In today's everchanging rap world, the novelty of fusing jazz and hip hop is quickly becoming a standard to live by.

Although the heavy beats of Ice's Cube and T, along with the laid back funk of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, are still embedded at the top of the charts, the success of Digable Planets and Guru's groundbreaking Jazzmatazz has produced in their wake a wealth of jazz-oriented rap acts.

Although this genre of rap is becoming rather faddy, don't tell the members of The Roots. On their major label debut, Do You Want More?!!!??!, the Philadelphia-based ensemble leaps light-years ahead of their competition with a style that is fresh, exciting and extremely spontaneous, as the album's live tracks prove.

"Pass me a topic and I'll drop it" raps vocal maestro Black Thought on "Datskat," the album's most infectious track. Backed by an extremely talented group of musicians, Black Thought and company have decided (wisely) to drop jazzy grooves over recycled beats. Even the Human Beatboxish beats that open "The Lesson Pt. 1" are homegrown, provided by the "look ma -- no sample or enhancement" beat box and vocal rolls of Rahzel, the Godfather of Noize.

Each of the album's 16 tracks is different and unique in style and substance. From the upbeat optimism of "Proceed" to the New Jack crooning of "Silent Treatment," Do You Want More?!!!??! keeps delivering on that question.

The album's funniest track, "You Ain't Fly," does not play as a dis on women but rather a subtle take on the speaker's own inadequacies (take note, Snoop).

If the majority of the album shines with its upbeat nature, then the final cut, "The Unlocking," comes as a blistering blast out of nowhere. Featuring vocals by Ursula Rucker, a subtely deceiving instrumental track plays under her painfully honest speech about how women are treated as objects. The final question of "what's my name" is a powerful, landmark moment in rap history -- a stinging indictment that'll send many rappers ducking for cover (hello again, Snoop).

With Do You Want More?!!!??!, The Roots have produced an album which covers all the bases with great flair. From the undeniable groove of "Lazy Afternoon" to the social critique of "The Unlocking," The Roots have set a new standard which vets like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest must now shoot for.