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'''Things Fall Apart''' is a hip hop album by the [[Philadelphia]] based group [[The Roots]], released on February 23, 1999, (see [[1999 in music]]) by [[Geffen Records]]. ''Things Fall Apart'' is considered to be the group's breakthrough album, and includes the song "You Got Me" which won the group a [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]]. The album was also nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/654530.stm | title =Santana's Grammy glory | accessdate = 2006-12-18 | work=BBC News}}</ref> (which was won by [[Eminem]] for ''[[The Slim Shady LP]]''). The album was critically well received with Rolling Stone, calling it a "top-flight record", and All Music Guide calling it "One of the cornerstone albums of alternative rap."
'''Things Fall Apart''' is a hip hop album by the [[Philadelphia]] based group [[The Roots]], released on February 23, 1999, (see [[1999 in music]]) by [[Geffen Records]]. ''Things Fall Apart'' is considered to be the group's breakthrough album, and includes the song "You Got Me" which won the group a [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]]. The album was also nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/654530.stm | title =Santana's Grammy glory | accessdate = 2006-12-18 | work=BBC News}}</ref> (which was won by [[Eminem]] for ''[[The Slim Shady LP]]''). [[Rolling Stone]] calls it a "top-flight record"<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theroots/albums/album/5306746/review/6211853/things_fall_apart</ref>, and [[All Music Guide]] calls it "one of the cornerstone albums of alternative rap."<ref>http://wc07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8lu67ui0o0jw</ref>


The album's opening track, "Act Won," contains an excerpt from the Spike Lee film, [[Mo' Better Blues]]. The excerpt is from a scene where [[Denzel Washington]] and [[Wesley Snipes]] are discussing the current state of African American music (or culture in general) after a gig.<ref name="YH">{{cite web | url =http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxvii/1999.02.26/ae/p13roots.html | title =The Roots's Things Fall Apart | accessdate = 2006-12-16 | last =Landy | first =Ben | work =The Yale Herald}}</ref>The album takes its title from [[Chinua Achebe]]'s [[Things Fall Apart|novel of the same name]].<ref name="IBM">{{cite web | url = http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-archive/Roots_Apart.htm | title = The Roots Things Fall Apart | accessdate = 2006-12-16 | last =Welte | first =Jim | work =Ink Blot Magazine}}</ref>
The album's opening track, "Act Won," contains an excerpt from the [[Spike Lee]] film, ''[[Mo' Better Blues]]''. The excerpt is from a scene where [[Denzel Washington]] and [[Wesley Snipes]] are discussing the current state of African American music (or culture in general) after a gig.<ref name="YH">{{cite web | url =http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxvii/1999.02.26/ae/p13roots.html | title =The Roots's Things Fall Apart | accessdate = 2006-12-16 | last =Landy | first =Ben | work =The Yale Herald}}</ref>The album takes its title from [[Chinua Achebe]]'s [[Things Fall Apart|novel of the same name]].<ref name="IBM">{{cite web | url = http://www.inkblotmagazine.com/rev-archive/Roots_Apart.htm | title = The Roots Things Fall Apart | accessdate = 2006-12-16 | last =Welte | first =Jim | work =Ink Blot Magazine}}</ref>


== Recording ==
== Recording ==
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{{The Roots}}
{{The Roots}}
{{Soulquarians}}


[[Category:The Roots albums]]
[[Category:The Roots albums]]

Revision as of 08:40, 1 November 2007

Untitled

Things Fall Apart is a hip hop album by the Philadelphia based group The Roots, released on February 23, 1999, (see 1999 in music) by Geffen Records. Things Fall Apart is considered to be the group's breakthrough album, and includes the song "You Got Me" which won the group a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The album was also nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album[1] (which was won by Eminem for The Slim Shady LP). Rolling Stone calls it a "top-flight record"[2], and All Music Guide calls it "one of the cornerstone albums of alternative rap."[3]

The album's opening track, "Act Won," contains an excerpt from the Spike Lee film, Mo' Better Blues. The excerpt is from a scene where Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes are discussing the current state of African American music (or culture in general) after a gig.[4]The album takes its title from Chinua Achebe's novel of the same name.[5]

Recording

The recording of Things Fall Apart began in 1997 and was completed in early 1999. ?uestlove has stated that during this period, the group recorded upwards of around 145 songs, later whittling down their choices to 14 songs (intros and interludes withstanding).[6] The last song to be included to the final selection was "Double Trouble", featuring Mos Def. Initially, the song was supposed to feature a guest appearance from Mos' Black Star partner, Talib Kweli but due to the format of the track, it was decided to make it a throwback to the Run D.M.C./EPMD tag-team style of rap, with just two MCs.[6]

The track "Act Too (The Love of My Life)", originally an interlude that evolved into a full song, features Common, whose verse is a continuation of his song "I Used to Love H.E.R.", off his 1994 album Resurrection, in which Common speaks of hip hop as a woman. However, ?uestlove has stated that this is not "I used to love H.E.R. (the daughter), rather it is a "reflection on the evolution of hip hop, through our eyes.[7] Beanie Sigel made his debut appearance on the track "Adrenaline!", after tagging along to a weekly jam session held by the group in Philadelphia.[8] Eve (at the time, signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath label, and known as Eve of Destruction) also made her debut appearance on Things Fall Apart, on the track, "You Got Me".

"You Got Me" was co-written by Jill Scott who recorded vocals for the song's chorus and bridge.[9] Her part was subsequently re-recorded by Erykah Badu at the insistence of MCA, who wanted a higher profile collaboration for the album's official lead single (at the time, Scott was relatively unknown outside of Philadelphia). When the group later went on tour, Scott joined them during performances of the song. "You Got Me" caught on quickly with radio and later MTV, giving the group a much needed boost in terms of sales and exposure. Its Grammy win provided a second round of success. The outside musicians who contributed to the album (mainly D'Angelo, James Poyser, and Jay Dee) went on to form the Soulquarians collective with ?uestlove and Pino Palladino.

Reception

The album was widely regarded as the group's most fully realized work. Critics praised it for its sobering themes, sonic quality, and fluid, cohesive sequencing, with Rolling Stone calling it a "top-flight record" and lead MC, Black Thought a "lyricist's lyricist with a hard, earnest voice that doesn't flow like water but bobs and weaves with less-predictable rhythms".[10] UK magazines such as Q gave it 4 out of 5 stars and Mojo says that the album is "the stunner they've always promised: the first candidate for hip hop album of 1999....in a hip-hop world dominated by well-worn pop samples and rap rewrites of 80's chart hits, such risk-taking should be cherished".[11] Marie Elsie St. Léger of Barnes and Noble wrote in her review that the album had "Unfussy yet precise production, irresistible beats, and smooth rhymes. Few albums manage to simultaneously be this informative, political, and downright groovy."[12] Fans responded with as much enthusiasm, and the album shipped Gold in sales.[13]

Album Covers

For a limited time period, Things Fall Apart was made available with a choice of five different front covers. One such cover displays a photograph taken during a riot in the Civil Rights Movement era. In the stark black and white photo, riot police are seen chasing two black teenagers on the streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant. In 2005, this cover was included in the book, The Greatest Album Covers Of All Time by Barry Miles, Grant Scott & Johnny Morgan, and published by Collins & Brown.

Track listing

  1. "Act Won (Things Fall Apart)" :55
    • Contains excerpts from the motion picture "Mo Better Blues"
  2. "Table of Contents (Parts 1&2)" – 3:37
  3. "The Next Movement" – 4:10 (featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff)
  4. "Step Into The Realm" – 2:50
  5. "The Spark" – 3:52
  6. "Dynamite!" – 4:46
  7. "Without A Doubt" – 4:13 (featuring Lady B)
    • Contains samples of "Saturday Night" by Schooly D
  8. "Ain't Sayin Nothin' New" – 4:34 (featuring Dice Raw)
  9. "Double Trouble" – 5:50 (featuring Mos Def)
  10. "Act Too (The Love of My Life)" – 4:55 (featuring Common)
  11. "100% Dundee" – 3:54
  12. "Diedre Vs. Dice" :47 (featuring Dice Raw)
  13. "Adrenaline!" – 4:27 (featuring Dice Raw & Beanie Sigel)
  14. "3rd Acts:? Vs. Scratch2...Electric Boogaloo" :52
  15. "You Got Me" – 4:19 (featuring Erykah Badu & Eve)
  16. "Don't See Us" – 4:30 (featuring Dice Raw)
  17. "The Return To Innocence Lost" – 11:55 (performed by Ursula Rucker)
    • "Act Fore (The End?)" (Hidden track)

Album singles

Single cover Single information
"Adrenaline!" (Promo only)
  • Released: 1998
  • B-side: Don't See Us
 "You Got Me"
  • Released: 1999
  • B-side: "Adrenaline!"
File:CS171609-01A-BIG.jpg
 "The Next Movement"
  • Released: 1999
  • B-side: "Without A Doubt"

Album chart positions

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Top Canadian Albums
1999 Things Fall Apart #4 #2 #7

Singles chart positions

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Rhythmic Top 40
1998 "Adrenaline" - #73 #29 -
1999 "You Got Me" #39 #11 #19 #35

Credits

Performance credits
The Roots - Primary Artist
D'Angelo - Keyboards
Marie Daulne - Background Vocals
Larry Gold - Viola
Bob Power - Synthesizer
James Poyser - Keyboards
Scott Storch - Keyboards
Dice Raw - Vocals
Erykah Badu - Background Vocals
Igor Szwec - Violin
Anthony Tidd - Guitar
Common - Vocals
Mos Def - Vocals
Ursula Rucker - Poetry
Eve - Vocals
Beanie Sigel - Vocals

References

  1. ^ "Santana's Grammy glory". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
  2. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theroots/albums/album/5306746/review/6211853/things_fall_apart
  3. ^ http://wc07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8lu67ui0o0jw
  4. ^ Landy, Ben. "The Roots's Things Fall Apart". The Yale Herald. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  5. ^ Welte, Jim. "The Roots Things Fall Apart". Ink Blot Magazine. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  6. ^ a b ?uestlove writes about each song from the album in its liner notes. Retrieved on April 22,2007 (Pg 6) Cite error: The named reference "Album notes" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ ?uestlove writes about each song from the album in its liner notes. Retrieved on April 22,2007 (Pg 8)
  8. ^ ?uestlove writes about each song from the album in its liner notes. Retrieved on April 22, 2007(Pg 10)
  9. ^ ?uestlove writes about each song from the album in its liner notes. Retrieved on April 22,2007 (Pg 11)
  10. ^ Toure. "Things Fall Apart". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  11. ^ "Things Fall Apart". Tower records. Retrieved 2006-12-18. Editorial reviews product notes.
  12. ^ "Barnes & Noble.com - Music:Things Fall Apart, The Roots,CD". Barnes&Noble.com. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  13. ^ "The Roots The Paybacks". XXL magazine. Retrieved 2006-12-18.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Things_Fall_Apart_%28album%29&diff=168472485&oldid=165574230

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