Field Mob - From Tha Roota To Tha Toota

What you’ve been hearing country acts like Nappy Roots rap about–being broke, eating grits and talking smack–is actually an old straw hat for this Albany, Georgia-bred duo–but you’d never know it. Boondox and Kalage are in relative obscurity outside of the Bible Belt probably because they have not had true commercial hit yet. Sure, “Project Dreamz” was a hilarious cut about being without from their debut Ashy To Classy, but it was only a mild success. And while the buoyant “Sick of Being Lonely,” the lead single off From Da Roota To Da Toota, is getting love from the radio, it doesn’t have the crossover appeal of Nappy’s “Awnaw” or “Po’ Folks.” (Translation: The Mob’s songs are approachable, but rarely do they strike a chord on the dance floor.)

Rather than get bodies convulsing, the Field’s music mostly stimulates brain cells and gets you thinking about those less fortunate. The content on From Da Roota’s 11 tracks is often sadder than a Afghani refugee’s diary. On genuine, emotion-rich tracks like “Freedom” and “It’s Hell,” the high school friends reminisce about days gone by when they had no lights, no heat and no money. The duo ventures away from the empty-pocket prose on “Don’t Want No Problems” and “Where Ya Goin?.” But as you might expect, they come out on the short end of the stick.

Thankfully, all of the beats here are relatively lively. Were it not for the electric guitar on the Cee-Lo-featured “All I Want,” the song would be too depressing for some ears. Boondox and Kalage’s wry sense of humor also keeps things light on that track and the others. There’s a hilarious bar or two on even

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From Da Roota’s most melancholy song. In fact, enough down-home laughs are sprinkled throughout the CD that all who make the trip down Albany’s dirt-filled roads will agree it’s a worthwhile experience.