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Rising Down
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Rising Down Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest studio album from the hip-hop group features Common, Malik B, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Styles P, Wale, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, amongst others guest artists.

Top Track

Birthday Girl
What is it we wanna do? Now that I'm allowed to be alone with you Birthday Girl it's your birthday Wherever you wanna go Now you are old enough to go... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    100
    With an incongruent Fall Out Boy track set aside for single duty and all those rappers a dream community taking the burden off Black Thought, this is the most accomplished pure hip-hop album in years.
  2. Lost At Sea
    90
    Encapsulating everything that has come to pass since their debut with "Organix" in 1993, Rising Down is the best The Roots release to date, bar none.
  3. Sputnikmusic
    80
    With "75 Bars" being the only real dud on the album, Rising Down proves to be more of a collection of songs that work together as a whole than one cohesive album.
  4. Billboard
    80
    Elsewhere, 'Criminal' and 'I Will Not Apologize' find the group making its most acute, nail-driven points in years.
  5. Pitchfork
    78
    Rising Down isn't always an easy listen, but it's an exciting one, and its abrasiveness never gets in the way of a good throw-your-hands-up beat or a well-crafted lyric.
  6. Village Voice
    70
    The production style displays unique shadings and shifts in sound, suggesting an attention to sonic detail emblematic of a drummer with the deep musical (especially jazz-related) knowledge that ?uestlove owns. But this may also sustain the most oft-heard complaint against the Roots: the seeming inability of their lead vocalist, Black Thought, to unfailingly deliver "hip-hop quotables."
  7. cokemachineglow
    52
    Rising Down is pretty much same old same old.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. RadoslavP.
    Jul 12, 2008
    10
    Simply the best rap has to offer - phylosophical and politicly aware - it just makes you think about life.
  2. DunD
    May 1, 2008
    10
    Thanks for save "Real Hip-Hop".
  4. LouisD.
    May 8, 2008
    10
    ATTENTION: The Roots Crew are officially back on the map with another stellar album. With the amount of plastic the music industry has been ATTENTION: The Roots Crew are officially back on the map with another stellar album. With the amount of plastic the music industry has been releasing over the last few years, one would be hard pressed not to believe that they are a primary contributor to the world's ever-growing oil crisis. This album is a breath of fresh air in a world polluted by highly-commercialized and pablum-filled music. Rising Down is raw enough for those who have grown up during the golden age of hip-hop ('86-'95) and fluid enough for those who need a real history lesson. We must give props to The Roots Crew for this most recent release that not only displays their depth and true mastery of the craft but also for keeping the essence of real hip-hop alive.… Expand
  5. jay
    Apr 30, 2008
    9
    Great listen, it's not all that dark as stated...drums are outstanding and Black Thought knows when to pick up the pace....stand outs Great listen, it's not all that dark as stated...drums are outstanding and Black Thought knows when to pick up the pace....stand outs are Rising uP, I Will Not Apologize, The Show, Criminal.… Expand
  6. ScotT
    May 1, 2008
    9
    Great album....probably my 3rd favorite of theirs. "Criminal" is one of their most solid songs EVER. Get his album now.
  7. WarrenL.
    May 1, 2008
    9
    I find it interesting that such glowing reviews still result in C level reviews. Most critics seem to think it is a musically complex, well I find it interesting that such glowing reviews still result in C level reviews. Most critics seem to think it is a musically complex, well written, solidly hip-hop album. The only hit is that is too much of a "downer." Fuck the critics. This is one of the most musically and lyrically complex of all of the the roots album. Real, hard hip-hop in the purest sense. If you don't like it, shit clearly wasn't made for you. In which case, you opinion really doesn't matter. Brilliant work. A clockwork orange in music form. 5 stars.… Expand
  8. PaulC
    May 6, 2008
    8
    This is a great album. While I think The Roots peaked with Things Fall Apart, this album is one of their best in recent years.

See all 11 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best Album of 2008

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