Search - Roots :: Roots Come Alive

Superb energy of live hip hop performance

11/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a completely new dimension of hip hop. For ones that haven't seen them perform live this is an unique experience. Definite must in every serious cd collection, even to those peeps who are not into hip hop at all. Also on second CD you have two videos of them performing and few new tracks. What else could you want. This is a live stuff that breaks all the barriers of the music as we know it today. It's not like DefJam's "Survival of the Illest" where you had MC droppin' lyrics and DJ spinnin' on 1&2. Yes, Roots have scratch sounds, but they are produced from the mouth of two vocalists - Rahzel and Scratch. Also, combination of bass (Hub), drums (?love) and rhodes (Kamal) is da bomb. It's the pure energy, even though it's not played agressively at all. And finaly add Black Thought to drop some lyrics and you have The Roots on stage. Sounds superb!"

THE ROOTS COME ALIVE!!!

Adam P Boots | Valley Village, CA United States | 06/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, well, for all of you out there who have not had the opportunity to see the Roots perform live... I'm so sorry, but... There's hope. This album, a live album, is as good as live albums get. And I mean it with all certainty in the world. Normally, I wouldn't be likely to mention HIP HOP and LIVE together in a sentence that contained the words "GREAT ALBUM." Given that factor, let me qualify: First of all, I LOVE hip hop, and I've seen some great hip hop shows. I ALSO love rock and roll and have seen some fantastic shows, but two of my favorite shows I have been to included the Roots.Now, to the BREAD of the review. The Roots, though a hip hop group, are one of the most talented musical bands that are out there today. Every single musician in their band has amazing skill at what they do (including Black Thought, the lyricist, who is REGULARLY overlooked when it comes to great lyricists). A live Roots show is more than just a show, it's an experience. Both times I've seen the Roots live, they were "just" the opening band, and both times, they've opened and I've been privy to some jaw dropped kid looking at me and saying "wow, that was F@#king AMAZING!", soon after said Jaw-dropped kid had looked at me like I was completely crazy and in the wrong place when I went nuts at the Roots introduction to the stage. This album, is not quite the same as a live Roots show, but, it's about as close as it gets. It's also amazingly clean in terms of production (as Roots performances are), and the setlist that is played on it is AMAZING. I only WISH I had gotten to see this setlist at the concerts I saw. If you know the Roots, then this is a must have (I had all of their studio albums before buying this, and I'd probably say that after Organix (which is a little strange to many, because it's so jazzy), this is probably my favorite).My advice to you is to buy this album and get a ticket to see the Roots at a venue near you. THEY WILL NOT DISSAPPOINT!!!"

You listenin' stop what you're doin'...

Dan | Phoenix, AZ USA | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hip hop you're the love of my life! What can I say? "Come Alive" is a masterpiece. Genius emcee Black Thought states it most clearly when he rhymes, "Hip hop in it's most pure form." For those of you cats who own other ish from The Roots crew, believe me when I say that these brothas are takin' it to the next level with "Come Alive." I was terribly disappointed when reading the reviews you kids posted for this incredible album. Honestly, WTF? Where's the love? The Roots have to be the most underrated and underappreciated hip hop group around. Ignorant common peeps think they have it good bouncin' to ish like 504 Boyz and Juvenile (shame on y'all!). Don't kid yourself folks. Droppin' an album every 3 months with gerneric lyrics and a hit single does not make you an artist! For those of you who want a truly positive, organice hip hop experience get down to your local record store and pick up "Come Alive." Word is bond! Pax out!"