Do You Want More ?!!!??! – The Roots

Many have incorporated live instrumentation to their music. Few were successful, and fewer still to the degree of The Roots. The Philadelphia crew pride themselves on using no samples or a DJ, just a live funky band. You may think that’s not possible, but Do You Want More !!!?! dispels that notion. B.R.O.THER?, Black Thought, Malik B, and Bassist /Hub combine to create “Organic Hip-Hop Jazz, 100% Jazz.” An Upright bass, keys, drum, and horns put forth a rich musical landscape that the lyrically adept The Roots style over. Pronounced high hat on “Proceed”, intricate keyboard riffs on ”Mellow My Man” and “What Goes On”, syncopated laughter snippets and static on “Distortion to Static” are some of the sonic treats found on the album.

The lyrical content matches the innovation of the tracks. Paying homage to the art of vocal improvisation on “Essay Whuman ?!!??, B.R.O.THER ? emulates and builds upon the other musicians passages with his instrument, vocal skills. The roots also touch upon lazy afternoons, sweeping away uninspired MC’s and unattractive females. The unpolished gem of this collection is “The Unlocking” featuring Ursula Rutger. This spoken word piece poignantly recounts a female’s encounter with eight men. Each copulation is graphically described with unsettling eloquence meant to curb the rampant misogyny in music. The Roots are a talented group that is expanding the horizons of Hip-Hop. The Album asks, “Do you want more ?!!!? Most certainly!

-Ray Tamara