Drop Knowledge...Not Bombs

Well, this is the best music news of the year-The Roots are set to release their new album! Since their first album with arguably the most influential hip-hop record label Def Jam, 2006's Game Theory, The Roots' position in the music world as a whole has increased massively, from a small start.

Two new singles/leaks off the new album show the different direction the band is taking. This album is moving away from The Stetasonic-like sound, the direction the band originally envisioned, and instead shows The Roots truly finding their own sound.

With a mouth-watering list of featuring artists, from the frequent colaborators Peedi Peedi and Malik B to some unlikely choices, such as new-kid-on-the-block Saigon and Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump. I'm especially looking forward to Saigon and Wale, whom some will remember from the Mark Ronson-Amy Winehouse collab track Valerie (at least the video anyway).

To the new releases. 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction) is the first track from this album I heard. If I'm honest, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. ?uestlove's drum intro boded well, as did Black Thought's flow, although the lyrics weren't up to Thought's normal standards. The synth-background sounds a little rough.

The second track Get Busy featuring Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi, and DJ Jazzy Jeff is brilliant. The lyrics by the three MC's are excellent, and the old-school scratches by Jazzy Jeff just add to the depth of this track. It fits in an unusual way, but it works. Check 'em both out...