The Roots aren't happy at their new label, Def Jam. Roots drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson talked to Billboard recently about the disconnection between them and Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid. "He has no idea that 'Birthday Girl' isn't even on the album," Thompson said, continuing "They don't know we shot the 'Rising Down' video. They just know they approved an (electronic press kit) budget." Originally slated to be a radio-friendly single, "Birthday Girl," which features Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, recieved praise at Def Jam, but after the fans didn't like it much, The Roots opted to leave it off the U.S. version of their upcoming album Rising Down.
The Roots have never gone platinum in over 10 years of reording, the highest selling album being Things Fall Apart, which moved 906,000 units. L.A. Reid has not commented on The Roots situation "If someone asked me, 'Do you want to release two albums and sell over 2 million copies, or do you want a 20-year career but none of your records will sell over 500,000 units?,' that's a tough question. But, looking back, I wouldn't change a thing." Rising Down hits stores tomorrow.
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