Roots Illadelph Halflife

3.5 Stars (out of 5) "...still highlighting urban blight but not drowning in despair and hopelessness....the Roots are not afraid to take rap to places it's never been. Hip-hop manifested for the new millenium..."
Ranked #20 on Spin's list of the "20 Best Albums of '96."
9 (out of 10) - "...Discarding the two-dimensional shuffle B-Boys have been doing of late, the moves on this album holler equal parts glee, anger, love, and hate....It's an artistic progression, and added confirmation of the Roots' place at hip-hop's vanguard."
"...the Roots prove doubters wrong with bugged-out rhymes and jazzy live instrumentations....with guests like Q-Tip, D'Angelo and jazz diva Cassandra Wilson, the Roots will have 'fans listenin' from Michigan to Switzerland'...in no time." - Rating: A-
3 (out of 5) - "...the Roots built a disc that takes listeners on a patient, freestyle rhyming trip through some of their psyches' darker streets..."
"...the Philly crew bob and weave past potential sophomore slump with the vigor of a sprightly Smokin' Joe Frazier....ILLADELPH HALFLIFE also attempts to expand the Roots' sound by blending samples and inviting guest vocalists..."
4.5 Mics (out of 5) - "...an emotional and spiritually-fulfilling aural experience....the Roots blend vibes with a cornucopia of rappers, vocalists and artists..."
"...Melancholy and bliss combined. The Roots have perfected their narco drift. Navigating dub space, they veer from classical exotica to free jazz to African thumb piano and further out still..."
"...The Roots' sophomore album...sets the standard for all other MCs to follow as they prepare for the next millennium....They are the saving grace of a phoenix, and this is Hip-Hop."
Village Voice (2/25/97) - Ranked #33 in the Village Voice's 1996 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll.