a straight rip of that one Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians song that went "Someday somebody's gonna make ya wanna turn around and say goodbye /  Til then baby are you gonna let 'em hold ya down and make ya cry." 'Twas a good song. I think moms might've even had it on "cassingle."

BONUS TRACKS

Like all their other albums, this one has a buncha extra shit tacked on to the last song (no bad poetry though), but I'm not going to bother "reviewing" it.

Let's face it, The Roots lost the plot way, way back in the mid '90s. If you missed out on it (because you were too young, or white, or whatever), I'd suggest you take your 10 bucks and pick up used copies of Do You Want More???!!? and Illadelph Halflife. But either way, I can't really recommend you spend any money on this at all. Why? Go back and read the review again. I don't feel like writing anything else.