The Legendary Roots Crew returns with How I Got Over, their eagerly anticipated and greatly delayed ninth Studio Album. This marks their first release since joining “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” This unlikely pairing quickly solidified them as the most talented house band on the planet. How I Got Over sees The Roots returning to the genre-blending style that made Things Fall Apart and Phrenology such successes. Gone is the heavy sound, dark overtones and negative themes associated the last two releases, Game Theory and Rising Down. In typical Roots fashion, How I Got Over features a wide array of guest collaborations. The opening track features members of The Dirty Projectors and Monsters of Folk contribute to “Dear God 2.0” which has to go down as one of most unique pairings of the year. John Legend appears on two tracks and Dice Raw, a mainstay on past Roots albums, is all over the album. The diversity is apparent from track-to-track, but it diminishes Black Thought’s impact; only two tracks are entirely his. With the exception on the last two tracks this is a phenomenal album, a necessary addition to your collection. I contend that “How I Got Over” is the best hip-hop song of the year and there are plenty of other nuggets to keep you coming back. No one is making hip-hop like this anymore; the Roots have confirmed that they are in a class by themselves. Who else in the game can combine the versatility and consistency that The Roots have exuded for nearly two decades? Legendary indeed! Tracks to Repeat: “Dear God 2.0,” “How I Got Over,” “Now or Never,” “The Fire,” “Walk Alone” Tracks to Skip: “Web 20/20,” “Hustla” |
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