 | Tracklist:
1. A Peace Of Light (Featuring Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian & Haley Dekle of Dirty Projectors)
2. Walk Alone (Featuring Truck North, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw)
3. Dear God 2.0 (Featuring Monsters of Folk)
4. Radio Daze (Featuring Blu, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw)
5. Now Or Never (Featuring Phonte & Dice Raw)
6. How I Got Over (Featuring Dice Raw)
7. DillaTUDE (The Flight Of Titus)
8. The Day (Featuring Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash)
9. Right On (Featuring Joanna Newsom & STS)
10. Doin' It Again (Featuring John Legend)
11. The Fire (Featuring John Legend)
12. Tunnel Vision
13. Web 20/20 (Featuring Peedi Peedi & Truck North)
14. Hustla (Featuring STS)
| Ranking: #148 for 2010 | |
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On 116 Lists
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| Summary: A different but worthy addition to the most consistent discography of all time. |
"[Grizzly Bear is] an incredible band. The thing I want to say to everyone-- I hope this happens because it will push rap, it will push hip-hop to go even further-- what the indie rock movement is doing right now is very inspiring. It felt like us in the beginning. These concerts, they're not on the radio, no one hears about them, and there's 12,000 people in attendance. And the music that they're making and the connection they're making to people is really inspiring. So I hope that they have a run where they push hip-hop back a little bit, so it will force hip-hop to fight to make better music. Because it can happen. Because that's what rap did to rock." - Jay-Z
HOVA isn't just a run of the mill rapper that rides on a few singles and basks in his flavor of the day fame. He is not only one of the most consistent artists of the past 20 years, but also a brilliant investor and executive. One common thread between successful executives, regardless of industry, is the ability to foresee trends and bring strategies to the table that keep their investments relevant. Jay's prophecy makes complete sense, and needs to happen for hip-hop to stay relevant this decade and beyond.
So what does this have to do with The Roots latest offering? For starters, it is a prime example of this push-back from indie-rock; The Roots crew has always strived to evolve, be it subtle or extreme. In the case of How I Got Over, the latter prevails more often than not with an extension of their typical focus on composition. But where over the past three records the crew has focused on making their traditional rock instrumentation emulate their electronic counterparts in hip-hop, this time around they look to more organic inspiration. ?uestlove seems more comfortable behind the kit (and happier) than he has since Things Fall Apart. Black Thought continues with his trademark consistent lyricism, deceitful in its verbal simplicity. The keys, guitars, and percussion identify less with a particular branding of hip-hop and more-so with music as a whole.
And that's exactly why How I Got Over appeals to so many more listeners, comparatively... of course being the pit band of a certain late night show has its perks as well (Jimmy Fallon's for the international audience). But this new found pop-culture awareness means less when one realizes two coinciding points: (1) The Roots' pockets are lined quite nicely with cash, and therefore (2) there is no hidden fiscal motive behind this latest release. Yes, Monsters of Folk are featured in "Dear God", as is Joanna Newsom on "Right On"; but as much as any long time fan would like to stamp the red-lettered "sellout" label on each disc, it can't really be disputed how effective each traditionally non-hip-hop musician truly is. The former encapsulates Black Thought's clinic on human suffering with a complementary bleak chorus, while the latter has a much lighter-hearted feel with Newsom's echoed vocals amidst a vibrant rhythm section. Regardless of indie-hipster appeal, the real star of this show is "The Fire", a laid back minor-key jam featuring a decidedly post-Evolver John Legend. I don't really even care what this song is about; the melodies and wordplay leave one begging for the upcoming John Legend/The Roots callabo, Wake Up Sessions.
With respect to haters, the negative criticism is indeed founded, to an extent. Some tracks come off as "light" on the beats spectrum and slightly unfocused filler, while the album's two closers are curious selections to say the least. Even though this content may not have turned out the way Jay-Z envisioned, the album as a whole is at least a step in a different direction, further reinforcing The Roots' place amongst the greatest discographies of all time. Some might even venture to say that this is amongst the forebears of a new school Americana movement, drawing from the modern as opposed to the retro. Whatever it may be How I Got Over is a great record and stands proud next to its contemporaries.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Tip-top review Sobhi. I liked the use of the Jay-Z quote as an intro and a way to establish the main theme of the review.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
title track is awesome
like but dont love the rest
Digging: Mount Eerie - Clear Moon Digging: Mount Eerie - Clear Moon | | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
thanks guys, first review in 2 months? yikes, i'm working too much
adam, i like the single, but figured i would focus elsewhere for the review -- although i definitely think The Fire blows it out of the water.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
Front-paged. Welcome back!
Digging: Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild [Music For The Motion Picture]
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
yea i like the intro. album is good too. good to have you back and reviewing soby, hip hop section is slow going recently.
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Well someone decided to stop their 30 for 30 so what do you expect?
Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
heh, i like the editor flair on the summary!
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
i wish jom would funny up my summaries 
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
nice review sobhi.. long time between drinks. good album probably their 5th or 6th best album for me
personally..The Fire is such a good song..love john legend on collab tracks
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Of ALL time.
Killer review, about to listen to Right On.
Digging: Kate Miller-Heidke - Nightflight
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Grizzly Bear is amazing.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
yay!
Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead | | |
Okay Right On was fucking sick, getting this album asap.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Regardless of indie-hipster appeal, the real star of this show is "The Fire", a laid back minor-key jam featuring a decidedly post-Evolver John Legend.
I can't agree with this and the summary more. What future plans have been announced? (if any)
Digging: The Fall of Troy - Doppelganger Digging: The Fall of Troy - Doppelganger | | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
the best of all time. OF ALL TIME
Digging: Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns Digging: Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns | | | Album Rating: 4
this album made me like Joanna Newsom's voice wtf
Digging: Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 | | |
HOVA isn't just a run of the mill rapper that rides on a few singles and basks in his flavor of the day fame.
I would argue that he kinda does.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Great review.
I think I prefer Right On over any other track on this one. Basically agree with your review, but I think I'll end up giving this a 4.
Digging: El-P - Fantastic Damage Digging: El-P - Fantastic Damage | | | Album Rating: 4
nice to see a Sobhi review pop up.
I love this album.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | | Album Rating: 3.5
good review and this album is excellent
Digging: In Mourning - The Weight of Oceans Digging: In Mourning - The Weight of Oceans | | | |
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