Customer Reviews

How I Got Over

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've long been of the belief that The Roots are not only the best hip hop group out there, but they are one of the top BANDS period. Of any genre of music. The Roots have long been one of the more intelligent staples in hip hop, always counted on to come correct with meaningful thought provoking lyrics, and live music.

A lot of hip hop is done with computers and whatnot, but make no mistake people: This is a BAND! One only has to tune in to Jimmy Fallon's show week nights to see them play.

This album is a special kind of thing. The lyrics are on point, as always, the guest appearances aren't necessarily the same ol' same ol' that you see on every hip hop album. There's no Drake, no Lil Wayne, none of that. It's real hip hop with real hip hop artists.

No talking about killing people, doing drugs, or sleeping with any girl they can get. This is grown folks hip hop.

This album, "How I Got Over" is unique in that it fits together so cohesively. There's nothing that feels like filler, here. It's almost like it blends into the next track, kind of like an album by the group "Enigma" does.

Standout tracks include "Now or Never" (featuring Phonte of Little Brother and Dice Raw), which is my personal favorite after three times listening to the album, Dear God 2.0 (featuring Monsters of Folk), the title track "How I Got Over" (featuring Dice Raw) and "Walk Alone" (featuring Truck North, Dice Raw and someone named P.O.R.N.).

Black Thought is solid once again as the frontman of this band, and if you have any semblance of desire to hear true genuine hip hop, then you have to buy this. There's no ifs ands or buts about it. Support true hip hop, and not that lame stuff you hear on the radio.

I've heard a lot of people complain about the album saying it's too short. And clocking in at a bit over 41 minutes, it's short compared to many hip hop album out there. However, for one, there's not a ton of interludes, which tends to pad hip hop albums when the artists have nothing to say, and also, and this is just me personally, but I'd rather have 41 minutes of solid hip hop that has something meaningful and personal to say, than an 80 minute album that's half average at best, and half decent.

But that's just me.

Let me begin by saying The Roots are refreshing in the world of Hip Hop not only because they're an actual band, but because they've grown and matured over time musically and lyrically. Some Hip Hoppers claim that they are grown and mature yet still rap about how great they are and all the money they have (see Jay-Z), but The Roots frontman (Black Thought) actually writes about things that a mature person living in American society thinks about. Topics range from the ecosystem to living responsibly to hoping that his daughter grows up to be more than the average consumer.
As far as the sequencing of the album goes, this is a very cohesive listen. The song kind of build into an ultimate climax right before the final track.
If you're a fan of not only Hip Hop but music in general, this is THE album to have this year.
This is one amazing musical journey. It's one of those albums that's going down in history as one of the greats when it's all said and done.

The Roots have always been one of those bands who I always respected but never fully enjoyed.

They had the chops. Black Thought was is perfectly proficient MC. In that they are an actually hip hop band on a major label, they have their own unique lane. Yet, none of the Roots' previous albums never truly moved me. Similar to the Brand New Heavies, the Roots, while technically gifted, sounded too practiced. For a live band, their music rarely sounded spontaneous or organic. Instead, it sounded overly rehearsed and over considered. As if every micrometer of the album's sound was heavily thought about. (If you ever read any of the fascinatingly brainy interviews with the band's leader, drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, you'd see that it was.) Music is supposed to come from the heart, not solely from the mind.

So although, all nine of the previous Roots LPs were musically impressive, they lacked a lot of soul.

Until...How I Got Over.

This album is such a pleasant surprise. Not only is it instantly captivating and beautifully produced, it's the first album by the Roots that actually has sheer emotion. Not well-thought ideas but genuine feeling. Not only does it sound good, it FEELS good.

How I Got Over is a seamless listen that must be listened to in it's full 42 minute rotation. The album finds the band in a morosely reflective mood. It's the aural equivalent of a man, on the verge of entering another stage of his life (in interviews, Thompson says that stage is entering the fellas entering their 40s), giving himself a deep, hard stare in the mirror. Reflecting his past and pondering his future and wondering where his place is in the world. This deep introspection is achieved by mood and texture, not heavy-handed thought, which makes HIGO even more powerful and intoxicating.

As with the more recent Roots releases, How I Got Over features an eclectic guest list, including career-long affiliates like Dice Raw, underground hip hop geniuses like LA's Blu and North Carolina's Phonte (of Little Brother and Foreign Exchange fame) and indie rock sensations the Dirty Projectors (the ladies in that band give a beautiful performance on HIGO's intro), Jim James and Joanna Newsom (via a sample) as well as R&B crooner John Legend. Yet all the guests flow beautifully with the album's groove. They only add to the album's brilliance, not interfering with it.

How I Got Over is a must-have. It's easily one of the best albums of the year and the new decade. A beautiful album from a band that finally freed their mind and let the groove (and emotions) follow.

How I Got Over is reminiscent of older Roots albums; it is consistently potent and musically focused, yet always dynamic and unique. With the exception of Game Theory, no Roots album has had this consistency since the 90s. Every track is good, and fits like a piece of a puzzle into the album, which is 100% listenable. The many featured artists add lots of flavor, the production is tight, and Black Thought is in top form.

Here, as on every album, The Roots redefine their style while somehow remaining true to the musical quest Ahmir and Tariq began decades ago. These tracks are chapters 143 through 156 in the Great Roots Epic, and How I Got Over is one of its best volumes in a while.

I've been a fan of The Roots since their debut back early to mid nineties. I haven't been terribly impressed with entire albums for the last few albums they've had out. This is turned out very well! I like the appearance of Blu on a few tracks. (Check out Blu & Exile's "Below the Heavens" album if you dig his style...cali spitter) The flow of this album goes together quite well and I didn't find myself looking for the next track half way through a tune. Granted I've only listened this new album once. I am willing to bet it will only get better from here on out. Check it out!!

Here is a real review from a lifetime Roots fan. I have had The Roots blessing my speakers for almost 20 years now so don't listen to these chump reviews from high school kids claiming they know hip hop and The Roots progression. Ok so this album isn't the greatest from the legendary roots crew I can admit that but it still holds its own if you truly know the maturation and diversity the roots have been delivering for so long. One review went as far as to say this band is turning into a rock and roll thing? Look the sheer classic factor that resinates with The Roots is that they've never had and never will have a clear cut genre of what music they play. They sprinkle different genres on every track, hence their longevity,fan base,diversity,and originality. As for the lyricism it is on par with recent social awareness Black Thought and Co. have been delivering. Yeah the direction of the lyrics have veered in the last few albums but whats wrong with that if it's pushing a positive message? I mean just listen to the lyrics of "Radio Daze" and "The Day." As usual they bring in some unknown talent (not unknown to me) for people to discover, which in itself says a lot to what the bands message really is. Blu from "Blu & Exile" (fyi check out "below the heavens" thats a hidden gem TRUST ME) makes a couple stellar appearances, as well as Phonte from another great soulful group: Little Brother. The beats are consistant and maybe a little monotonous at times but some how some way I always seem to latch on. If your reading this and your a true fan of The Roots not a recent Jimmy Fallon "rating", pick this album up. You wont regret it. I mean come on this is genuine music not some dumbed down run of the mill Lil "fill in the blank" garbage that plagues everyones radio,tv, and soul (if your docile). One love everybody.

See, this is a perfect example of why I still love hiphop music. With all the mainstream garbage they have been playing on the radio and MTV for the past decade or more, The Roots have always stayed humble and have made good quality music since I first heard "Do You Want More??!!??!" in 1995. When first playing this album which I woke up early the day of its release to be first to pick it up, as soon as the intro started, I was instantly zoned into it, its kind of hard to describe, but almost like it took me to another mindstate. As I got further into the album, there was no urge to skip to the next track, I just let it play through until it started over again with my head nodding the whole time. Some notable cameo's with Phonte of Little Brother, John Legend, Joanna Newsom, and my personal favorite new up and coming artist Blu, who was a great addition to this album. Me being a hiphop connoisseur it makes me feel good when hearing something like this because this is what hiphop music is all about, a positive message, live instruments, uniqueness and creativity. Oh yeah, and who doesnt love ?uestlove?! A few years ago, i had the privilege of seeing them live with Lupe Fiasco and Erykah Badu at a small venue in Dallas TX and it was a night i'll never forget. Just seeing ?uestlove's hair alone was worth the $25 ticket price. If you ever get a chance to see them you MUST!!!! Oh yeah and get the album too!

This is a classic one of the best body of works by the Roots in a long time its about time they came back to there roots. A must have

I'm not much of a music analyst, but I picked this up at a local music store on a whim--had heard some of The Roots earlier--and I was not disappointed. A great, undulating album with great music and lyric. I've heard it all through a bunch of times and keep discovering.

What do I think of when I think of The Roots?: Original, talented, diverse, consistent, reliable. I've never disliked a Roots album, and this is no exception. How I Got Over exceeded my fairly high expectations--by alot.
This album stayed in for about 3 straight hours when I put it in my stereo, uninterrupted. Every song flows together, it's great.
There are many guest appearances on the album, they all do well, my favorites being Blu and Phonte from Little Brother/Foreign Exchange(great to hear him rapping again), also nice to hear from Dice Raw and Peedi Peedi. The lyrics on How I Got Over are great, with Black Thought having more conscious lyrics than ever, it seems.
The beats are really soulful and nice. Some of the beats I could just listen to all day, great blends of different instruments over drums from ?uestlove.
There aren't any filler tracks(like all Roots albums), and each track seems to be just as good as the last. I just love the vibe the album gives, and it's hard to stop listening to it, or skip a track.
My favorite tracks: Right On, Radio Daze, Now or Never, How I Got Over, Doin It Again....I loved em all except Walk Alone, Web 20/20, and Hustla. I liked all of those, but didn't love them.
Long live The Legendary Roots Crew!