Phrenology

Review

Common Sense Media says

Mature themes in sophisticated hip-hop.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this album contains some mature content (sex, violence, drug abuse), but strays from the stereotypes that burden most commercial hip-hop. Instead, we get something more creative, intelligent, and eclectic.

  • Positive messages0
    Socially conscious and positive most of the time.
  • Violence3
    Some references to fighting and guns.
  • Sex4
    Explicit sexual references (especially "Break You Off," "The Seed," and "P----y Galore").
  • Language3
    It's no Quentin Tarantino film, but there's some swearing.
  • Consumerism0
    The Roots avoid flaunting the gaudy lifestyle usually brandished in popular rap.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking4
    References to marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol.
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What's the story?

The Roots are truly an anomaly in the world of hip-hop. They pride themselves on being a live band. Their beats originate from drummer extraordinaire ?uestlove (questlove), who is supported by a guitarist, bassist, and keyboard player. Their lead emcee, Black Thought, is one of the most under-appreciated rappers today, and their "vocal magician" Scratch uses his voice instead of turntables to fill the role of DJ. PHRENOLOGY is a great album with plenty of variety. Tracks such as "Rock You" and "Thought @ Work" have driving beats and hard, direct lyrics. Other cuts such as "Sacrifice," "Break You Off," and "Complexity" are smoothed out with Neo-Soul singers and catchy hooks.

Is it any good?

 

Parents should be warned about a few of the songs: "The Seed" -- about wanting to get a woman pregnant so as to have a family -- is quite graphic. The song "Water" addresses a band mate's drug abuse. And "P---y Galore" is explicit while exploring the ways sex is used to sell products. Yet it's hard not to appreciate how Black Thought delivers verbal agility and socially conscious lyrics, and how the rest of the band backs it up well with creative compositions. Though topics are inappropriate for any but the most mature teens, if your teens are older and looking for talented musicians in the world of hip-hop, they should like this album.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about their pick of interesting issues addressed by the album's lyrics: love, friendship, determination, sacrifice, drug abuse, violence, and sex in marketing.

This review was written by David Brown

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This review was written by David Brown
Artist:The Roots
Release date:November 26, 2002
Label:Maverick
Genre:Hip-hop
Parental advisory:Yes
This review was written by David Brown
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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