How I Got Over Album Review

After trying (and failing) to trim this review down, I finally just said whatever and I'm going to post it. So here it is, my (late) full track by track album review of The Root's How I Got Over album. It's pretty lengthy, but hopefully someone will enjoy it.

Originally set to retire with Rising Down as their last album, The Roots have come back with their ninth studio album, How I Got Over. They’ve brought in some lesser known names along with a few familiar faces for this record. Much like their previous two records, they’ve stuck with dark content matter, revealing the reality of today’s dented world, only this time the messages are backed by a more organic sound. Is this their best work to date, or should they have stayed on their original path into retirement? I highly disagree with the latter.
The album starts with an echoy and piano backed group of females humming, on A Peace of Light. I already get the feeling this is going to be a more organic sounding album than their past several albums. 3/5

The title itself on Walk Alone sounds dark and depressing. This book’s cover matches its content. Truck North, P.O.R.N. and Black Thought talk about an independent life and being in one man wolf packs. It definitely sets the tone for the rest of the album. 3/5
Next we catch Black Thought deep in prayer in Dear God 2. He questions God’s motives and intentions when he wonders why we’re more worried about celebrity beefs than real war and poverty. They’re topics often talked about in discussions, blogs and articles, but rarely covered in hip-hop songs. Black Thought is on point as usual as he paints a gloomy picture of today’s world. 4/5

I was really happy to see Blu on Radio Daze. He’s slowly picked up steam online and I hope this record helps him out. However, this track is just average to me for some reason. I can’t seem to point out anything special about this track, but I also won’t skip it if it comes on. 3/5

Now Or Never discusses the need and want for change. Change in personal life, change in what’s going on in the world, and change in today’s society. This could’ve been the theme song to Obama’s Presidential campaign (Or the revival of a new marketing campaign). After recently (and finally!) graduating college, I hold this particular track closer to me than others. Now on the hunt for a job, I feel the hunger for change in my own life. Black Thought, Phonte and Dice Raw all deliver, each one taking a slightly different point of view. The only thing I would’ve liked to see different on this track was Common on the guest list. 5/5

Up next is…Black Thought singing? I’ve seen it on Late Night, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on a Roots record. Regardless of the setting, I don’t mind it. It was an unexpected change of pace when they dropped How I Got Over, and one that I gladly welcome. By no means is Tariq anywhere near the level of Michael Jackson, but he can carry a tune and I’d choose him over someone telling me they can take me to the Candy Shop any day. Like the previous track, this title track and first single too talks about the need for change. Black Thought (backed by Dice Raw) properly discuss the harsh realities of growing up in Philly (and society in general), without the marketing hook claiming they f*** with Dre, now they wanna show them love. 4/5

DillaTude: The Flight of Titus is a short tribute interlude to the late great J. Dilla and Slum Villiage member Baatin (Titus Glover). Not too much to say about this except I’m glad it’s there. 3/5

The Day is another song about change. However, this time it’s more positive. Black Thought is again joined by Blu and Phonte on this relaxing, summer sounding song filled with storytelling about living life and truly enjoying it. If I smoked, I’d roll a fat one to this while laying outside in the sun on a warm summer day. 5/5

I wish Black Thought really got his write on with this next track, Right On. (Sorry, I couldn’t help the poor wordplay) This is a more upbeat track than the first half of the album. Money Making Jam Boys member, STS, brings a lot of energy, but half way through his verse it feels like he’s running out of steam and his lyrics are getting slightly ahead of him. I would’ve preferred a cleaner recording, but it’s not a bad verse. Black Thought just barely fell short on really making this track shine. I’d love to see B.o.B. hop on a remix of this track and really set it on Fire. On a side note, whenever I hear the snare roll at the end I immediately think of 75 Bars. 3.5/5

John Legend hops on the hook of Doin It Again with a live recording. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this compared to a studio recording, but I think the recording works well. Black Thought talks about how he’s unsung, underrated, under-appreciated, The one them underachievers had underestimated. He’s standing here to let the haters know that he Finally graduated and is one of the most hated, Something that's so sacred, nobody gon' take it. I see this track as a preview of the duo Doin It Again on one of my favorite tracks of the album, The Fire. 4/5

I have a lot to write about this next track, The Fire. First off, this is an amazing track. The song is about the fire inside of you, and how you really need to push for achieving what you desire. It’s a lyrical, soulful, motivating and uplifting track. Leading up to this song I felt as if the tracks were missing something that I couldn’t put my finger on. This song has that X-Factor. John Legend encapsulates what the song is about perfectly when he sings, You don’t say good luck, you say don’t give up-it’s the fire. I love this line and will take this line with me for a long, long time. If Now Or Never was Obama’s campaign theme song, this is his in-office theme song. Everything about this song is perfect. You have John Legend with The Roots talking covering relevant and positive issues and a music video directed by Rik Cordero with a budget. There’s nothing else to ask for. 5/5

Nothing that is, besides a remix. In between changing his name from B.o.B. to Bobby Ray and back again, B.o.B. dropped several mixtapes leading up to the release of his first solo album. After talking to beautiful girls all over the world and teaching people how to wish on airplanes in the night sky, B.o.B shot to number one on the Billboard charts. After that he did what I feel is possibly one of his greatest musical achievements thus far: he hopped on a song with The Roots. There aren’t many people who manage to do studio work with The Roots. Countless artists have performed with them (especially now with them on Late Night), but few have joined them in the studio. Only recently have they started to venture out of their group of regulars. But what’s even rarer than a non-regular guest on a Roots track is a remix, which B.o.B was able to get on. He fits in well with the group, holding his own on the first verse of the song. While his content isn’t anything too original, he talks about the fuel for his own fire and brings a nice change to the song.

Tunnel Vision is a short little interlude. Unique, yet not something I feel is necessary for the album. It kind of ruins my high I was running off of from the previous track, but provides a nice transition into the final track. 3/5

Web 20/20 has a lot going on in it. There are scratches, beeps and blips doused over this track. I’m partially biased towards this track because of it being How I Got Over’s Thought@Work. Although these songs seem hard to fit into albums, I love when they show up. Two thirds of the Money Making Jam Boys go in and don’t let up until the record is over. Again, my only complaint about this track would be not having the full Jam Boys lineup on it. 5/5

STS makes a second appearance on the bonus track, Hustla, with a herd of lambs ‘bahhing’ on the background vocals. I like Right On more than this STS featured track. I can see why it’s a bonus. It’s not a bad song, but it’s not a selling point of the album either. The track flips the stereotypical image of hustling into a more positive image. Daughter of a Hip-Hopper, hustla like her grandpapa, Her destiny done been determined so you can't stop her, from being independent, earning paper and proper, More like a lawyer or a doctor, not a man watcher. 3.5/5

The End: This is definitely one of the best Roots albums to date. Smooth transitions paired with excellent lyricism and organic beats help make this album deserving of an Album of the Year nomination. The Roots are back to their old selves and still keeping themselves current and relevant. I impatiently await their next tour to experience Now Or Never, The Fire and Right On live, front and center. 4.5/5 overall.

I'm back.

I've decided to hop back onto this thing, and hopefully update it (at least fairly) frequently.

Coming soon: The Roots - How I Got Over album review.