The Roots - How I Got Over

I think it's a double edged sword to be honest. It's not a bad album at all, but The Roots have set the bar so high it's only natural to be disappointed by this effort to some degree. I would give it around 4-4.25 stars.

T. Myers wrote:

I think it's a double edged sword to be honest. It's not a bad album at all, but The Roots have set the bar so high it's only natural to be disappointed by this effort to some degree. I would give it around 4-4.25 stars.

Yeah, this is basically how I felt about Rising Down. Thanks for the heads up...

This album is not great, with or without the context of their prior releases. If anything, all the praise is coming from Roots fans who will choke down anything with the name on it.

I still think the album is great, and I don't blindly love anything the Roots put out.

I like it. Not a classic or anything but definitely worth a purchase.

E. Taylor wrote:

I like it. Not a classic or anything but definitely worth a purchase.

Pretty much.

It's a 4 star album in my book. I'm a Roots fan, I don't choke down anything with their name on it. Rising Down wasn't all that good to me. *gasp*

I know I'm a little late, but this Roots album is blazing front to back.. I got it at 4.5 and a half of mile ahead of rising down..

Peace

hold up are people actually hating n Web 20/20???? Ive just spun this album today in the car i instantly loved "Web 20/20" reminds me of an 80's break beat with a twist FUCKING DOPE. Clearly the most unique beat on here and its definitely a head nodder.

The same people who cant feel "Web 20/20" probably dont like "Stroke of Death" from Supreme Clientele either...your losses i guess

ive played this track like 4 times in a row after reading peoples opinions on here and it gets better and better each time; sounds like mad amounts of weed and dust were involved with this

Slang Editorial wrote:

hold up are people actually hating n Web 20/20???? Ive just spun this album today in the car i instantly loved "Web 20/20" reminds me of an 80's break beat with a twist FUCKING DOPE. Clearly the most unique beat on here and its definitely a head nodder.

The same people who cant feel "Web 20/20" probably dont like "Stroke of Death" from Supreme Clientele either...your losses i guess

ive played this track like 4 times in a row after reading peoples opinions on here and it gets better and better each time; sounds like mad amounts of weed and dust were involved with this

One of my favorite tracks on that album

As of right now, this album ranks no lower than 4th on my 2010 list.

I'll say 4.25 stars and growing. I am a Roots fan but one thing that I understand is that if you don't give some Roots albums multiple listens, you may have some at 4 stars or less. I am sure the same can be said with many artists but the more I hear this CD, the more I like it.

Highsmith wrote:

I'll say 4.25 stars and growing. I am a Roots fan but one thing that I understand is that if you don't give some Roots albums multiple listens, you may have some at 4 stars or less. I am sure the same can be said with many artists but the more I hear this CD, the more I like it.

Yeah I agree. I'm a big time Roots fan but they can be an aquired taste for some people. You have to spin their albums a number of times to feel the full effect of them. I originally had this joint at 4 stars, but now it's risen to 4.5, I like it almost as much as Game Theory, and it's light years better than The Tipping Point, Rising Down, and Phernology.

Yeah Phrenology and I still battle til this day. My sis says that it's one of her favorite Roots albums and I look at her like she is crazy...lol

Highsmith wrote:

Yeah Phrenology and I still battle til this day. My sis says that it's one of her favorite Roots albums and I look at her like she is crazy...lol

Phrenology is my least fav from them but still a 4 star effort IMO.

How is a 4.5 star album light years better than a 4 star album?

Shaun wrote:

How is a 4.5 star album light years better than a 4 star album?

I spin it a lot more.

I'm sure that there's some 5 star classics that you'd say are light years better than others. Not so much in overall quality, but in personal preference.

Highsmith wrote:

Yeah Phrenology and I still battle til this day. My sis says that it's one of her favorite Roots albums and I look at her like she is crazy...lol

I'm with sis on that one. lol I love Phrenology. The only Roots album that I don't really care for is Rising Down. How I Got Over is cool, but it trails off at the back end, IMO. It's a little better than Rising Down, if you ask me. My rankings look like (excluding comps)...

1. Things Fall Apart
2. Illadelph Halflife
3. Game Theory
4. Do You Want More
5. Phrenology
6. The Tipping Point
7. Organix
8. How I Got Over
9. Rising Down

To me, the two comps are better than #8 & 9 as well, but all of their albums, with the exception of Rising Down are 4 stars or better, IMO.

It's amazing to me that Tipping Point is so low on most peoples rankings. I think Phrenology is excellent as well.

Illadelph Halflife
Organix
Tipping Point
Things Fall Apart
Phrenology
Game Theory

I've never heard Do You Want More. The last two just don't count.

Kid Joe wrote:

It's amazing to me that Tipping Point is so low on most peoples rankings. I think Phrenology is excellent as well.

Illadelph Halflife
Organix
Tipping Point
Things Fall Apart
Phrenology
Game Theory

I've never heard Do You Want More. The last two just don't count.

Interesting rankings man. You should definitely check out Do You Want More, considering your top two.

I personally really like Rising Down for it's dark atmosphere, I really just can't resist that type of album

I've been meaning to, obviously. It's just one of those things. I never remember when I need to.

I would say the first three are interchangeable 5 star albums.4 & 5 are also interchangeable at 4.5 stars. Game Theory has grown on me lately. I'm giving it 3.5, but I may end up liking it more.

Kid Joe wrote:

It's amazing to me that Tipping Point is so low on most peoples rankings. I think Phrenology is excellent as well.

Illadelph Halflife
Organix
Tipping Point
Things Fall Apart
Phrenology
Game Theory

I've never heard Do You Want More. The last two just don't count.

Mind you, How I Got Over is a 4 star album to me. So anything above it would be 4 stars or better. I love Tipping Point...

smh @ the Rising Down hate. Haters

The only thing I agree with Parker on regarding the Roots' albums is that Illadelph is the best. And yes, Do You Want More is essential listening.

And to Shaun, I don't dislike Rising Down. It's just that the Roots have set the bar so highly that RD seems weak by comparison to most of their other albums.

My Roots rankings......

Illadelph Halflife
Things Fall Apart
Do You Want More
Game Theory
How I Got Over
The Tipping Point
Rising Down
Phrenology
Organix

"And to Shaun, I don't dislike Rising Down. It's just that the Roots have set the bar so highly that RD seems weak by comparison to most of their other albums. "

Oh, I know. These fools are calling it wack and ish, though. smh

My update Roots rankings...

Things Fall Apart
Illadelph Halflife
Do You Want More
Game Theory
How I Got Over
The Tipping Point
Phrenology
Rising Down
Organix


Nearly the same as KJ's with a slight tweak. How I Got Over is solid!

Ok, I've been purposely avoiding this thread because, ehh. Now, I have the Roots discography, I downloaded it the other day, and I wanted to go from beginning to end, so I started with Organix and meh. So all this talk about how consistent they are blah blah, let me know where to start please.

Esco wrote:

Ok, I've been purposely avoiding this thread because, ehh. Now, I have the Roots discography, I downloaded it the other day, and I wanted to go from beginning to end, so I started with Organix and meh. So all this talk about how consistent they are blah blah, let me know where to start please.

Things Fall Apart

Just remember, if you don't like any of their albums, that's still consistent. I say start with Illadelph Halflife or Tipping Point. Tipping Point is an underdog, though.

You can't go wrong with Do You Want More, Illadelph Halflife, or Things Fall Apart. All 3 are classics.

Kid Joe wrote:

Just remember, if you don't like any of their albums, that's still consistent. I say start with Illadelph Halflife or Tipping Point. Tipping Point is an underdog, though.

Lol, I hope their consistency work in that way.

Esco wrote:

Kid Joe wrote:

Just remember, if you don't like any of their albums, that's still consistent. I say start with Illadelph Halflife or Tipping Point. Tipping Point is an underdog, though.

Lol, I hope their consistency work in that way.

Organix is their worst album so definitely don't judge them based on that. Start with any of the 3 albums that followed it.

Honestly, Things Fall Apart and Illadelph Halflife seem their most appreciated.

Just for the record, Illadelph is my fav. I just think TFA is their most accessible to hip hop fans.

halfsharkalligatorhalfman wrote:

Just for the record, Illadelph is my fav. I just think TFA is their most accessible to hip hop fans.

Co-Sign

I don't know about that. I think that honor goes to Do You Want More...

Illadelph Halflife is my favorite Roots album, followed by Do You Want More.

KJ Styles wrote:

You can't go wrong with Do You Want More, Illadelph Halflife, or Things Fall Apart. All 3 are classics.

Cosign. Things Fall Apart is my personal favorite.