The legendary Roots crew will deliver their ninth studio album, How I Got Over, in June, as revealed by Black Thought to XXLMag.com prior to the band’s jam session at New York’s Highline Ballroom last night (April 6).
“The new record is well underway—right now, it’s about completed,” said Black Thought. Arriving amidst the band’s touring hiatus, How I Got Over will reflect The Roots ascension in the mainstream as house band on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. “It’s a more celebratory album—the story of triumph and the rise of the brand that is ‘The Roots,’ and how we kept our heads above water consistently for so many years in the game without taking a hiatus, maintaining some love and relevancy for all this time,” said The Roots’ lead MC. “And it refers to the gospel song by Mahalia Jackson. That’s the initial inspiration for the title of this joint. It’s like a moving performance of her rendition of that song.”
The recording process for the album was made difficult by The Roots’ current commitment to Late Night, involving 16-hour days Monday through Friday—due in part to the band’s commute everyday from their home base in Philly to the New York set. “We recorded some stuff right there on set, working in our little dressing room or whatever—just getting it in where we fit in, so to speak,” he said. “We record sometimes after we tape a show for the night—we just hit the studio.”
And on the nights in New York when the band isn’t in the studio, they can be found at the Highline Ballroom, playing a run of jam sessions, the last of their live dates before their touring hiatus. Last night’s show featured guests such as Joell Ortiz, Jesse Boykins III, Blitz The Ambassador, and Roots’ extended family member Dice Raw, among others, to aid in the high-energy improvisation. The shows, set to include a total of 12 dates, have all sold out thus far. Says Black Thought, “It adds on to the understanding of The Roots having arrived.”
As for whether the band envisions keeping this up for the next five years, the length of their contract with Late Night, Black Thought is optimistic. “It’s definitely a possibility as long as we’re able to maintain the same sort of maneuverability.” He insists, “No problems have arisen thus far. - Devin Chanda
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Weiner
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April 7th, 2009
at 10:46 am
G-UNOT KILLA says:
Who gives a fucc about some 400lb nappy head ass drummer and an ashy lipped as washed up no pussy getting rapper. I stepped to blacc thought 10 yrs ago @ the old spectrum @ a Crip Motorcycle rally! He didn’t want any parts of me and was shook to peices!! He literally begged for his bitch as life for 2 minutes!! The reason they named the album “Things Fall Apart” was because @ the extortion negotiations I said nigga fix me some blu kool ait STAT!! he said we’re almost done with the salad! I immediatly took my controller to my Sega Genisus and beat the shit outta his bitch ass brother and made him stir the Kool Aid as he watched his brother scream “Piru Killa, I’m so fuccing sorry!!!” Spider Loc laughed his ass off!! ECG-UNIT Crip 4 life Spider Loc for life!!
Reply
May 14th, 2009
at 2:24 pm
mowg says:
You are a scary person
Reply
July 23rd, 2009
at 12:12 pm
Internet Killa LMAO says:
listen… Mr. ECG… lol… if your so gangsta than why are you trying to make yourself feel better from posting about someone you have beef with on the internet? Gangstas don’t read your posts… Your just proving to the world that your very insecure. I’ll do you a favor because clearly you don’t see that Black Thought is a peacful soul… violence isn’t the answer. gang signs mean shit. might as well toss your W up your ass while you jerk off Spider Joke with the other hand. Theirs piece of mind… too bad very FEW emcees from the West actually listen to their hearts… now THAT is some REAL TALK! 1
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April 7th, 2009
at 11:00 am
DV8 says:
Great!!!
I need a real Hiphop fix
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 11:14 am
Trenton Watts says:
The real G-unit Killah is back.. That’s what the fuck i’m talking about my dude (funny as hell).. It’s the west in me.
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 12:18 pm
capcobra says:
i’d rather a black thought solo with no roots production at all.
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 2:10 pm
14snipez says:
I think a Black Thought solo album would be crazy. Damn no Roots production at all huh. Well anyway cant knock the Roots hustle they are the defintion of the word perserverance
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 1:01 pm
H-DUB says:
The Roots are the greatest HipHop LIve Band ever, but after their 3rd Album, it got worse and worse…….
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 1:34 pm
CALHOUN says:
THIS WILL BE GOOD FOR HIP HOP,HOWEVER,I DONT THINK ANYONE, OR ANYTHING CAN SAVE HIP HOP!!!
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 3:09 pm
EmCDL says:
Lets see if this comment will post this time….
Like I said, The Roots have been doing their thing for a hot minute and they deserve praise for what they do for hip hop…keeping it real and straight to the roots. I have yet to attend one of their concerts ,but from what I hear they are always off the chain.
Has anyone heard that last album they did? Was it any good?
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 3:11 pm
EmCDL says:
XXL ya’ll seriously need to do some maintenance on your website; I posted comments all day yesterday and none of them are showing up…
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 3:48 pm
CALHOUN says:
YEAH DOG,THIS WEBSITE IS A TRIP SOMETIMES,IT COULD USE A LIL TUNE-UP OR SUMPN.I SEEN THESE BOYS IN A CONCERT A WHILE BACK IN THE GAP,THEY OPENED FOR DEANGELO,YOU KNOW THAT WAS A MINUTE AGO.THEY PUT ON ONE HELLUVA SHOW.I CUT FOR THESE BOYS.
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 8:48 pm
ole dirty marmot says:
Shit was incredible.Every album is a culmination of the ones that preceded it,so you can see the progression…
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 3:39 pm
El Tico Loco says:
I respect The Roots being that there aren’t any other non rock bands.
Reply
April 7th, 2009
at 4:17 pm
UARK83 says:
Going to go see them April 14th….they always put on a good show. Can’t wait!
Reply
April 17th, 2009
at 3:15 pm
XXLmag.com - » Blu Records With The Roots says:
[...] New York City recording with The Roots, cutting tracks for the band’s upcoming ninth studio album How I Got Over due in June on Def [...]
Reply
April 17th, 2009
at 6:16 pm
matthew246 says:
THE LEGENDARY ROOTS CREW GO HARD!
Reply
May 6th, 2009
at 12:56 am
R.Ness says:
are you crazy the tipping point was amazing Do You Want More - Game theory all sound similar just they changed the style a lil bit but still amazing
Reply
May 11th, 2009
at 12:44 am
keith smith says:
Scratch’s new album is gonna be the knocker!
http://ecards.k7-de.com/golddustmedia/scratch/
Reply
June 24th, 2009
at 2:32 pm
XXLmag.com - » The Roots To Premiere New Track On Jimmy Fallon Tonight says:
[...] Back in April, Black Thought spoke with XXLMag.com about the disc, named after a Mahalia Jackson gospel record.“It’s a more celebratory album,” the lead MC said, “the story of triumph and the rise of the brand that is ‘The Roots,’ and how we kept our heads above water consistently for so many years in the game without taking a hiatus, maintaining some love and relevancy for all this time.” [...]
Reply