Flo Rida - Routes Of Overcoming The Struggle (CD)

All Music Guide

Standing for "Route of Overcoming the Struggle," R.O.O.T.S. is Flo Rida's followup 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 Eurotrash earworm "Blue (Da Ba Dee)." The upbeat callandresponse hook of "Jump" is delivered by an AutoTuned Nelly Furtado, and if you're expecting Fergie or Gwen Stefani to show up during this poprap spectacular, you instead get decent shots from NeYo and Akon. R.O....O.T.S. is hiphop 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, All Music Guide Read more Less