The Roots: … And Then You Shoot Your Cousin review – jazzy hip-hoppers on top of their game

Few bands can segue from a gig as a chat show's house band to dark, prog-inspired releases, but on And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, the Roots serve up a concept album of tortured stories from a collection of downtrodden and conflicted characters (the group's lead MC, Black Thought, has said the album is a satirical take on stereotypes of the "hood", and those who persevere amid numerous roadblocks to success). Whether sampling rumbling male voices on a version of Mary Lou Williams's The Devil, or leaning on the emotive power of descending minor piano chords on the single When the People Cheer, the Roots have total command of their combination of jazz-influenced hip-hop and social awareness. Black Rock and Understand explore narcotics-ridden, hard-knock life tales, contrasting sharply with the unexpected optimism that seeps into the closing track, Tomorrow.