If Grandmaster Flash and Furious 5 could stretch out their 1982 song, “The Message”, into a full length album, it would probably sound something like The Roots current release, “UnDun”. However, this album goes even further than just the basic day to day struggle of what life in hard times truly can be. This album goes to a point of being an album that puts that frustration into music; Music not in the context of a dance album, but actual MUSIC.
This 13th album by The Roots can so easily be referenced with every cliché possible to describe it as a musician’s album. Except “UnDun” is an album that even non-musicians can appreciate. If you are looking for an album to bounce your ass to, this is not it. If you are looking for a rap album with no reference about how great the emcee is on the mic every other verse, an album free of constant braggadocios behavior of how many expensive material possessions the rapper has, an album free of reference to struggle with the label, this is what you want to hear.
This is an album that so adequately describes the struggle of many young people who feel, especially now, that life is lost beyond their town. In traditional Roots fashion, microphone vets and new emcees to the scene are all over this album. Once again allowing Foreign Exchange member, Phonte, to grace a track which is effortlessly executed verbally, the continuation of one of the original Roots emcees Dice R.A.W., but also rappers who you would not assume to flow so well through a ?uestlove track. The likes of Mississippi rapper and Freshman Class alum, Big K.R.I.T., and up and coming emcees Greg Porn and Truck North.
Yet with the edge and gruff of a track put together lyrically and seamlessly by the always lyrically flawless, Black Thought, you hear something at the end of this album that you would expect to hear from something like The Philadelphia Experiment. The Philadelphia Experiment was a 2003 album that was a collaboration of Roots frontman, ?uestlove, Uri Caine, and Christian McBride. An album full of jazz, might not be most idea of what you would expect to hear on a rap album. Through the direction of ?uestlove, the final part this experimental album, you see simply through sound of what can only be described as experimental jazz, everything that has been stated through lyrics earlier on the album. The aggression and pain, but possibilities of hope all come through in these three vocal-less albums.
This album can be seen almost like that of an Andy Warhol painting, only darker and more realistic. It is not what many would expect from a group that many credit with bringing back the raw essence of hip hop back in the late 90’s, however it is what you would have to expect. The Roots started as group of young guys from Philadelphia, and through evidence of this album, have evolved into men who have recollected on their struggles of their pasts and presents and put it to wax perfectly.