SA2 Lyrics+ Analysis

          In the music world, many artists are known for taking advantage of music to send a message about a world problem. One of the most well known band to do such a thing is The Legendary Roots Crew, also known as The Roots. In every single album made by The Roots, the topic of racism has come up more often than not. However, The Roots have also addressed world problems such as poverty, lies by the government, genocides in African, etc. Being a band known for addressing world problems, The Legendary Roots Crew continues to address the continuous problems of black difficulties and Global Warming in their song “Rising Down” typically through the use of personification, alliteration, and allusions.
          A problem that The Roots confront in “Rising Down” is the topic of Global Warming. The topic of Global Warming has become to the attention of many people, especially scientists, in the recent years. Blackthought’s first few lines in the song deal with Global Warming. In the first line of this verse, Blackthought brings up the topic of Global Warmning: “Between the greenhouse gases and earth spinnin off its axis.” (Line 31, verse 3). Blackthought immediately brings up the topic of Global Warming by explaining what contributes to Global Warming through the use of personification. By saying that Earth is spinning off its axis, Blackthought is giving the earth a human-like feature. Also, the line is an example of hyperbole, as Earth spinning of its axis is an exaggeration to say that Global Warming is causing havoc. In the next line, Blackthought introduces another problem related to Global Warming in relation to the first line of the verse: “got mother nature doin back flips”. (Line 32, verse 3). The fact that Mother Nature is doing back flips is an example of personification, as Mother Nature is only a mere character and performing back flips are a human-like characteristic. Blackthought again addresses the Global Warming problem in the next line: “Its like 80 degrees in Alaska you in trouble if you not an Onasis”. (Line 33, verse 3). Blackthought is addressing how Global Warming is increasing the temperature in Alaska, a state belonging to the United States that is generally very cold. However, the main part of the line exists where Blackthought alludes to Aristotle Sokratis Onasis, a very rich man that was married to Jackie Kennedy, the widow of the late John F. Kennedy. Although Onasis has passed away, Blackthought alluded to Onasis to explain that if a person is not rich, that person will not be able the terrifying events Global Warming could bring. However, Global Warming is only one of the problems within the song “Rising Down”.

           The main problem that is encountered by The Roots in the song “Rising Down” is the topic of the difficulties that blacks encounter in the world. Racism and discrimination has always been one of the biggest problems The Roots have addressed in their works. In verse five, Styles P addresses the topic of racism: “Am I ni**a or a n**gero? I’m an African American.” (Line 58, verse 5). The question asked by Styles P is an example of alliteration as both words begin with “ni”. The question asked by Styles P refers to the names African Americans are called today. Styles P proceeds to answer his own question by explaining that the correct term to call a black man is an African American. Mos Def alluded to another problem that Africans in Sierra Leone were facing: “Identities in crisis and conflict diamonds” (Line 12, verse 1). The term “conflict diamonds” alludes to the situation in Sierra Leone where there was a civil war over areas that were rich in diamonds. Since the civil war, any diamond from Sierra Leone has been labeled as a “blood diamond” or “conflict diamond” due to death and horrific events that led up prior to the diamond’s finding. In the song “Rising Down” The Roots adequately address several problems Africans (Americans) face throughout the world.

            The Legendary Roots Crew, in their song “Rising Down”, addresses world problems through the use of allusions, alliteration, and personification. Blackthought, the lead singer of The Roots, is not human being who is anxious expressing his thoughts about current world problems. The Roots continue express their thoughts on world problems to this day, particularly in their most recent album How I Got Over.

____________________________________________________________

"Rising Down"(feat. Dice Raw, Mos Def, Styles P)


Hello hello hello hello...
Hello hello hello hello...
Hello hello hello hello...
Hello hello hello hello...


[Mos Def]
Every anywhere heights plains peaks or valleys
Entrances exits vestibules and alleys
Winding roads that test the firm nerve
Fortune or fatal behind the blind curve
The engine oil purr, lights flash to a blur
Speed work through the earth make your motor go scurrr
Tonight at noon watch a bad moon rising
Identities in crisis and conflict diamonds
Blinding staring at lights 'til they cryin'
Bone gristle popping from continuous grindin
Grapes of wrath in a shapely glass
Ingredients influential on your ways and acts
Zero tolerance to raise the tax
It don't matter how your gates is latched
You ain't safe from the danger jack
Made it way before they made the map
Or a GPS this is DEF leader


[Dice Raw]
I know where I'm goin even when it's dark and being led down that road
Hello hello hello hello...
you don't see that somethings wrong earth's spinnin outta control
Hello hello hello hello...
Everything's for sale even souls someone get God on the phone
Hello hello hello hello...
Northside ni**a Southside
Hello hello hello hello...
Sh**s poppin off Worldwide
Hello hello hello hello...


[Black Thought]
Between the greenhouse gases and earth spinnin off its axis
Got mother nature doin back flips
The natural disasters
It's like 80 degrees in Alaska
You in trouble if you not an Onasis
It ain't hard to tell that the conditions is drastic
Just turn on the telly check for the news flashin
How you want it bagged, paper or plastic?
Lost in translation or just lost in traffic?
Yo I don't wanna floss I done lost my passion
And I ant trying to climb, Yo I lost my traction
They makin' me break, my contents under pressure
Do not shake, I'm workin while the boss relaxin
Here come Mr. tax man, he leavin a fraction, give me back some
Matter fact next pay check it's like that son
I'll f**k around and have to hurt a few men
They probably chalk it up as a disturbing new trend, Hello


[Dice Raw]
I know where I'm goin even when it's dark and being led down that road
Hello hello hello hello...
you don't see that somethings wrong earth's spinnin outta control
Hello hello hello hello...
Everything's for sale even the souls someone get God on the phone
Hello hello hello hello...
Northside ni**a Southside
Hello hello hello hello...
sh**s poppin off Worldwide
Hello hello hello hello...


[Styles P]
Should I say hello or should I say that hell is low
Am I ni**a or a ni**ero? I'm an African American
They sell drugs in the hood but the man, he move the medicine
He'll prescribe you all-med for everything
A little stuffy nose tell you get some Claritin
You know I'm hip to it and its hard to claim the land
When my great great great grands were shipped to it
look at technology they call it downloading
I call it downsizing somebody follow me
Does a computer chip have an astrology
And when it f**k up could it give you an apology (Could it?)
Should it say hello or should it say goodbye
Try to understand how smart and how hood am I
It don't matter though
Until we learn that the world don't turn right
We all oughta the scatter though


[Dice Raw]
I know where I'm goin even when it's dark and being led down that road
Hello hello hello hello...
you don't see that somethings wrong earth's spinnin outta control
Hello hello hello hello...
Everything's for sale even souls someone get God on the phone
Hello hello hello hello...
Northside ni**a Southside
Hello hello hello hello...
sh**s poppin off Worldwide
Hello hello hello hello...