Phrenology (by The Roots, Hip-hop)

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.

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.

Released on: November 26, 2002
Label: Maverick
Genre: Hip-hop
Parental advisory: Yes