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''Rising Down'' is the eighth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released April 28, 2008 on Def Jam Recordings. The album's title is adapted from William T. Vollmann's book ''Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means'' (2004). Expanding on the dark, dense production and political tone of ''Game Theory'' (2006), ''Rising Down'' features lyrical themes concerning issues of contemporary society, including violence, poverty, social and environmental climate, drugs, police corruption, and the music industry.

The album debuted at number six on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It charted modestly in other countries and achieved moderate sales success. Upon its release, ''Rising Down'' received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Music critic Robert Christgau named it the ninth best album of 2008. The album has sold 171,000 copies in the United States. - Wikipedia

Philadelphia's preeminent hip-hop heroes had a pretty solid plan for the first single on their eighth full-length: Snare ubiquitous cameo king Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy to croon the chorus of innocuous ska-tinged lark "Birthday Girl," watch money pile up. And indeed, "Girl" became a minor YouTube sensation in late February, generating great buzz for the album. Then a funny thing happened: Black Thought, ?uestlove and company decided that the tune didn't match up with the darker, more provocative political content comprising the bulk of Rising Down, so they excised the song altogether. According to ?uestlove, it really couldn't be any other way, what with their home turf's epidemic crime rate and the tension of a hard-fought, drawn-out Presidential election on their minds. The synth-driven throwback "Get Busy" is more indicative of the outraged street spirit of the record, and genuinely exciting. Want more? They'll be touring with the similarly conscientious Erykah Badu throughout late spring and early summer.