THE ROOTS GET THEIR GROOVE BACK

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

American Hip Hop band that I can never get enough of, the Roots, return with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop. To call the group “long-awaited” or “much-anticipated” is an understatement indeed. New release, How I Got Over, continues to maintain their street vibe without giving into the latest music gimmicks.

The Roots have time and time again experimented with sampling live band music, introducing rock fundamentals into hip-hop, and have perfected the faultless blend. Their catalogue is without fail, compelling and musically alert, yet always vibrant and exclusive. With the exception of Game Theory (which in my opinion still had its dull moments), no Roots album has had this consistency since the 90s. Not too take away from their work, because it is epic, I just feel as if a few prior releases somehow started to lose soul. I guess one just always expects a root to blossom into something beautiful. Track Fire supports this statement belting: “My soul start to grow colder than the North Pole,” — but like Stella, they’ve definitely got their groove back.

The many featured artists on How I Got Over add lots of flavor, including John Legend and Patty Crash. The celeb cameos only add to the album’s radiance, not prying with it or trying to help sell it. Sometimes artists try to use other artists to cover up spots where their music is lacking, but this is not the case. Another must-check-out track is Walk Alone featuring Truck North, P.O.R.N and Dice Raw; it’s wrapped against an emaciated sound with unforgettable harmonies and piano embellishments.

Where many admired albums and groups are more or less collections of singles, the Roots continue to make cohesive albums. Reviewing this album brings a smile to my face, because it brought me back from a lackluster appreciation of a group, to becoming a devotee again. If you’re a Roots fan, this is a must have. If you’re not, open your ears and try something new. Taking one back to that old-school feel, but not in a dated way. Take a trip back to where all good things start; The Roots.