Picking up where "Game Theory" left off, the album maintains a dark and political tone, with Black Thought and several guests venting about the ills of society today. The album's guests include Chrisette Michele, Common, Mos Def, Saigon, Styles P, Talib Kweli, and Wale; it also features Philadelphia artists Dice Raw, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Peedi Crakk, Greg Porn, and Truck North, as well as former member Malik B. "Rising Down" features the Roots incorporating a more electronic and synth-heavy feel into their sound. "Rising Down" was released to critical acclaim, garnering an overall score of 80 on Metacritic.