Shop vinyl and cds and complete your the roots collection. Undun is based on the life of redford stephens, a fictional product of innercity new york who was born in the mid70s and tragically passed in 1999, the point at which the album begins with a quiet ekg flatline. Stacey abrams nonprofit wants to make sure black men arent left out of the 2020 census 50620 2. Nov 28, 2011 the roots new album undun is a concept album about a man named redford stephens, and as it turns out, that particular concept comes from another concept album a very celebrated one at that. The roots were among several performers on the 2006 film dave chappelles block party, whose event took place on september 18, 2004 and was released on film two years later. Jan 31, 2012 since their first independent album release, the roots band has released 10 studio albums, two eps, two collaboration albums and have collaborated with a wide range of artists from different genres. A suite, entitled redford suite closes out the album in four distinct movements sans rap in alternative, classical, and jazz styles. I started off with undun by the roots and you guys know how much i stan these guys.
Dec 08, 2011 to celebrate this feat, the roots have written and produced undun, their first concept album, one that serves as. Through the use of emotives and redford s internal dialogues the album seeks to illustrate the intersection of free will and prescribed destiny as. The roots undun the otherside album download link by undunroots2. Through the use of emotives and redford s internal dialogues the album seeks to illustrate the intersection of free will and prescribed destiny as it plays out on the corner. The philadelphia hiphop groups latest work exhibits at band at the top of its game a quarter century after it began. According to press materials, undun is an existential telling of the short life of one redford stephens. Kunta kinte is born to omoro and binta kinte in the gambia, west africa. Undun is an existential concept album about the fictional character redford stevens, who is named after a sufjan stevens song. Undun is the tenth studio album by american hip hop band the roots. The roots is an american hip hop band, formed in 1987 by tariq black thought trotter and ahmir questlove thompson in philadelphia, pennsylvania, united states. Dec 15, 2011 the roots ios app brings documentary depth to undun when i heard that everybodys favorite instrumentwielding, bachmannbaiting, bona fide hiphop and late night with jimmy fallon house band extraordinaires, the roots, would be releasing an app album, my interest was piqued. As lamenting the story of redford stephens is on undun, its also a beautiful tragedy that in turn exposes the plight of human nature.
Dec 12, 2011 well, undun is especially interesting due to the fact that it is the roots very first concept long play. The roots ios app brings documentary depth to undun. Licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of def jam recordings. They were joined by guest contributors, including vocalist bilal and rappers big k. Production was handled primarily by questlove, the bands record producer and drummer.
The first conceptuallybased album from the roots featuring big kirt and sufjan steven. The film is remarkable in that it contains almost no dialogue and features only a single actor. Its reversechronological narrative discusses his short, tragic life set in urban poverty. It was released on december 2, 2011, by def jam recordings the album was recorded in sessions at several studios in philadelphia and new york city. Undun is the twelfth studio album by american hip hop band the roots, released on december 2, 2011, by def jam recordings.
The roots undun finality 4th movement album download link. The roots new album, undun, is in stores now via def jam records. Chevelles latest track is an anticorruption headbanger. Undun is an existential retelling of the short life of one redford stephens 19741999. It is an existential concept album about the short, tragic life of fictional character redford stevens, set in urban poverty, and is told through a reversechronological narrative. Any complete cd albums, whether in multiple files or single file archive e. The roots undun i remember album download link youtube. The tongueincheek assertion that black folks cant get the coronavirus hasnt aged well. The roots th album, which includes a brief, fourpart orchestral suite that builds off a sufjan stevens piece, is definitely their most downbeat. Undun was mastered at the mastering palace in new york city.
The album follows the life of redford stevens, and his short life filled with violence, despair, and selfdisdain. Undun incorporates neo soul and indie music elements. The roots are known for a jazzy and eclectic approach to hiphop featuring live musical instruments. The roots the redford stephens documentary reds aunt. Many felt they couldnt match the depressing beauty that was how i got over just prior, but they definitely gave it a great try. The roots undun will to power 3rd movement album download. May 20, 2014 the opening, which features a conundrum of piano keys and controlled yet chaotic guitar riffs, has an old funk flow infused with jazz, rock and roll and hip hop in ways only the roots can.
The album performed modestly on music charts and sold 112,000 copies in. And what i did came back to me eventually, narrator redford stephens, transcendentally portrayed by black thought, posthumously intones in sleep, the first track from the roots th album undun. Undun describes the life of a young black man an amalgamation of several guys the roots knew over the years in a reverse narrative. And what i did came back to me eventually, narrator redford stephens, transcendently portrayed by black thought, posthumously intones in sleep, the first track from the roots th album undun. New data show that black people are disproportionately contracting and dying from the coronavirus. Recording sessions for the album took place at several recording locations in philadelphia and new york city. Production was handled primarily by questlove, record producer and drummer for the band. Cmrra, solar music rights management, rumblefish publishing, umpg publishing. Its an interesting concept and just the kind of thing youd expect from the roots, smarter and just plain better than most of their industry counterparts. Tells how 15 years later kunta and his friends are beginning their manhood rites, while the slave ship lord ligonier nears the african shore. Undun 2011 diving into the arena of conceptual albums, they bring undun. Jan 01, 2011 undun incorporates neo soul and indie music elements. Jan 20, 2012 last month, the roots released their 11th studio album undun. Dec 06, 2011 the roots th album, which includes a brief, fourpart orchestral suite that builds off a sufjan stevens piece, is definitely their most downbeat.
Billed as an existential retelling of the short life of one redford stevens 19741999, undun is also a mirror held up to present. Listen free to the roots undun dun, sleep and more. Through the use of emotives and redford s eternal dialogues, the album seeks to illustrate the intersection of free will and prescribed destiny as. Listeners will get the fascinating story of a person named redford stephens, and there is no a single doubt that the roots will narrate it in a truly interesting way. The app is currently available as a free download for both iphone and ipad. Robert redford was nominated for a golden globe award for his.
Thankfully, when the crown jewel of philly hiphop, the roots, announced their upcoming project undun was to be a concept album, their efforts proved to hew a little more closely to our expectations. Dec 27, 2011 as lamenting the story of redford stephens is on undun, its also a beautiful tragedy that in turn exposes the plight of human nature. Only a group with the musical intellect and savvy of the roots could pull of one of the years most interesting and best albums. The roots do a tremendous job of painting a vivid picture of an honest and flawed character, and as the narrative unfolds backward, the roots channel raw emotion without jeopardizing his relevance to the story. Album of the week the roots undun4 stars when you spin undun, the roots 10th and best studio album to date, theres more. Umpg publishing, warner chappell, bmi broadcast music inc. In this drama, a man is faced with a lifeanddeath struggle when his boat is severely damaged during a solo trip across the indian ocean. Through the use of emotives and redfords internal dialogues the album seeks to illustrate the.
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