Act Won (Things Fall Apart)
The Roots · Things Fall Apart [1999]
You are all...
We don't even come to see our own, man.
Listen, Freddy, listen...
If we had to depend upon black people to eat,
We would starve to death.
You've been out there,
You on the bandstand,
You look out there, What do you see?
You see Japanese, you see... you see West Germans,
You see Slobovic, you know, anything, except our people man.
It makes no sense, it incenses me that our own people
Don't realize our own heritage, our own culture.
This is our music.
That's bullshit!
Why?
That's all bullshit. Everything, everything you just said is bullshit.
You're complaining about-
I'm talking about the audience.
That's right.
The people don't come because you grandiose motherfuckers don't play
shit that they like. If you played the shit that they liked,
then the people would come.
Simple as that.
Inevitably, hip-hop records are treated as though they are disposable.
They are not maximized as product, not to mention as art.
First section is a scene from "Mo'Better Blues" by Spike Lee.
Second section is an unknown comment.
We don't even come to see our own, man.
Listen, Freddy, listen...
If we had to depend upon black people to eat,
We would starve to death.
You've been out there,
You on the bandstand,
You look out there, What do you see?
You see Japanese, you see... you see West Germans,
You see Slobovic, you know, anything, except our people man.
It makes no sense, it incenses me that our own people
Don't realize our own heritage, our own culture.
This is our music.
That's bullshit!
Why?
That's all bullshit. Everything, everything you just said is bullshit.
You're complaining about-
I'm talking about the audience.
That's right.
The people don't come because you grandiose motherfuckers don't play
shit that they like. If you played the shit that they liked,
then the people would come.
Simple as that.
Inevitably, hip-hop records are treated as though they are disposable.
They are not maximized as product, not to mention as art.
First section is a scene from "Mo'Better Blues" by Spike Lee.
Second section is an unknown comment.
Act Won (Things Fall Apart)
The Roots deliver a gritty, funk-infused track titled Act Won on their 1999 album Things Fall Apart. As a cornerstone of the Philadelphia hip-hop scene, the group blends live instrumentation with rhythmic precision, characteristic of their signature sound during the late 90s. The song exemplifies their ability to weave complex jazz influences into a solid hip-hop framework, creating an atmosphere that balances tension and groove. Released during a pivotal era for alternative rap, the recording showcases the band's commitment to organic textures and improvisational flair, cementing their status as innovators who prioritized musical depth over mainstream commercial formulas.