Description
The Roots – Undun – Vinyl Record
“undun” is the tenth studio album by The Roots, released on December 6, 2011, via Def Jam Recordings. It’s one of the most ambitious and conceptually rich albums in their discography—a reverse-chronological concept album that tells the tragic story of a fictional young man named Redford Stephens, a composite character based on real people and experiences drawn from urban America. undun is not only a meditation on life, death, and systemic struggle, but also a powerful showcase of The Roots’ evolution as artists—blending hip-hop, soul, classical, and jazz into a deeply cinematic experience.
What makes undun so remarkable is its narrative structure: the story unfolds in reverse, beginning with Redford’s death and moving backward through the moments that shaped his life. This storytelling technique gives the album a haunting, reflective tone—it’s less about glorifying a life cut short than it is about deconstructing the why and how behind it.
The character of Redford Stephens is not depicted as a villain or a hero, but rather as a product of his environment—a young Black man trying to navigate poverty, violence, limited choices, and a system that seems designed to fail him. The album is named after Sufjan Stevens’ “Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)”, which also appears as a four-part instrumental coda at the end of the album, further connecting the themes of identity, loss, and legacy.
Musically, undun is a masterclass in subtlety and cohesion. Produced by Questlove, Black Thought, and Dice Raw, it fuses live instrumentation with minimal, moody arrangements. The Roots, always known for their organic, band-driven approach to hip-hop, lean into a restrained, almost noir-like sonic palette here—pianos, strings, vibraphones, and understated drums create a sense of unease and introspection.
There’s an almost jazz-like fluidity to the album’s structure, yet it maintains tight focus. The rhythm section is meticulous, and the interplay between instruments feels like a modern chamber ensemble scored for the streets.
Lyrical Highlights & Key Tracks
“Sleep” – The album opens with the moment of death: a slow, ethereal meditation on fading consciousness. Black Thought’s delivery is low-key and poetic, capturing the sensation of slipping away.
“Make My” (feat. Big K.R.I.T.) – A standout track that feels like a eulogy set to music. K.R.I.T.’s hook floats over a lush, melancholy beat before Black Thought enters with a cold, fatalistic verse: “Tryin’ to control the fits of panic / Unwritten and unraveled, it’s the dead man’s pedantic.”
“One Time” (feat. Phonte and Dice Raw) – This song peeks into Redford’s teenage years, exploring the dreams and desperation of youth. The production is skeletal but rich in atmosphere, perfectly matching the lyrical introspection.
“The OtherSide” (feat. Bilal and Greg Porn) – A philosophical track that contemplates the cost of ambition and survival. Bilal’s haunting hook and the minimalist production make it one of the album’s emotional high points.
“I Remember” and “Tip the Scale” – These delve into memory and consequence, painting detailed scenes of Redford’s choices and regrets.
“Redford Suite” – The closing instrumental suite is broken into four parts: a reinterpretation of Sufjan Stevens’ piece followed by a series of movements featuring string arrangements and minimal piano. It’s haunting, beautiful, and underscores the cyclical nature of the story—underscoring that Redford could be anyone.
undun was met with widespread critical acclaim, often praised for its lyrical depth, innovative structure, and emotional resonance. It was included in numerous year-end lists for 2011, and is frequently cited as one of The Roots’ finest works—a culmination of their experience, artistry, and social consciousness. While it wasn’t a massive commercial success, its influence is enduring, especially within circles that value narrative-driven hip-hop and boundary-pushing albums.
It also marked a moment where The Roots—already known for their live instrumentation, political awareness, and artistry—moved firmly into the realm of album-as-artform, earning them comparisons to visionaries like Kendrick Lamar (whose good kid, m.A.A.d city would follow a year later), Common (Like Water for Chocolate), and OutKast.
undun is not just an album—it’s a short film in audio form, a poetic elegy for the lives lost to circumstance, and a reminder of hip-hop’s power as a storytelling medium. If you’d like, I can break down the narrative arc in more detail, analyze Black Thought’s lyrics on a track, or compare it to other conceptual albums in hip-hop history.
Urban Legends
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Dun
Sleep
Make My Featuring – Big K.R.I.T., Dice Raw
One Time Featuring – Dice Raw, Phonte
Kool On Featuring – Greg Porn, Truck North
The OtherSide Featuring – Bilal Oliver, Greg Porn
Stomp Featuring – Greg Porn
Lighthouse Featuring – Dice Raw
I Remember
Tip The Scale Featuring – Dice Raw
Redford Suite
Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou) Producer, Written By, Performer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Sufjan Stevens
Possibility (2nd Movement)
Will To Power (3rd Movement)
Finality (4th Movement)
