The Roots, Illadelph Halflife

SOLD OUT
2LP - DGC
1996 => 2016

TRACKLIST
215 Side / Side 5
A34 Intro
A35 Respond / React
A36 Section
A37 Panic!!!!!!
A38 It Just Don't Stop
A39 Episodes
Side 6
B40 Push Up Ya Lighter
B41 What They Do
B42? Vs. Scratch (The Token DJ Cut)
B43 Concerto Of The Desperado
610 Side / Side 7
C44 Clones
C45 UNIverse At War
C46 No Alibi
C47 Dave vs. US
C48 No Great Pretender
Side 8
D49 The Hypnotic
D50 Ital (The Universal Side)
D51 One Shine
D52 The Adventures In Wonderland
D53 Outro

DESCRIPTION
The third Roots album (counting Organix) is still criminally slept on. Thankfully DGC has given it a proper vinyl reissue so more heads can get up on this 1996 hip-hop classic. Illadelph Halflife is the starting point of the sound that has dominated their subsequent records: half live, half studio with a thin line in between. Illadelph captures that dynamic in its rawest state, when The Roots still flaunted home studio-type EQs and non-radio hooks (waaay before the Tonight Show era). This aesthetic is best captured on the album's many standouts like "Concerto of the Desperado," "Respond React," "Push Up Ya Lighter," "Clones," "Universe At War" featuring Common, "Ital" featuring Q-Tip, and "What They Do." 20 tracks on double vinyl, recommended.