Phrenology

Phrenology, released in 2002 by The Roots, is an exploratory hip hop record that expands the group's jazz-rap and alternative hip hop foundations into rock- and electronic-tinged textures. Built around live instrumentation, the album mixes complex rhythms, dense sampling and distorted guitars with socially conscious and introspective lyrics, examining identity, culture and the music business. It is notable for its adventurous production and genre-blurring approach while maintaining the band's emphasis on musicianship within an East Coast and conscious hip hop context.