Redford Stephens must have had an uneasy life. Well, at least that’s how the Roots make it seem. If you don’t know who Redford Stephens is then, don’t worry, the Roots will get you well acquainted with his story. Redford’s fictional, yet so real, story is the subject of Undun. One just hopes that people actually pays attention to the story of urban melee that is depicted within each song.
The tracks for this album uphold an idea of despair, struggle, and occasional celebration.
“Sleep” gives the idea of a Redford being tired, yet still fighting for his soul. “Make My”, featuring a resounding verse by Big K.R.I.T., revels in the struggle of the hustle. “One Time” makes sense of whether it is worth it being “on time” with visions of regret, remorse, and the absence of good luck. “Kool On”, however, is much more instrumental in its atmosphere of “celebration” with references to a “3 piece tux” and “cards in a royal flush”. Constructively, the listener can hear how The Roots have mastered the art of channeling emotions through melody.
Yet, the story doesn’t end there. Right after the counterfeit flossing of “Kool On”, we have “The Otherside” to bring hindsight to the life of a hustler. After capturing moments of regret, “Stomp” gets further into the story of reflection and familial disappointment. Yet, Redford is falling deeper into his influences that he even feels like he is “face down in the ocean” on “Lighthouse”. By the time the album gets past “I Remember” and “Tip the Scale”, the feeling of recognized hopelessness is achieved.
If Undun was an actual movie or live action piece, then The Roots would have created a masterful soundtrack. Without directly referring to Redford as the protagonist in this musical adventure, certain things are implied. Nevertheless, the feeling that is formed is not disguised at all. Many have longed for another album from The Roots Crew. With Undun, listeners can partake into an audibly cinematic experience.