“Criminal” (2008)
The Roots’ last album of the 00’s Rising Down was inspired by a book titled Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means, written by William T. Vollmann. The band has always been known to have a meaning behind everything that they produce, and their task was to tackle issues such as drugs, the industry, poverty, violence and much more. There was a notable use of keyboards and synthesizers throughout the body of work, which was something that set a slightly different tone in terms of listening from front to back.
One track on the album featured New York rapper Saigon and also a familiar role taken by Truck North. The single could be classed as one of the band’s heavier offerings, but the topic of criminal minds was well at stake with particular lyrical strength from each artist.
“Look, it is what it is because of what it was. I did what I did ‘cause it does what it does.”