What makes …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin by The Roots notable?

The album was praised for its ambitious narrative structure and received critical acclaim, with notable mentions in publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. It also contributed to discussions about gun violence and urban life, resonating deeply within the hip-hop community and beyond, while reinforcing The Roots' status as cultural commentators. Released in 2014, …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin represents The Roots' first album after their transition to being the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This period marked a significant shift in their visibility as they balanced mainstream exposure with their roots in conscious hip-hop. It followed the critically acclaimed Undun (2011), showcasing their continued evolution and willingness to tackle complex narratives.

Who is …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin for?

…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin works well if you're into steady pacing with narrative flow, cinematic soundscapes for introspection and short tracks for focused listening.

How many songs are on …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin?

…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin has 11 tracks, running approximately 33 minutes.

…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin

The Roots · 2014

33 min · 11 tracks · alternative rock · funk · hip-hop

A cinematic exploration of contemporary urban life, blending haunting soundscapes with intricate lyricism.

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Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing with narrative flow
cinematic soundscapes for introspection
short tracks for focused listening
haunting themes of urban life

Maybe skip if you want

prefer upbeat, high-energy tracks
seek standalone anthems

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 2014, …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin represents The Roots' first album after their transition to being the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This period marked a significant shift in their visibility as they balanced mainstream exposure with their roots in conscious hip-hop. It followed the critically acclaimed Undun (2011), showcasing their continued evolution and willingness to tackle complex narratives.
Stylistic neighbors: A Tribe Called Quest· The Black Seeds· J Dilla

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Theme From Middle of the Night 1:27
2 Never 3:54
3 When the People Cheer 3:01
4 The Devil 0:38
5 Black Rock 2:41
6 Understand 2:50
7 Dies Irae 1:07
8 The Coming 3:01
9 The Dark (Trinity) 5:17
10 The Unraveling 4:20
11 Tomorrow 5:06

What to play next

Go back to

Undun

2011

Full The Roots discography Artists like The Roots

alternative rock funk hip-hop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata