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The Tipping Point Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

  • Summary: Whereas its predecessor (2002's acclaimed 'Phrenology') clocked in at 79 minutes, 'The Tipping Point' is a concise 45-minute listen, featuring guests Devin The Dude, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Jean Grae and Television's Dave Chappelle.

Top Track

Don't Say Nuthin'
Yeah! That all mighty amazing, ill, highly contagious Kamikaze south splash like it shot from a gauge Until your body sound clash Head of the Class,... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 24
  2. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. 100
    Following 2002's experimental Phrenology, which featured all manner of drum 'n' bass and techno influences, the real-instrument-playing Philadelphia hip-hop collective ditches the frills on Tipping Point.
  2. Vibe
    80
    Opting for politically charged rhymes and melodic, accessible beats, [The Roots] overflow with potential singles. [Aug 2004, p.141]
  3. In terms of their own oeuvre, it's certainly a solid addition, even if it suffers from the molting pain that comes from incorporating music that's so stylistically against their own grain.
  4. As a listening experience, The Tipping Point is a decent album, a rough transition at best and a stumble at worst.
  5. Rolling Stone
    60
    The downside to The Tipping Point's chameleonic variety is that the Roots too rarely sound like themselves, or even like a collective. [5 Aug 2004, p.108]
  6. The vast majority of the new Roots album lacks what has made their earlier albums so exciting: spontaneity, originality, musical chops, and a sense of purpose.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. amberlynn
    Sep 16, 2006
    10
    this album goes everywhere with me and everyone loves it!!!!!!!
  2. undipsutedsixtysecondassasin
    Oct 11, 2004
    10
    hot original style hip hop
  3. beerburp
    Jul 16, 2004
    9
    The Roots always grab you and shake all that phony bling-bling rap crap out of your head and forces you to remember hip hop's true raw The Roots always grab you and shake all that phony bling-bling rap crap out of your head and forces you to remember hip hop's true raw form. The Tipping Point is no different. Banging homie! Don't sleep. Expand
  4. djimao
    Jul 15, 2004
    7
    A decent CD, not as good as the previous one and Things... but still flashes among the mainstream rappers.
  5. T.E.Walton
    Feb 9, 2005
    7
    Not their best, but a solid, accessible effort. The only real dog is the stiff "Guns Are Drawn," which just doesn't work for me, just as Not their best, but a solid, accessible effort. The only real dog is the stiff "Guns Are Drawn," which just doesn't work for me, just as the corny Chuck Berry-ish "The Seed 2.0 " sucked big-time to my ears. BTW I think "Illadelph Halflife" is their weakest album, save "What They Do." But maybe that's just me. They always kill LIVE tho'. Expand
  6. VincH.
    Jul 23, 2004
    6
    Either most of the fans here calling this a great album have either A) never heard any Roots albums or B) have heard very few albums this Either most of the fans here calling this a great album have either A) never heard any Roots albums or B) have heard very few albums this year. This is certainly their weakest yet, which hurts me to say after the knockout 3-run punch of "Illdelph Halflife", "Things Fall Apart & Phrenology...all of which are classic albums in their own right. The beats here are mostly average save for a couple standouts (Stay Cool being the best) and there is none of the great trademarks of their ealier masterpieces like the musical-poety interludes or the more natural organic jam-groove sound of their best work. The production sounds very commercial and mainstream. Still better than most other hip hop albums out there though. Expand
  7. j30
    Sep 28, 2011
    5
    Just an average score here for the Hip-Hop kings. A pretty big disappointment considering (the classics, 10/10's) Phrenology and Things FallJust an average score here for the Hip-Hop kings. A pretty big disappointment considering (the classics, 10/10's) Phrenology and Things Fall apart came before this. Expand

See all 24 User Reviews