How The Roots Found Their Sound on ‘Things Fall Apart’
Revisit the album that propelled the Roots from hip-hop’s periphery to the mainstream as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Despite critical acclaim and a cult following, the Roots’ future was in limbo as they recorded their fourth studio album. Recording began in 1997 at New York’s famed Electric Lady Studios where D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Common — members of the Soulquarians collective — were also preparing their next projects. Roots bandleader and drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson split his studio time working on several tracks for these artists, leaving the rest of the Roots — rappers Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Karl “Dice Raw” Jenkins; bassist Leonard “Hub” Hubbard; and beatboxers Rozell “Rahzel” Brown and Kyle “Scratch” Jones — to question his commitment and focus.
Prior to 1999, the Roots had struggled to establish themselves alongside conscious rap peers like OutKast and the Fugees. Setting themselves against the flash and stylized violence of hip-hop’s bling era, the Roots hewed to a cleanly produced, jazz-forward interpretation of old-school hip-hop that was out of place amongst the gritty releases of the late ’90s. Questlove was spurred to improve his production skills after playing an early version of “Double Trouble” for DJ Premier, J Dilla, and D’Angelo elicited disinterested nods.
Questlove Learns A New Technique
In response, Questlove taught himself to play the drums “dirty” — dragging out the percussion and using ride cymbals as hi-hats — and manipulated drum tracks recorded on 2-inch tape. This experimentation would help to shape the sonic identity of Things Fall Apart. The Roots recorded over 145 songs for the album but whittled the final tracklist down to just 18. The result was their most cohesive and impactful record.
The album opens with sampled dialogue from Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues in which characters Bleek Gilliam and Shadow Henderson — played by Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes, respectively — discuss the state of Black music and culture. Gilliam, a jazz trumpeter, complains that Black people don’t support their own artists or recognize his music as part of their culture. Henderson replies, “The people don’t come because you grandiose motherf*ckers don’t play sh*t that they like.” The intro signals that the Roots are ready to renegotiate their reputation as an art-rap outfit that’s too smart for mainstream appeal.
The Roots remained lyrically sobering on Things Fall Apart as they rap about systemic inequality, the modern struggle to maintain cultural roots, and the fragility of personal identity and society. The group embraced risk-taking and pushed the limits of their sound, incorporating uneven mixes (“Table of Contents”), distorted vocals (“Step Into the Realm”), and eclectic features (“You Got Me”). The production, powered by Questlove’s off-kilter drumming, creates a tense and uneasy atmosphere throughout the record that’s perfectly captured by the civil rights era black-and-white photo on the album’s cover.
Things Fall Apart propelled the Roots from hip-hop’s periphery into the mainstream. The album was a critical success and commercial breakthrough — it earned the group a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album and became their first record to sell over 500,000 copies. Today, the record is celebrated for its timeless message and influence on contemporary artists. But it’s the Roots’ commitment to authenticity and experimentation on Things Fall Apart that make it a standout in their discography.
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