Name: Phrenology by The Roots
Brand: The Roots
SKU: 602435427744
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 4.5 (112 reviews)

ALBUM Explicit

The easy-flowing Things Fall Apart made the Roots one of the most popular artists of alternative rap's second wave. Anticipated nearly as much as it was delayed, the proper studio follow-up, Phrenology, finally appeared in late 2002, after much perfectionist tinkering by the band -- so much that the liner notes include recording dates (covering a span of two years) and, sometimes, histories for the individual tracks. Coffeehouse music programmers beware: Phrenology is not Things Fall Apart redux; it's a challenging, hugely ambitious opus that's by turns brilliant and bewildering, as it strains to push the very sound of hip-hop into the future. Despite a few gentler tracks (like the Nelly Furtado and Jill Scott guest spots), Phrenology is the hardest-hitting Roots album to date, partly because it's their most successful attempt to re-create their concert punch in the studio. ?uestlove's drums positively boom out of the speakers on the Talib Kweli duet "Rolling With Heat"; the fantastic, lean guitar groover "The Seed (2.0)" (with neo-soul auteur Cody ChesnuTT); and the opening section of "Water." The ten-minute "Water" is the album's centerpiece, a powerful look at former Roots MC Malik B.'s drug problems that morphs into a downright avant-garde sound collage. Similarly, lead single "Break You Off," a neo-soul duet with Musiq, winds up in a melange of drum'n'bass programming and live strings. If moves like those, or the speed-blur Bad Brains punk of "!!!!!!!," or the drum'n'bass backdrop of poet Amiri Baraka's "Something in the Way of Things (In Town)" can seem self-consciously eclectic, it's also true that Phrenology is one of those albums where the indulgences and far-out experiments make it that much more fascinating, whether they work or not. Plus, slamming grooves like "Rock You," "Thought @ Work," and the aforementioned "The Seed (2.0)" keep things exciting and vital. If this really is the future of hip-hop, then the sky is the limit. [The two hidden bonus tracks are "Rhymes and Ammo," the Talib Kweli collaboration that appeared on Soundbombing, Vol. 3, and "Something to See," another techno-inflected jam.]
© Steve Huey /TiVo

1. Phrentrow

by The Roots, Ursula Rucker

Cello: Nuah Vi
Sarah Chun
Michelle Golder
Ken Golder; Performer
Featured Artist: Ursula Rucker; Main Performer
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Harp: Omar Edwards; Performer
Performer: Nuah Vi
Omar Edwards
Sarah Chun
Ken Golder
Michelle Golder; Performer
Composer: Omar Edwards
Ursula Rucker
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson; Composer
Lyricist: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Omar Edwards
Ursula Rucker; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: Ahmir Thompson
Tom Coyne; Production
Producer: ?uestlove
Omar The Scholar; Production
Recording: Steve Mandel; Production
Recording Assistant: Shinobu Mitsuoka; Production
Studio Personnel: Shinobu Mitsuoka
Chris Gehringer
Steve Mandel
Ahmir Thompson
Tom Coyne; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Ursula Rucker
Omar Edwards; Other

2. Rock You

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: Tariq Trotter
George Spivey; Composer
Lyricist: Tariq Trotter
George Spivey; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Richard Nichols
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Steve Mandel
Ray Wilson; Production
Producer: The Grand Wizzards
D.j. Scratch; Production
Recording: Jon Smelts
Robert "lb" Dorsey
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado; Production
Recording Assistant: Charles Mccory
Steve Mandel
Caliph Gamble
Vince Dilorenzo; Production
Studio Personnel: Ahmir Thompson
Vince Dilorenzo
Tom Coyne
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Richard Nichols
Jon Smelts
Chris Gehringer
Charles Mccory
Caliph Gamble
Robert "lb" Dorsey
Steve Mandel
Ray Wilson; Production
Composer Lyricist: George Spivey
Tariq Trotter; Other

3. !!!!!!!

by The Roots

Composer: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Leonard Hubbard
Benjamin Kenney; Composer
Lyricist: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney
Leonard Hubbard; Composer
Engineer: Jeff Chestek
Carlos Martinez; Production
Film Director: Jesse Peretz; Production
Film Producer: Lynn Pateman; Production
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Ahmir Thompson
Ben Kenney
Jeff Chestek; Production
Mixing Assistant: Caliph Gamble; Production
Producer: The Grand Wizzards; Production
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Recording: Jeff Chestek
Carlos Martinez; Production
Recording Assistant: Ray Wilson; Production
Studio Personnel: Carlos Martinez
Ray Wilson
Ahmir Thompson
Caliph Gamble
Chris Gehringer
Jeff Chestek
Tom Coyne
Ben Kenney; Production
Video Director: Jesse Peretz; Production
Video Producer: Lynn Pateman; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney; Other

4. Sacrifice

by The Roots, Nelly Furtado

Performer: Kamiah Gray; Performer
Featured Artist: Nelly Furtado; Main Performer
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Piano: Kamiah Gray; Performer
Composer: James Gray
Leonard Hubbard
Tariq Trotter
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson; Composer
Lyricist: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
James Gray
Tariq Trotter
Leonard Hubbard; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: Bob Power; Production
Mixing Assistant: Andy Brooks; Production
Producer: Kamal Gray
Kamiah Gray; Production
Recording: Jeff Chestek
Jon Smelts
Robert "lb" Dorsey; Production
Recording Assistant: Gordon Gass
Storm; Production
Studio Personnel: Gordon Gass
Chris Gehringer
Andy Brooks
Robert "lb" Dorsey
Bob Power
Jon Smelts
Storm
Tom Coyne
Jeff Chestek; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Tariq Trotter
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
James Gray; Other

5. Rolling With Heat

by The Roots

Composer: James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Tariq Trotter
Karl Jenkins
Talib Kweli
Kyle Jones; Composer
Lyricist: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Karl Jenkins
Talib Kweli
James Gray
Tariq Trotter
Kyle Jones; Composer
Percussion: Knuckles; Performer
Performer: Talib Kweli
Dice Raw
Knuckles; Performer
Rap: Talib Kweli; Performer
Vocals: Dice Raw; Performer
Artist: Talib Kweli; Production
Engineer: Jon Smeltz; Production
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Richard Nichols
Jason Goldstein
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Pablo Arraya; Production
Recording: Jon Smeltz; Production
Recording Assistant: Vince Dilorenzo
Gordon Glass; Production
Studio Personnel: Tom Coyne
Richard Nichols
Gordon Glass
Chris Gehringer
Ahmir Thompson
Pablo Arraya
Jon Smeltz
Jason Goldstein
Vince Dilorenzo; Production
Composer Lyricist: Karl Jenkins
Talib Kweli
Tariq Trotter
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Kyle Jones
James Gray; Other
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Producer: The Grand Wizzards; Production

6. Thought @ Work

by The Roots

Composer: James Gray
Leonard Hubbard
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson; Composer
Lyricist: James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Leonard Hubbard; Composer
Mixing Assistant: Caliph Gamble; Production
Percussion: Knuckles; Performer
Performer: Knuckles
Ursula Rucker; Performer
Spoken Word: Ursula Rucker; Performer
Artist: Ursula Rucker; Production
Engineer: Jeff Chestek; Production
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Tom Coyne
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Recording: Jeff Chestek; Production
Recording Assistant: Caliph Gamble; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeff Chestek
Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer
Caliph Gamble
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
James Gray; Other
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Producer: The Grand Wizzards; Production

7. Thought @ Work

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: Leonard Hubbard
Benjamin Kenney
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson; Composer
Lyricist: Benjamin Kenney
Leonard Hubbard
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Jon Adler; Production
Producer: ?uestlove; Production
Recording: Gordon Gass
Jon Smelts
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Recording Assistant: Vince Dilorenzo
Steef Van De Gevel
Steve Mandel
Ray Wilson; Production
Studio Personnel: Chris Gehringer
Steve Mandel
Ahmir Thompson
Ray Wilson
Jon Smelts
Jon Adler
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Steef Van De Gevel
Tom Coyne
Vince Dilorenzo
Gordon Gass; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney
James Gray; Other

8. The Seed (2.0)

by The Roots, Cody Chestnutt

Featured Artist: Cody Chestnutt
Cody Chesnutt; Main Performer
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: Tariq Trotter
Cody Chesnutt; Composer
Lyricist: Tariq Trotter
Cody Chesnutt; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Ahmir Thompson
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado; Production
Mixing Assistant: Steef Van De Gevel
Steve Mandel; Production
Producer: Cody Chesnutt
?uestlove; Production
Recording: Jon Smelts
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Carlos Martinez; Production
Recording Assistant: Kurt Nepogoda
Jesse Shatkin
Ray Wilson; Production
Studio Personnel: Jesse Shatkin
Steve Mandel
Ahmir Thompson
Carlos Martinez
Ray Wilson
Jon Smelts
Chris Gehringer
Kurt Nepogoda
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Steef Van De Gevel
Tom Coyne; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tariq Trotter
Cody Chesnutt; Other

9. Break You Off

by The Roots, Musiq Soulchild

Cello: Ken Golder
Nuah Vi
Sarah Chun
Michelle Golder; Performer
Composer: Kyle Jones
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Jill Scott
James Gray
Taalib Johnson
Leonard Hubbard
Benjamin Kenney; Composer
Featured Artist: Musiq
Musiq Soulchild; Main Performer
Lyricist: Benjamin Kenney
Taalib Johnson
Jill Scott
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Kyle Jones
Leonard Hubbard; Composer
Additional Producer: Musiq; Other
Harp: Omar Edwards; Performer
Percussion: Knuckles; Performer
Performer: Musiq
Knuckles
James Poyser
Ken Golder
Michelle Golder
Nuah Vi
Omar Edwards
Sarah Chun; Performer
Synthesizer: Omar Edwards; Performer
Engineer: Ray Wilson; Production
Executive Producer: Richard Nichols; Production
Violin: James Poyser; Performer
Vocal Arrangement: Musiq; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Richard Nichols
Bob Power
Ahmir Thompson
Jason Goldstein; Production
Mixing Assistant: Pablo Arraya
Andy Brooks; Production
Recording: Jeff Chestek
Jim Bottari
Jon Smeltz
Bob Power
Carlos Martinez; Production
Recording Assistant: Andy Brooks
Andre Dandridge
Vince Dilorenzo
Gordon Gass
Caliph Gamble; Production
Studio Personnel: Richard Nichols
Jason Goldstein
Gordon Gass
Chris Gehringer
Caliph Gamble
Andy Brooks
Andre Dandridge
Ahmir Thompson
Bob Power
Carlos Martinez
Ray Wilson
Tom Coyne
Vince Dilorenzo
Jeff Chestek
Pablo Arraya
Jon Smeltz
Jim Bottari; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Jill Scott
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Taalib Johnson
Benjamin Kenney
Kyle Jones
James Gray; Other
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Producer: The Roots
Kamal Gray
Richard Nichols
Musiq
Musiq Soulchild; Production

10. Water

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Tariq Trotter
Kyle Jones
Benjamin Kenney
Leonard Hubbard
Tahir Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Tahir Williams
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Tariq Trotter
Kyle Jones
Benjamin Kenney; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Producer: Kelo Saunders
Tahir Of Hedrush Inc; Production
Studio Personnel: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Tariq Trotter
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney
Kyle Jones
Tahir Williams
James Gray; Other

11. Quills

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Percussion: Knuckles; Performer
Performer: Tracey Moore
Knuckles; Performer
Vocals: Tracey Moore; Performer
Composer: Tariq Trotter
Karriem Riggins; Composer
Lyricist: Tariq Trotter
Karriem Riggins; Composer
Artist: Tracey Moore; Production
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Mixing: Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Ahmir Thompson
Richard Nichols; Production
Producer: Kareem Da Bawl; Production
Recording: Jim Bottari
Jon Smeltz
Robert "lb" Dorsey; Production
Recording Assistant: Vince Dilorenzo
James Mccrone
Gordon Gass; Production
Studio Personnel: Chris Gehringer
Robert "lb" Dorsey
Ahmir Thompson
James Mccrone
Jon Smeltz
Richard Nichols
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Tom Coyne
Vince Dilorenzo
Gordon Gass
Jim Bottari; Production
Composer Lyricist: Karriem Riggins
Tariq Trotter; Other

12. Pussy Galore

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Tracey Moore; Performer
Performer: Tracey Moore; Performer
Composer: Tariq Trotter
Scott Storch; Composer
Lyricist: Scott Storch
Tariq Trotter; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: Bob Power; Production
Mixing Assistant: Adam Brooks; Production
Producer: Scott Storch; Production
Recording: Steve Mandel
Robert "lb" Dorsey
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado; Production
Recording Assistant: Scott Whiting
Shawn Taylor; Production
Studio Personnel: Steve Mandel
Bob Power
Scott Whiting
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Chris Gehringer
Robert "lb" Dorsey
Adam Brooks
Tom Coyne
Shawn Taylor; Production
Composer Lyricist: Scott Storch
Tariq Trotter; Other

13. Complexity

by The Roots, Jill Scott

Featured Artist: Jill Scott; Main Performer
Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Harp: Omar Edwards; Performer
Percussion: Knuckles; Performer
Performer: Omar Edwards
Knuckles; Performer
Synthesizer: Omar Edwards; Performer
Composer: Jill Scott
Omar Edwards
Leonard Hubbard
Tariq Trotter
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
James Gray; Composer
Lyricist: Tariq Trotter
Omar Edwards
Jill Scott
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Leonard Hubbard; Composer
Engineer: Jeff Chestek
Carlos Martinez; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: Bob Power
Richard Nichols
Ahmir Thompson; Production
Recording Assistant: Gordon Gass; Production
Studio Personnel: Gordon Gass
Carlos Martinez
Bob Power
Ahmir Thompson
Chris Gehringer
Jeff Chestek
Richard Nichols
Tom Coyne; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Tariq Trotter
Jill Scott
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Omar Edwards
James Gray; Other

14. Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: Amiri Baraka
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney; Composer
Lyricist: Benjamin Kenney
Amiri Baraka
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson; Composer
Engineer: ?uestlove
Steve Mandel
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado; Production
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: Ahmir Thompson
Steve Mandel
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado; Production
Mixing Assistant: Steef Van De Gevel; Production
Producer: The Grand Wizzards; Production
Recording Assistant: Steef Van De Gevel; Production
Studio Personnel: ?uestlove
Tom Coyne
Ahmir Thompson
Steve Mandel
Chris Gehringer
Russell "the Dragon" Elevado
Steef Van De Gevel; Production
Composer Lyricist: Amiri Baraka
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney; Other

15. Rhymes And Ammo

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: Talib Kweli
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Tariq Trotter
Benjamin Kenney
Leonard Hubbard; Composer
Lyricist: Benjamin Kenney
Leonard Hubbard
Talib Kweli
James Gray
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Tariq Trotter; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Producer: The Grand Wizzards; Production
Studio Personnel: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Composer Lyricist: Leonard Hubbard
Talib Kweli
Tariq Trotter
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson
Benjamin Kenney
James Gray; Other

16. Thirsty!

by The Roots

Primary Artist: The Roots; Main Performer
Composer: Ahmir Thompson
?uestlove; Composer
Lyricist: Ahmir Thompson; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer; Production
Producer: The Grand Wizzards; Production
Studio Personnel: Chris Gehringer
Tom Coyne; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ahmir Thompson; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

16 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 7 minutes and 37 seconds

Explicit

Containing curse words, language, or art that is sexually, violently, or offensively oriented.

Coverart

Available and up to 3000x3000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

15/16 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

12/16 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Rap, Hip Hop, East Coast Underground

Label

Geffen

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Nov 25, 2002

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602435427744

Shopping cart

Notification

Phrenology

1. Phrentrow

2. Rock You

3. !!!!!!!

4. Sacrifice

5. Rolling With Heat

6. Thought @ Work

7. Thought @ Work

8. The Seed (2.0)

9. Break You Off

10. Water

11. Quills

12. Pussy Galore

13. Complexity

14. Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)

15. Rhymes And Ammo

16. Thirsty!

Technical Specifications

Phrenology

Product information

Release options

1. Phrentrow

2. Rock You

3. !!!!!!!

4. Sacrifice

5. Rolling With Heat

6. Thought @ Work

7. Thought @ Work

8. The Seed (2.0)

9. Break You Off

10. Water

11. Quills

12. Pussy Galore

13. Complexity

14. Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)

15. Rhymes And Ammo

16. Thirsty!

Technical Specifications