Illadelph Halflife

Infobox Album |
Name = Illadelph Halflife
Type = Album
Artist = The Roots


Released = September 24, 1996
Recorded = 1996
Genre = Rap
Alternative Hip Hop
Jazz Rap
Length = 78:45
Label = Geffen
Producer = The Grand Negaz
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:u09ss30ua3dg~T1 link]
* RapReviews.com (10/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/1996_11_halflife.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theroots/albums/album/111873/review/5946009/illadelph_halflife link]
* The Source Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.thesource.com link]
Last album = "Do You Want More?!!!??!"
(1995)
This album = "Illadelph Halflife"
(1996)
Next album = "Things Fall Apart"
(1999)

Illadelph Halflife, released in 1996, is the third full length album from The Roots. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums. The album received various other awards. In 2006 the album was selected as one of Hip-Hop Connection's 100 Best Rap Albums from 1995 to 2005, and is held as one of the best albums by The Roots by many fans.

The album itself is the closest The Roots would get to straight up, simple East Coast hip-hop. Whereas on their first two albums The Roots had a loose, jam session feel to their music, they seemed much more focused on Illadelph Halflife, working hard to give the listener stronger hooks to focus on, one of the main criticisms of the first two albums. Malik B Stated in an interview on Okayplayer.com that the group was in depression during the recording of the album due to it being their second major label album feeling the need to outdo the other two and to escape the sophomore jinx.

The album's hit single "What They Do" featured the group running through many rap video clichés. The song was highly popular due in part to its R&B hook and still gets play on MTV.

Track listing

#"Intro"
#"Respond/React"
#"Section"
#"Panic!!!!!!!"
#"It Just Don't Stop"
#"Episodes" (featuring Dice Raw)
#"Push Up Ya Lighter" (featuring Bahamadia)
#"What They Do" (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
#"? vs. Scratch"
#"Concerto of the Desperado"
#"Clones" (featuring Dice Raw & M.A.R.S.)
#"UNIverse at War" (featuring Common)
#"No Alibi"
#"Dave vs. Us"
#"No Great Pretender"
#"The Hypnotic" (featuring D'Angelo)
#"Ital (The Universal Side)" (featuring Q-Tip)
#"One Shine" (featuring Amel Larrieux)
#"The Adventures In Wonderland"
#"Outro"

Singles

Credits

Producer(s): The Grand Negaz, ?uestlove, Kelo

Executive Producer: Richard Nichols

Photography: Michael Lavine

External links

* [http://www.theroots.com/ Roots Home Page]