When released their ninth studio album, How I Got Over , in June 2010, the hip-hop landscape was in a state of flux. The "blog era" was reaching its peak, and the legendary Philadelphia crew—now firmly established as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon —faced a unique challenge: how to remain the genre's premier live band while addressing the weary, post-recession soul of America.
First, a quick note on the keyword "zip." In the early 2000s and 2010s, music bloggers and fans often used "zip" as shorthand for a compressed folder containing an album or track. Searching for was a common way to find a downloadable version of the album before streaming took over.
An anthem of determination and urgency. Legacy and Impact the roots how i got over zip
Zip often lives in the gap between how fast things “should” happen and how they actually do. I made a list of every timeline I’d internalized—overnight success, linear promotions, instant rapport—and traced each to its source (social media narratives, parental voices, a single success story I’d idolized). Once externalized, those timelines lost power.
How I Got Over is not a perfect album—it is a necessary one. It is the sound of adulting in the hip-hop space, of dealing with depression, financial stress, and the loss of youth, all while a funky bass line plays in the background. The journey from the claustrophobic fear of the opening track to the determined hustle of the finale is the journey we all take. The Roots didn't just make it out of the streets; they made it out of the zeitgeist alive, offering us a hand to pull us out with them. When released their ninth studio album, How I
remains one of the most cohesive projects in The Roots’ discography. It’s not just a collection of tracks; it’s a mood. From the late-night introspection of the title track to the raw energy of "Dear God 2.0," Black Thought and the crew managed to blend neo-soul, indie rock, and boom-bap into a seamless "zip" of musical therapy.
Before recording How I Got Over , The Roots made a monumental career move. In 2009, they became the official house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon . Many critics and fans worried this television gig would dilute the band’s raw, progressive hip-hop edge. Searching for was a common way to find
The album's title is a direct homage to the gospel standard "How I Got Over," famously popularized by and Mahalia Jackson . While not explicitly a religious record, it is deeply spiritual, exploring themes of: Album Review: The Roots - How I Got Over - DrownedInSound
The album's influence can be seen in the work of subsequent artists, such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Anderson .Paak, who have all cited The Roots as an inspiration. "How I Got Over" has also been recognized as a landmark album in hip-hop history, ranking on various "greatest albums of all time" lists, including Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
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These tracks featured crucial contributions from indie music darlings Joanna Newsom and Dirty Projectors, showcasing The Roots’ unique ability to bridge the gap between underground hip-hop and indie rock.