Standing for "Route of Overcoming the Struggle," R.O.O.T.S. is
Flo Rida's follow-up to
Mail on Sunday, the album featuring megahit "Low." The autobiographical opener, "Finally Here," seems bemused by life's journey, and closer "Rewind" centers around a "turn back time" metaphor supported by
Wyclef's pathos for hire. Of course, the reason you're here is for the numerous poptastic club tracks, all delivered in true ringtone rapper style.
The Dead or Alive interpolating "Right Round" is "Low"'s heir apparent, an infectious single created by producer
Doctor Luke (who previously worked for
Lily Allen) plus
Koool Kojak (who previously worked for
Andy Milonakis). "Sugar" is shameless enough to "incorporate elements" of
Eiffel 65's Euro-trash earworm "Blue (Da Ba Dee)." The upbeat call-and-response hook of "Jump" is delivered by an Auto-Tuned
Nelly Furtado, and if you're expecting
Fergie or
Gwen Stefani to show up during this pop-rap spectacular, you instead get decent shots from
Ne-Yo and
Akon. R.O.O.T.S. is hip-hop like
Nas never happened, an album owing more to
Lady GaGa than to
Public Enemy. If you enjoy the hook, you enjoy the song, and if you're headed to the club in a fine ride on a Friday night, you'll likely fall for some of what's on offer here. ~ David Jeffries