The Tipping Point (The Roots album)

Last updated
The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point (album).jpg
Studio album by
The Roots
ReleasedJuly 13, 2004
RecordedSeptember 2003 – April 2004
Genre Hip hop, [1] neo soul [2]
Length65:27
Label Geffen
Producer Questlove, Scott Storch
The Roots chronology
Phrenology
(2002)		The Tipping Point
(2004)		 Game Theory
(2006)

The Tipping Point is the sixth studio album by American hip hop band the Roots, released July 13, 2004 on Geffen Records. It is named after Malcolm Gladwell's book of the same name (2000), [3] and is the follow-up to Phrenology (2002). [1] [4] The album is a musical departure from their previous work, featuring a more diverse, yet pop-oriented sound, and it contains lyrics associated with rapping-prowess, political insight, and social commentary. [5] [6] [7] [8] The Tipping Point has been noted by music writers for exhibiting and emphasizing soul, jazz, and funk influences as well. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] The song "I Don't Care" was featured on the soundtrack of the game Gran Turismo 4 .

Contents

The cover image is a stylised rendering of a 1944 Boston police mug shot of Malcolm X, following his arrest for larceny.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 72/100 [14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [16]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
NME 8/10 [18]
Pitchfork 5.4/10 [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Spin B [8]
The Village Voice A− [20]

The album debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 109,000 copies in its first week. [21] Despite mixed criticism towards its production and lyrical substance, [5] [9] [17] [22] The Tipping Point received generally positive reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 72 out of 100 on Metacritic. [14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
103."Star/Pointro" (featuring Wadud Ahmad)
7:36
104."I Don't Care" (featuring Dom)
  • Questlove
  • Tidd
  • Walker
  • Richard Nichols
4:02
105."Don't Say Nuthin'"
3:35
106."Guns Are Drawn" (featuring Aaron Livingston)
  • Douglas
  • Gray
  • Hubbard
  • Livingston
  • Thompson
  • Tidd
  • Trotter
  • Walker
  • Questlove
  • Tidd
  • Walker
  • Nichols
5:15
107."Stay Cool" (featuring Martin Luther)
  • Jenkins
  • Melvin 'Chaos' Lewis
  • Griffin
  • Trotter
  • Paterno
  • Chaos
3:34
108."Web"
  • Hubbard
  • Trotter
  • Thompson
  • Robert 'LB' Dorsey
3:16
109."Boom!" (featuring Dice Raw)
  • Chaos
2:57
110."Somebody's Gotta Do It" (featuring Devin The Dude, Jean Grae & Mack Dub)
  • Floyd Carson
  • Douglas
  • Gray
  • Tsidi Ibrahim
  • Hubbard
  • Jenkins
  • Trotter
  • Thompson
Tahir Jamal
4:08
111."Duck Down!" (featuring Dom)
3:56
112."Why (What's Goin' On?)" (featuring Latif) / "In Love With the Mic" (featuring Dave Chappelle, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Skillz & Truck North) (hidden track) / "Din Da Da" (hidden track)


16:22
Japan / UK bonus track / US vinyl release
No.TitleLength
113."Melting Pot" (cover of song of the same name by Booker T. & the M.G.'s)10:40
Sample credits
Extra Notes

Personnel

The Roots
Production

Charts

Related Research Articles

<i>Seal IV</i> 2003 studio album by Seal

Seal IV is the fourth studio album by Seal. It follows the aborted sessions for Togetherland, which was scrapped because Seal thought it was not up to the standard of his previous work.

<i>Antenna</i> (ZZ Top album) 1994 studio album by ZZ Top

Antenna is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1994. It was the band's first album to be released on the RCA label.

<i>Sunburn</i> (Fuel album) 1998 studio album by Fuel

Sunburn is the full-length debut album by the band Fuel released in 1998. It was produced by Steven Haigler. The songs "Shimmer", "Jesus or a Gun", and "Bittersweet" were released as singles. "Shimmer" peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>The Distance to Here</i> 1999 studio album by Live

The Distance to Here is the fifth studio album by the band Live, released in 1999. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200, selling 138,000 copies in its first week and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on November 19, 1999.

<i>Everyday</i> (Dave Matthews Band album) 2001 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Everyday is the fourth studio album by Dave Matthews Band, released on February 27, 2001.

<i>Brave and Crazy</i> Album by Melissa Etheridge

Brave and Crazy is the second album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1989. As of 2010, the album has sold 632,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Sublime album) Compilation album by Sublime

Greatest Hits is the first of Sublime's compilation albums released after frontman Bradley Nowell's death. It was released in 1999.

<i>Born Again</i> (The Notorious B.I.G. album) 1999 compilation album by The Notorious B.I.G.

Born Again is the first posthumous compilation album by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G., released by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records on December 7, 1999. It is composed primarily of early recorded verses with newer beats and guest rappers.

<i>12 Play</i> 1993 R. Kelly album

12 Play is the debut solo studio album by American R&B and soul singer-songwriter R. Kelly; it was released on November 9, 1993, by Jive Records. The album follows his tenure with R&B group Public Announcement, with whom he released one album, Born into the 90's (1992). It went on to top the R&B albums chart for nine weeks straight, while reaching the second position on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Chocolate Factory</i> 2003 studio album by R. Kelly

Chocolate Factory is the fifth studio album by American recording artist R. Kelly, released on February 18, 2003, by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place mainly at Rockland Studios and Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois, and the album was primarily written, arranged, and produced by R. Kelly. Originally titled Loveland, Chocolate Factory was conceived by Kelly amid controversy over his sex scandal at the time.

<i>Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya</i> 2000 studio album by Boyz II Men

Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya is the fifth album by R&B group Boyz II Men in 2000. It was their first LP on which they received more creative control, and their only LP for Universal Records. Its two singles, "Pass You By" and "Thank You in Advance", performed below expectations on the charts.

<i>Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age</i> 1994 studio album by Public Enemy

Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on August 23, 1994, by Def Jam Recordings. The title is a reverse mondegreen of the phrase "music in our message". Alternatively, it could be interpreted as "music and our message." The album debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 56,000 copies in its first week.

<i>Ginuwine... the Bachelor</i> 1996 studio album by Ginuwine

Ginuwine... the Bachelor is the debut studio album by American R&B artist Ginuwine. The second major Swing Mob album, it was chiefly produced by Timbaland and released October 8, 1996 on 550 Music. Distribution was handled through Epic Records. The album peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 and reached number 14 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. A steady seller, it was certified gold by January 1997 and double platinum by March 1999. In March 1999, the album was certified double platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), after sales exceeding two million copies in the United States. Ginuwine... the Bachelor featured the singles "Pony", "When Doves Cry" and "Holler".

<i>Storytelling</i> (Belle and Sebastian album) 2002 studio album / soundtrack by Belle and Sebastian

Storytelling is the fifth studio album by Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian. It is the score to the Todd Solondz movie Storytelling. Belle and Sebastian experienced many problems in communication with Solondz while scoring the film, and as such only about six minutes of their music was actually used in the movie. The album contains five tracks that are recorded dialogues. The instrumental track "Fuck This Shit" uses the prosody of the title phrase in a number of different keys but never the words themselves. The album was the band's final release on Jeepster, as they went on to sign a deal with Rough Trade the following year.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (The Bangles album) 1990 greatest hits album by the Bangles

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American pop rock band the Bangles. It was released by their record company, Columbia Records on May 8, 1990, to fulfill the band's contractual requirements; by the time of the release of the album, the group had already broken up. The album peaked at #97 on the US Billboard 200 and at #4 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Phrenology</i> (album) 2002 studio album by The Roots

Phrenology is the fifth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released on November 26, 2002, by MCA Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during June 2000 to September 2002 at Electric Lady Studios in New York. It was primarily produced by members of the band and features contributions from hip hop and neo soul artists such as Cody ChesnuTT, Musiq Soulchild, Talib Kweli, and Jill Scott.

<i>Illadelph Halflife</i> 1996 studio album by the Roots

Illadelph Halflife is the third studio album by American hip hop band the Roots, released September 24, 1996, on DGC and Geffen Records. It features a tougher and broader sound than their previous album, Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995). The album also contains integration of programmed drums and guest contributions by R&B musicians such as Amel Larrieux and D'Angelo, as well as jazz musicians such as David Murray, Steve Coleman, Cassandra Wilson, Graham Haynes. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2006, the album was selected as one of Hip Hop Connection's 100 Best Rap Albums from 1995 to 2005. The master tapes for the album were destroyed in a fire at the Universal Studios back lot in 2008.

<i>Acoustic Soul</i> 2001 studio album by India Arie

Acoustic Soul is the debut studio album by American singer India Arie. It was released on March 27, 2001, by Motown. The album received seven nominations at the 44th Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album. Acoustic Soul was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 17, 2003, denoting shipments in excess of two million copies in the United States.

<i>Unrestricted</i> (Da Brat album) 2000 studio album by Da Brat

Unrestricted is the third studio album by rapper Da Brat. It was released on April 11, 2000. On September 21, 2001, it was certified platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Nastradamus</i> 1999 studio album by Nas

Nastradamus is the fourth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on November 23, 1999, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. It was originally intended to be composed entirely of material from sessions for I Am... and released October 26, but in response to bootlegging of that material, release was postponed one month for Nas to record new material for Nastradamus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gill, Andy (July 9, 2004). "Album: The Roots". The Independent . Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Sylvester, Nick (July 14, 2004). "The Roots: The Tipping Point". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  3. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim. "Review: The Tipping Point". Chicago Sun-Times : 7. July 11, 2004. Archived from the original on 2009-10-05.
  4. ↑ Frosch, Dan. "Review: The Tipping Point". Vibe : August 2004.
  5. 1 2 3 Wolk, Douglas (July 12, 2004). "The Roots: The Tipping Point". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  6. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon & Schuster. pp.  702–03. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  7. ↑ Rabin, Nathan (July 20, 2004). "The Roots: The Tipping Point". The A.V. Club . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Ryan, Chris (August 2004). "Sowing the Seed". Spin . 20 (8): 101–102. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Bieritz, Erick. Review: The Tipping Point. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.
  10. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "The Tipping Point – The Roots". AllMusic . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  11. ↑ Columnist. Review: The Tipping Point Archived 2010-08-24 at the Wayback Machine . IGN. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
  12. ↑ Pareles, Jon. Review: The Tipping Point. The New York Times . Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
  13. ↑ Empire, Kitty. Review: The Tipping Point. The Observer . Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
  14. 1 2 "Reviews for The Tipping Point by The Roots". Metacritic . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  15. ↑ Rosen, Jody (August 2004). "The Roots: The Tipping Point". Blender (28): 134. Archived from the original on May 4, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  16. ↑ Fiore, Raymond (July 16, 2004). "The Tipping Point". Entertainment Weekly . No. 774. p. 76. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  17. 1 2 Baker, Soren (July 11, 2004). "This diet of Roots fails to nourish". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  18. ↑ "The Roots: The Tipping Point". NME : 41. July 31, 2004.
  19. ↑ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "The Roots". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  702. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  20. ↑ Christgau, Robert (August 3, 2004). "Looking Past Differences". The Village Voice . Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  21. ↑ Gelder, Laurence Van. Arts Briefing: Thursday, July 22, 2004. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.
  22. ↑ Wang, Oliver. Review: The Tipping Point. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-10-05.
  23. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – The Roots – The Tipping Point" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Roots – The Tipping Point" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Albums : Top 100". Jam! . August 5, 2004. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  26. ↑ "R&B : Top 50". Jam! . July 29, 2004. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Roots – The Tipping Point" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Lescharts.com – The Roots – The Tipping Point". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  29. ↑ "The Roots: The Tipping Point" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Roots – The Tipping Point" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – The Roots – The Tipping Point". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Roots – The Tipping Point". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Roots – The Tipping Point". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Roots – The Tipping Point". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  38. ↑ "The Roots Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  39. ↑ "The Roots Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2004". hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2020.

Notes

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.