While the bulk of the hip hop industry drenches it’s music with auto-tune and computer generated sound technology to boost their careers, the non-commercialized philadelphia funk infused crew, The Roots, stick to their–well, roots. With a sound coined by the use of actual instruments, and an organic rhyme style accompanied by indie-like moans on the chorus, How I Got Over showcases the groups consistency.

Conscious rap aint dead.

And 11 albums later, the Roots maintain this message with a more mature sound. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal ?uestlove states that this is the first album that’s been written by all members together acting as an “eight-piece-unit” and recording together, which is extremely evident. At times I caught myself checking the iPod to see if the track had switched yet, with how fluid it all sounds.

I’m all for sounds and feelings,  but what is the album about?

How I got over. This too shall pass. Hope. The Obama-nation.

At times the album comes off as a story to me. Black Thought open’s up and sets the album’s tone on the track “Walk Alone” (Which happens to be one of my favorites) with the line, ”The devil wants me as-is/but God wants more.” He continues on to talk about independence and self-growth, which acts as an overlaying theme of the album. Each track chronicles an experience, and manages to take you there. It is uplifting, to say the least, and reminds us of how hip hop can, and will continue to be used as a practical means of expression.

Standout Tracks:

“This Day” – Featuring Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash

“Doin It Again” – ft. John Legend

“Right On” – ft. Joanna Newsome & STS

Aisha

…Class ends

Recap

Notes

• Eminem is the best rapper alive. period.
• Mos Def is a marvel, almost as much as Black Thought.
• Note to self: *Find Wale some respect and stage presence, cause he lost both of them just now.*
• Nicki Minaj is a muthafuckin Beast. Haters, shut up—stay in the crowd.
• KRS ONE: don’t tell me the man don’t still got it. “Bridge is Over Pt. 2″ sir? please???
• List of MC’s I’m no longer sleeping on: Nipsey Hussel.
• You’re a fool if Joe Budden’s bars were a suprise to you. He been doing this
• What mos def/black thought/EMINEM just did shouldn’t be legal. #massacrewitness

Definitions

Barbie Bomb - I’m on stage, you can sit in the cloud/ I be up in Leer jets: “make a left at the cloud”/… Metaphor Heaven/ so they approve Nicki like my credit score seven/ Mac and Cheese Sticks Fried Chicken in her Guts/ and i’m killin these bitches, Mike Vickin’ it up -Nicki Minaj

Everyday business – Wanna talk about bars, mine leave it be/ Neva needed an AR, mine needed me/ It’s one thing in this world I cant stomach’s a fake/ you try to stop what ain’t come wit a break/ you made a mistake…You past your prime, I ain’t spit Ether yet/ you need a major, i just need an ethernet. -Joe Budden

Massacre - The 2nd cypher.

Genius- The trash talkers deleted/ Blast off. I lay him out like a Tempur Pedic / Black Thought, I told you I’m a win eventually this/ a some UNDER rated, UNDER appreciated/ the one, them UNDER acheivers had UNDER estimated/ finally, graduated from suttin’ dats so hated to one of the most sacred/ nobody gone take it, face it -BlackThought

Cocky- My d*ck is so big, if I add another inch to it/You would swear when I raped you, that you was actually into it/… It’s like I’m off my Bon Bar/When I bring the fuckin’ drama/Used to bomb you like Saddaum/ But now that I’m a lil calmer/I’m a fuckin cross between Osama, Dahmer, Obama, and Dalai Lama/Somali, im a knight in shining armour. -Eminem

Disappointemnt- Wale

Potential- I’m a boss, nothin move less I say so/ I’m a business, you the nigga on the payroll/ Here come recession? There go yo J-O/B/While we/Fly high on mo’ chrome than eva, everytime I ride by/’Member every day was like the Fourth of July/At war, so you had to keep ya pistol in your ride/ Lean low, blowing kush in the sky/Watchin out, for blue cars, driven by white guys/Now it’s like, white clouds and blue skies/European grill with the leathers inside/Ain’t a nigga this fly comin out the West Side -Nipsey Hussel

Wise Words- I MC, don’t rap/We take you back to “return of the Boom BAP”/Let me take you all the way to ’94/”This-is-what -you-came-here-for”/BET…the Rap Awards/we rappin. Look, this from the lord/You gotta overstand/it’s all in your heart/Forget that chart, man/ get wit cha art! -KRS One

Resulting Equation

• Eminem > Mos and Black Thought > Joe Budden > Nicki Minaj > KRS > Nipsey Hussel > Blackthought > Wale… = Performance Ranking

Concluding Hypothesis:

Hip Hop lives. Shut da fxck up.

AR!

Got A Resulting Equation I should borrow? Let me know

Heres the highly anticipated mixtape from Wale. The mixtape features a number of artists including  Talib Kweli, Joell Ortiz, Young Chris, Skyzoo,  Black Thought, Big Sean, Torae, Memphis Bleek, J. Cole, Curren$y, Jean Grae, Royce Da 5?9?, Bun B and more.

[DOWNLOAD HERE]

Thanks 5StarHipHop for the link

Aisha