| Product Summary | | Label: Uni/mca | | UPC: 00008811205928 | | Release Date: 11/2/1999 | | Buy.com Sku: 60365860 | | Item#: M9CH7Q | Format:  CD |
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(P) 1999 Geffen Records
(C) 1999 Geffen Records
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| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | This is an enhanced CD, which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | The Roots: Black Thought, Malik B. (rap vocals); Scratch, Rahzel The Godfather Of Noize (rap vocals, vocal effects); Kamal (keyboards); Leonard Hubbard (bass); ?uestlove (drums). | | Additional Personnel: Jill Scott (vocals); Common, Jaguar, Dice Raw (rap vocals); Craig Harris (trombone); James Poyser (piano); Scott Storch (keyboards). | | Producers: Grand Wizards, Richard Nichols, Scott Stortch, Mike Lowe, James Poyser. | | Engineers: Jon Smeltz, Russel Elevado, Tom Soares. | | Recorded at Palais X-tra Zurich, Switzerland; Bowery Ballroom, New York, New York; Elysee Mountmartre, Paris, France; The Old Hit Factory, New York, New York. | | THE ROOTS COME ALIVE contains an enhanced CD which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | The Roots: Black Thought, Malik B. (rap vocals); Scratch, Rahzel The Godfather Of Noize (rap vocals, vocal effects); Kamal (keyboards); Leonard Hubbard (bass); ?uestlove (drums). | | Additional Personnel: Jill Scott (vocals); Common, Jaguar, Dice Raw (rap vocals); Craig Harris (trombone); James Poyser (piano); Scott Storch (keyboards) | | Producers: Grand Wizards, Richard Nichols, Scott Stortch, Mike Lowe, James Poyser. | | Engineers: Jon Smeltz, Russel Elevado, Tom Soares. | | Recorded at Palais X-tra Zurich, Switzerland; Bowery Ballroom, New York, New York; Elysee Mountmartre, Paris, France; The Old Hit Factory, New York, New York. | | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | Releasing an album recorded live in concert makes more sense for the Roots than any other hip-hop artist, considering they've always concentrated on live prowess over their skills on the mic or in the production booth. The standard guitar/drums/bass/keyboards lineup of most rock bands is a reality for this group, and after years of requests from rabid fans, the Roots acquiesced with a document of their live experience, titled The Roots Come Alive. Recorded at two venues in New York and one in Paris, the album distills exactly what the Roots bring to the hip-hop world -- a live experience built on call-and-response vocals that bring the show to the audience like few other artists. The sound is fantastic, especially on early keyboard-driven tracks like "Proceed," "Essaywhuman?!???!!!," and "Mellow My Man." Though the raps themselves often suffer from the live setting, the rhythms are crisper than in the studio, and the bass-driven grooves are much beefier. The Roots' resident turntablist, Scratch, takes a large role as well, as does human beatbox Rahzel the Godfather of Noyze (though the latter only appears on about half of the album). This is a live album that not only satisfies fans, but offers neophytes more entertainment than any of the Roots' studio efforts. It's difficult to make any live album a first pick, but Come Alive displays the group doing exactly what it does best. ~ John Bush | | The Roots are an anomaly in the world of hip-hop--instead of relying on outside producers and a bevy of loops and samples to create their sound, they do it all themselves. As a self-contained band whose instrumental prowess and interaction is a key part of their sound, the Roots stand to benefit greatly from a live album (another rarity in rap music). Accordingly, COME ALIVE shows off the group's talents in their best light. The bass and drums are locked in together with a funky spontaneity impossible to obtain from a sample or a loop, and the vocals intermingle freely with the rhythms set up by the band. Some guests show up (Common on "Love of My Life," Jill Scott on "You Got Me"), but given the rapport the Roots display with their audience, it's clear that they need no one's help to make their music travel from the stage to the furthest reaches of the rafters. | | The Roots are an anomaly in the world of hip-hop--instead of relying on outside producers and a bevy of loops and samples to create their sound, they do it all themselves. As a self-contained band whose instrumental prowess and interaction is a key part of their sound, the Roots stand to benefit greatly from a live album (another rarity in rap music). Accordingly, COME ALIVE shows off the group's talents in their best light. The bass and drums are locked in together with a funky spontaneity impossible to obtain from a sample or a loop, and the vocals intermingle freely with the rhythms set up by the band. Some guests show up (Common on "Love of My Life," Jill Scott on "You Got Me"), but given the rapport the Roots display with their audience, it's clear that they need no one's help to make their music travel from the stage to the furthest reaches of the rafters. |
Musical Guests | | Jill Scott | | Common | | Jaguar |
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| | Associated Artists and Works |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 11/02/1999 | | Original Release Date : 1999 | | Catalog ID : 112 059 | | Label : MCA Records (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Live | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00008811205928 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | Rolling Stone (11/25/99, p.104)
- 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...creates a charged atmosphere that's more like a block party or community rally than a concert....[This album] captures that charisma..."Spin (2/00, pp.114-5)
- 6 out of 10 - "...splits generous joints among New York City and safe European homes like Zurich and Paris...it's Welcome to the Hipsterdome..." Entertainment Weekly (11/12/99, p.82)
- "...captures the Roots' onstage sweat and passion. Even better, their indulgent instrumental solos are edited out, and new studio songs are added for good measure." - Rating: A- CMJ (11/8/99, p.26)
- "...unquestionably one of the hottest live acts in hip-hop....does a bang-up job of documenting the experience of being at one of their shows. The album features a variety of tracks that cover the entire span of the band's career..." Vibe (12/99, p.263)
- "...better than any backstage pass....the organic rap troop unconsciously erase the barrier between no-nonsense B-boy anthems...and avant-garde jazz jams...with veteran musicianship..." |
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