Home Grown! Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 2 [Clean]

Product Description
Home Grown!: The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots Volumes One and Two. Each volume contains material pulled directly from the archives of Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, with rare exclusive remixes, never-before-released, tracks, and extensive ?uestlove liner notes.

Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 2,The Roots,Geffen Records,Alternative Rap,Hip-Hop,Jazz-Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,United States of America

Average customer rating: ... Left-Overs are Good Too A cd for everyone.... Remember The Roots are a band! Duh! HOME GROWN! THE BEGGINERS GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE ROOTS

Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 2 The Roots Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 1 Game Theory Right About Now Dave Chappelle's Block Party The Tipping Point ASIN: B000BLI4T2 Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

1. Sacrifice (Live On BBC Radio One's Worldwide Show)
2. No Alibi
3. Essaywhuman?!!!!! (Organix Version)
4. Break You Off (Dub/Sound Check At Bogart's Cincinnati, OH 2003)
5. Quicksand Millennium
6. Pass The Popcorn (Revisited)
7. Don't Say Nuthin' (Remix)
8. Adrenaline
9. The Lesson Pt. 3
10. Y'all Know Who
11. Thought@Work
12. BOOM!
13. The Seed/Melting Pot/Web (Live On BBC Radio One's Worldwide Show)
14. Din Da Da

Amazon.com

With the Roots signing to Def Jam, their soon-to-be-old label Geffen has taken advantage by releasing a two volume anthology of the Roots' best songs from this perioid (1994 - 2004). Unlike other greatest hits compilations by artists who can't justify the hubris, the Roots catalog runs ocean deep and these two albums are able to pull from off-the-beaten-path album cuts ("Double Trouble"), rare remixes (Black Thought's "Distortion to Static" mix), live recordings ("It's Comin"), plus the occasional mega-hit ("You Got Me"). Even for hardcore Roots fans, they might yet be surprised by a few of the inclusions here, especially "Good Music," a song off The Roots' very first album, Organix, released independently before they signed to Geffen. Between the two volumes, #1 is far and away superior in terms of song selection. Volume 2 isn't nearly as strong but it has some interesting tidbits, including a live medley of "The Seed/Melting Pot/Web" from BBC's Radio One. --Oliver Wang

Album Description

Luckily, for those whose familiarity with the Philadelphia crew doesn't extend beyond watching them play with Jay-Z for his unforgettable Unplugged album or Eminem at the 2003 Grammys, Home Grown! The Beginners Guide To Understanding The Roots Volume One and Two, will provide the sonic DNA for the illustrious group. The comprehensive collections showcase everything from popular hits like the soulful "What They Do," to unreleased heat like "Quicksand Millennium" and "You Got Me," featuring Jill Scott (the Grammy winner featured Erykah Badu), to hard-to-find remixes of "Don't Say Nuthin'" to live performances like "Sacrifice (Live On BBC's Radio One's Worldwide Show with Giles Peterson)." The 29-song opus features Beanie Sigel (who made his major label debut appearance on "Adrenaline"), Eve, Jill Scott, Common, Roy Ayers, Raphael Saadiq, Dice Raw, Jaguar Wright, D'Angelo, and Mos Def, and is undeniable evidence of the influence they've had on the musical landscape over the course of their incredible career.

Of course, as evidenced by album titles like Phrenology and The Tipping Point, The Roots have always taken a very cerebral approach to making music. ?uestlove's musings on each song in the liner notes shows just how much thought the group puts into their creative process. Each volume has a 20-page insert that is filled with behind-the-scene insights that offer amazing glimpses into the group's experiences. Gems like their unbelievable tale of having to go through 11 different singers before finding someone to sing on "Break You Off" or dealing with the controversy surrounding Eve and Jill Scott on "You Got Me," makes this as worthwhile a read as a listen.

Customer Reviews:

..........2006-12-05

Like I've said before, I don't like compilations or greatest hits record but this is actually a good retrospective of The Roots. It has some great remixes, live stuff, and quality songs from past albums. We all know that they are talented musicians and can write a great pop song or a great political thriller and this showcases all of that. The live version of The Seed/The Web is pretty much a masterpiece that needs to be heard by everything. Blackthought and ?uestlove really let loose and it makes for a fun get down.

Left-Overs are Good Too.......2006-04-16

After the first, near-perfect volume of the Roots greatest hits collection, Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 1, I was wondering what could be put on the second volume to achieve the title of greatest hits. Honestly, though, after listening, I'm certain that this isn't really a greatest hits, but a collection of left-overs that weren't great enough to be on vol. 1. Still, though, like Thanksgiving, left-overs can be good too, which is why I gave this collection a solid 4 rating.

Here is a list of tracks and my personal ratings on each:

1. Sacrifice: ..................**
2. No Alibi: ...................****
3. Essaywhuman?!!!!!: ..........***
4. Break Off: ..................*
5. Quicksand Millennium: .......****
6. Pass the Popcorn: ...........***
7. Don't Say Nuthin': ..........***
8. Adrenaline: .................*****
9. The Lesson Pt. 3: ...........****
10. Y'all Know Who: ............****
11. Thought@Work: ..............****
12. BOOM!: .....................****
13. The Seed/Melting Pot/Web: ..***
14. Din Da Da: .................***

As you can see from the above list, Adrenaline is perhaps the stand-out track on this album, but "The Lesson Pt. 3", "No Alibi", and "BOOM!" are also pretty good. But in the end, this depends on personal tastes. What I will say is that if you are a long-standing fan of Roots and have a lot of their albums, very little here is worth it. If you're a newer fan of this excellent group, then this is a great disc. No title was ever truer. This is a good CD for beginners, and a great companion to the first volume of Home Grown!.

A cd for everyone...........2006-02-17

The Roots have put out so much good music that their greatest hits compilation couldn't fit onto one CD!!! Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots Volumes I and II are the perfect introduction to the Roots for people who don't know much about this amazing band. But they're also perfect for the dedicated fans because they have some rare remixes and live recordings. Both Volumes I and II prove why the Roots are the most innovative group in hip-hop. They are one of the few bands who are able to attain commercial success yet maintain their musical integrity. I just bought a copy of both volumes and I would honestly recommend them to anyone, even people who aren't into hip-hop.

Remember The Roots are a band! Duh!.......2005-12-30

I'm not sure who the newbies are posting reviews on this CD, but remember that the title of this CD is "The Beginners Guide to Understanding The Roots". It is not even remotely possible for a newbie Roots fan to 'understand' what is the greatest Hip Hop band ever without a listen to volume II. Whereas volume I is more of a "greatest hits" type CD, volume II is purely for 'schoolin' the newbies. I prefer this volume, because this CD has more material that I don't already have elsewhere. This CD was worth buying just for this version of "Don't Say Nothin", and who could ever have enough versions of "Essaywhuman"? Yes this CD is more of a showcase for the band, but this is a ledgendary band, what is there not to love.

I am a late 30'ish woman, and I love this music as much as students of mine that are 19 and 20. If you don't like stellar instumentation, then the Roots are not necessarily the band for you. As for me, I'll be the lady with the greying Afro dancing with abandon at the next Roots concert, hoping to hear some of these versions.

HOME GROWN! THE BEGGINERS GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE ROOTS.......2005-12-12

Who are the roots? If by now you haven't already heard of the Philadelphia bred Hip-Hop "band", the term `Hip-Hop head' means nothing to you. More famously consisting of front-men Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, lyricist, and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, drummer and producer for the group, the Roots have done more than state their presence in the music world. With a well-deserved Grammy under their belt and world tours in their résumé comes HOME GROWN! THE BEGGINERS GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE ROOTS. A two-volume, separately packaged release compiled of songs old, new and never before heard come together not to create a "best of" album but more of an icebreaker to their music. The album title, which speaks for itself, is a must have for any roots fan. Whether a diehard since the Organix sessions or newbie following up the release of their most recent The Tipping Point sessions, both volumes give the ultimate Roots experience.
Volume two, a 14 track CD picks up where Volume one leaves off. Cognate to Volume one, it too includes unreleased tracks, remixes and live performances. With songs like the Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane inspired "BOOM!" to remixed versions of "Break You Off" and "Don't Say Nuthin," the album does well at grabbing you by the ears. Liner notes narrating the groups in studio struggles, song inspirations and meanings, also makes as a nice special feature for the record. Summing up your whole musical career isn't an easy task but ?uestlove takes the challenge head on with HOME GROWN! and succeeds.
As early as 1987, live instruments have been the forte of the group going 18 years strong. As a band, they reflect their grooving capabilities on the snare driven segue of "The Seed/ Melting Pot/ Web," where revisits "The Seed" with a more soulful vibe. Rather than the rock version as it appeared on the Phrenology album in 2003, the Seed fits into the array of instrumental arrangements on the full-flavored, musical "Melting Pot," giving the listener a short vacation from the fabricated synthesizers and drums of the cliché rap album. Then at his own cue, Black Thought comes in pushing forward his bravado with "And it weights a ton/ `Riq Gee's Motherf**kers I'm a son of a gun/ Black master of any trade under the son/ Talk sharp like a razorblade under the tongue," putting "Web" into the blend. It gives the album a distinct feeling of being at a live Roots performance.
Adding to the "live" feel of the album is "Essaywhuman?!!!!!." With a disquiet crowd establishing the environmental setting of what would be a club, a younger Black Thought finds himself beat boxing and rapping simultaneously over a jazz song. Tariq Trotter's stage moniker, having some near bursts of laughter and reactions to statements made by audience outbursts keeps the authentic feel to the Roots crew's music.
While "Pass The Popcorn (Revisted)" may feel to old-school for the modern day Hip-Hop fan, "No Alibi" makes you feel like its '96 again. Both eerie and gloomy, think of post War Report Tragedy Khadafi's intellect over a Mobb Deep instrumental to get the gist of the dreary street image it portrays. It also contains one of Black Thoughts more impressive work as a lyricist. "My grains habitual and I should never go against/ The ritual I've been mastering ever since" shows a spoken ethic to be followed by Trotter and the Roots though their career. Keeping to their independent, yet open-minded creative ability is what kept them afloat for so long.
A remake of "Din Da Da" by German musician George Kranz finds ?uestlove fulfilling his desire to make a danceable drum solo. While a lyric enthusiast would rather cut the album short to 13 tracks, leaving "Din Da Da" out of the big picture, it does however follow the formula to the drum and rhythm based endings to most of the Roots albums.
Along with guest appearances by Philly native Beanie Sigel and Dice Raw, HOME GROWN! THE BEGGINERS GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE ROOTS is a good start or add to your Roots collection. If you have just unwrapped the cellophane plastic around the jewel case, I advise you to pick up a pair of headphones and prepare yourself to be schooled.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Key Tracks: No Alibi, The Lesson Pt. 3

Average customer rating: Woooooo !!!!!! Pop It In And Enjoy The Ride Pt. II (4 Stars)

Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 2 The Roots Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 1 Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 1 Dave Chappelle's Block Party Right About Now Game Theory ASIN: B000BLI4SS Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

1. Din da Da
2. Seed/Melting Pot/Web [Live on BBC Radio One's Worldwide Show]
3. Boom!
4. Thought@work
5. Y'all Know Who
6. Lesson Pt. 3 - Dice Raw, , The Roots, Jaguar Wright
7. Adrenaline - Dice Raw, , The Roots, Beanie Sigel
8. Don't Say Nuthin' [Remix]
9. Pass the Popcorn (Revisited)
10. Quicksand Millennium
11. Break You Off [Dub/Sound Check at Bogart's Cincinnati, Oh 2003]
12. Essaywhuman?!!!??! [Organix Version][Live]
13. No Alibi
14. Sacrifice [Live on BBC Radio One's Worldwide Show with Gilles]

Album Description

Home Grown!: The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Roots Volumes One and Two. Each volume contains material pulled directly from the archives of Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, with rare exclusive remixes, never-before-released, tracks, and extensive ?uestlove liner notes.

Customer Reviews:

Woooooo !!!!!!.......2006-03-01

Illest compilation album I've ever heard. All of the illest Roots tracks compiled on this album. Cant go wrong there...Act Too feat Common is the dopest Roots song EVER in my humble opinion. Get this now ! Peace

Pop It In And Enjoy The Ride Pt. II (4 Stars).......2005-12-01

Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide to Understanding The Roots, Vol. 2 is a pretty good album. In my opinion, Vol. 1 is better, but this album is still good. Vol. 2 includes some of The Roots' best material like "Adrenaline", "The Lesson Pt. 3", and "Thought @ Work". The liner notes are provided by ?uestlove and they're just as interesting and amusing as the liner notes on Vol. 1.

There are a few songs on this album that fall under "skip material". While they aren't bad, they aren't necessarily going to grab your attention. "Pass The Popcorn (Revisited)", "Break You Off (Dub/Sound Check)", "Don't Say Nuthin (Remix)" and "Sacrifice" all fall under this category. I can think of quite a few songs that would've better served this album. Other than that, the rest of the album is pretty good.

Home Grown! Vol. 2 should be a welcome addition to the library of any fan of good rap music. It's not quite on the level of Home Grown Vol.1 due to the boring/drawn out tracks, but it's still worth picking up. The Roots don't make bad music and this album is no exception. I recommend checking it out. It should make a great addition to your music library.

Standout Tracks: Adrenaline, Essaywhuman (Organix Version), Din Da Da, No Alibi, The Lesson Pt. 3, Thought @ Work, and Quicksand Millennium

PS - It may not matter to some, but the track listing listed above is actually listed backward. Just reverse it and you have the actual list.

Dance Music:

1. Home Grown! Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vol. 2
2. I Wish My Brother George Was Here
3. In God We Trust [Explicit Lyrics]
4. Latin Hip Hop, Vol. 1 [Explicit Lyrics]
5. Let's Get Ill [CD-single] [Import]
6. Ley Rico [Import]
7. Made in America [Soundtrack]
8. Me and My Crazy World [Explicit Lyrics]
9. Me & My Brother [Explicit Lyrics]
10. Me & My Brother [Explicit Lyrics]

Dance Music

dance music

Dance Music

On the Air

Singphonic Conradin Kreutzer

Straylight

Miles Away...Wayne in Heavy

The Rain, the Park & Other Things [Import]

The Best of the Whispers

The Quest for the Infinite Pizza

The Baroque Style (Transcriptions for 8-string guitar)

The Spectacular Johnny Horton [Original recording remastered]

Sweet & Sour, Hot y Spicy

The Other Shore

The Swingin'est Gals in Town/Jazz Impressions of Oliver!

Techno 2004 V.2 [Import]

Anutha Zone

Two of Us