The Roots Will Not Apologize

While it's unlikely Rising Down will win the band new fans, you can't dispute its honesty, and it is as ruthlessly cut-throat as the politicians lambasted in its grooves. ?uest says that given the state of the world today, they simply could not imagine making a joyful record. In fact, "Birthday Girl," a radio-friendly single featuring Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, was cut from the album only a few weeks before its release because it didn't mesh.

Still, The Roots can never unlearn one key lesson they have understood from the beginning: No one cares what you have to say if your beats are wack.

"Even though we're talking about some heavy shit on the album, we knew that the music would have to be banging," ?uest says. "The emotions lyrically are intense. At the same time, the music is as abrasive as ever, and it had to be that way. We know people want that chiropractic, break-ya-back, head-nod shit, so when people come and see us, they'll get plenty of that as well."