Avg Rating: 
4.0 ( 10 total votes )
DJ Pain1 - Roots
Artist: DJ Pain1
Featuring: Joell Ortiz , Rain , Smokes
Producer: DJ Pain1
Album: The Waiting Game
Label: Imperial Music Group
While I think we can all agree it’s a good thing that hip hop did take it this far, the downside of the genre’s enduring appeal is that fewer and fewer artists remember where it all started. Good thing we have artists like DJ Pain1 and his coterie to carry the torch for the old-school. On his first feature and latest single, making its world premiere here in the Booth, the Madison native takes it back to rap’s Roots in form as well as content, crafting a soulful boom-bap backdrop (complete with the obligatory Biggie-sampled hook) for some no-nonsense rhymes from three of his most dedicated homies. Booth newcomer Smokes, Slaughterhouse emcee Joell Ortiz and freestyle series alum Rain handle mic duties, rapping “with finesse, success and multiple steps” as they pay tribute to hip-hop legends from 2Pac to Guru – as well as, of course, talking up their own skills. So, have Pain and his collaborators done their forebears proud with this one? I think I know the answer but, as always, I leave it to the readers to issue to final verdict. If you’re craving more “real-hip-hop,” keep it locked; The Waiting Game has yet to receive a solid drop date, but you’ll be the first to know when that changes.
This song first appeared on the
Independent Chart
on April 11, 2011
Listen to More: DJ Pain1 , Joell Ortiz , Rain , Smokes , Downloads, Premiere Written by richard
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11684 |
Rating:
I have a feeling that songs like "Roots" are really going to beef up Pain1's national profile. The hip-hop aura that bleeds from this track is not in any way artificial and that creates a platform for all three guests to properly shine - notably, Mr. Ortiz.
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 3 |
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Awesome
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 702 |
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This is a solid track all the way around. Pain1 clearly knows what it takes to make a great beat, and I love the samples he takes and scratches into hi sown sound. Smokes, Rain, and Ortiz, lay down great verses that pay homage to the greats of hip-hop.
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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WOW Smokes verse was really nice. first time i heard dude.
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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Tastemaker |
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They did their thing on this, quality music...
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| Posted on Apr 05, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 211 |
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The the new era NEEDS this record. It doesn't remind me of it but it's in the same vein of Pac's Old School off Me Against the World. This record is bittersweet, to hear Big's voice just reminds me of how much we've lost culturally but nice to hear it being immortalized in song. All emcees involved did the beat justice.
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| Posted on Apr 06, 2011 |
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| Posted on Apr 06, 2011 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 676 |
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Not bad.....
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| Posted on Apr 09, 2011 |
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Tastemaker |
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Its a decent song, but if you are going to include a Biggie sample, the rest of the song must be superb.
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| Posted on Apr 18, 2011 |
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