The Roots Enlist John Legend, Others For “How I Got Over”

    Philadelphia Hip Hop outfit The Roots have recruited John Legend and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James for their upcoming album, How I Got Over.

    According to Billboard, the album will also feature a track that samples Joanna Newsom’s “Book of Right-On,” a track featured on her 2004 release The Milk-Eyed Mender.

    Jim James is set to appear on a remake of Monsters of Folk’s “Dear God.”

    How I Got Over was recorded during The Roots’ tenure as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, as well as working on albums for John Legend and Booker T.

    UPDATE: Today it was announced by Def Jam Records that the group will release How I Got Over on June 22. The label has recently delayed albums from Rick Ross and Jeezy after initial June announcements.

    The label has however, provided a tracklisting to the album:

    1) Walk Alone (Truck North, Porn, Dice Raw,Mercedes Martinez)

    2) Dear God 2.0 (Jim James, MOF)

    3) Radio Daze (Blu, Porn, Dice Raw, Mercedes Martinez)

    4) Now Or Never (Phonte Coleman, Dice Raw)

    5 )How I Got Over (Dice Raw)

    6) The Day (Blu, Phonte Coleman, Patty Crash)

    7) Right On (Joanna Newsom, Sugar Tongue Slim)

    8) Doin It Again (John Legend)

    9) The Fire (John Legend, Rick Friedrich)

    Fans may also note that Philadelphia veteran act has officially added Owen Biddle as a Roots member. Biddle, a bassist, played on 2006’s Game Theory album. The present Roots line-up, per Def Jam’s press release, includes emcee Black Thought, musical director/drummer ?uestlove, keyboardist Kamal Gray, guitarist Kirk “Captain Kirk” Douglas, percussionist Frank Knuckles, Damon “Tuba Gooding, Jr.” Bryson and now Biddle.

    UPDATE #2: A new tracklisting released today from official Roots spokespeople:

    Interlude 1 feat. Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian & Haley Dekle of Dirty Projectors
    Walk Alone feat. Truck North, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw
    Dear God 2.0 feat. Monsters Of Folk
    Radio Daze feat. Blu, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw
    Now Or Never feat. Phonte & Dice Raw
    How I Got Over feat. Dice Raw
    Interlude 2
    The Day feat. Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash
    Right On feat. Joanna Newsom & STS
    Doin’ It Again
    The Fire feat. John Legend
    Interlude 3
    Web 20/20 feat. Peedi Peedi & Truck North
    BONUS* Hustla feat. STS

    52 thoughts on “The Roots Enlist John Legend, Others For “How I Got Over”

    1. ROOTS are the truth. ?uestlove is unreal. Go see ’em live and tell me otherwise. You like hip-hop?These cats are the definition of. Adding John Legend will bring a soulful blend to a track or two. Looking forward to another classic

      1. I saw the roots in houston. When the rest of the band took a break after about 2 hours, ?uest stayed on stage and played a 15 minute solo. it was so EPIC.

    2. the only thing guys I liked from the roots was malik b, rahzel was ok when he was with them but his scratching shit is old fashioned and dice raw is pretty tight…other then that, roots really fuckin suck!

      1. I don’t think you were able to type that without laughing. Black Thought suck, really? Quest? Kirk? Nah nigga Roots don’t suck at all bruh.

        Black Thought is the most underrated emcee in the game.

    3. I got 2 say Black Thought is one of the most underrated MCees to pick up the mic. The Roots have always been ignored by the Hip Hop community but praised by the media ratings. This man needs his props as well as ?uestlove and the rest of the crew because this is one group that will still stay standing in about 10 years. And Little Brother breaks up over a god damn track!

      1. No Doubt. Black Thought is a beast. I never miss a Roots show when they come to town. If you never seen a roots show, do yourself a favor and go.

      2. took the words outta my mouth. Black Thought is one of the deadliest MCs out there and he will embarrass your favorite rapper.

        but only 9 songs? boooo

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    5. WTF @ 9 joints…9 aint a new Roots album its a new Roots EP…9 CMON at least hit the minimum of 10 I know quality over quantity n all but 9 new songs your fuckin with me right…this is only a partial tracklist right…lol 9 muthafuckas…

    6. Looks like an EP and no guests other than Blu really that I care about. Might have to pass on this one. Rising Down was dope though

    7. WTF…9 tracks !? I wonder if Def Jam gave The Roots a $20 recording budget.

      With all these features, Black Thought might have less verses than the features on his own album.

      Those 9 tracks better be bangers.

      Btw, Dice Raw is trash.

      1. between doin a TV show 4 nights a week, touring constantly and puttin out mad albums, im sure their recording budget is fine.

      2. They practically live out of Larry Gold Studio and run Okayplayer from there. They just breaking Larry Gold off if they have budget. What he care, he’s rich.

    8. thats kind of a short tracklisting… overloaded with features…

      oh well fuck it they’ll make it work i have faith

    9. Everybody calm down. I know it’s not a lot of tracks but would you rather have 16 cool songs or 9 bangers? Only the best songs make the album cut. These were the best so let’s enjoy the music. Have Faith people!!!!

      1. Agreed. Just look at arguably the best hip hop album ever, Illmatic. If Nas had put in a few album filler songs, that would’ve taken away from the greatness of the album.

        It’s about quality, not quantity.

    10. taking it bacc to the music, i love the direction that our music is headed, the future is now and its time to have an open mind about where we can take our music and cuture.

    11. I was definitely expecting more tracks tbh… Specially ish with more known rappers. I’ve heard of Little Brother, John Legend, Blu, Truck North and Dice Raw at least but as for the rest, i’m kinda clueless here. I figured this was gonna have an “all-star cast” or something.

      Either way, it doesn’t matter: as long as it’s dope i guess.

    12. I Can’t wait for June 22nd. This album is going to be dope. Blu on 2 tracks? Also the new Eminem comes out on the same day! I AM READY!

    13. Black thought is the most underrated Mcs in the game he’s been lyrical for almost 20 years and he and the roots have not been honored in philadelphia or the hip hop world yet it’s a shame philly needs to be ashame one the greatest rap groups ever in my book that rising down cd was damn near a classic and tipping point

    14. blu on two tracks, and phonte on two tracks, it’s gonna be great like always, but only 9 tracks.

    15. Luv The Roots!! Black Thought is the man!!

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    16. Read some earlier comments, QUESTION: Have the Roots EVER put out a weak album. And dont compare their albums to one another. Compare to othergroups that came out the same time. The Roots will always put out bangers!!!

      1. The last two albums have been poo poo compared to the Do You Want More from the Tipping Point albums. Most people that I know that use to check for that period hate the last 2 albums. But I will acknowledge while losing fans from that era, they seem to have a new fan base that think their albums are better than ever.

        In concert they are still great but the albums are lacking. The closest thing to a hit was “It Don’t Feel Right”.

      2. Not sure what makes the last two albums “poo poo”. They changed up what they were doing a bit and took a liitle harder, darker direction. They have said themselves that those records represent where they were and the negativity in the world and, in particular, our country. They have had a tendency of two albums having similar albums, then moving on. Organix and Do You Want More are similar albums, Illadelph Halflife and Things Fall Apart are very similar, and Game Theory and Rising Down are similar. Obviously that leaves out Phrenology which was it own entity completely and has little resemblence to any of their other albums and Tipping Point was it’s own thing too. So the fact that they went in a different direction the last two albums shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Roots don’t make albums to make “hits”. “Here I Come” or Rising Up” are the two most played tracks of their last two albums, probably. If you are looking for hits, you’re listening to the wrong shit in general. That isn’t what the Roots make their music for.

      3. So if I don’t like the last 2 albums .. I must be listening to the wrong music. I’ve been listening to the roots since they were down with the goats.

        I don’t find the last 2 albums “dark”. And I am not looking for hits. The roots were never a group that made hits. I don’t Like the newer songs. I think the muscianship they display live does not translate to albums. Dice raw is not a good hook writer. BT while gifted sounds like he’s working a 9-5 instead of being an artist, saying nigga on every bar isn’t creative. It’s corny and been done before. At least on tipping point he was being creative with lyrics, his voice, and sounded like he was Emotional Engaged.

        You know at the end of the erykah video where it says groupthink? These cats should cut the “left of center” speech they tell people.

        And I think it’s insulting to tell fans that don’t like an album “oh you just get it. We evolved”. How about as a fan of music I do get it, I see what you going for, but you coming up very short.

        I don’t know any 30+ year old blacks running to get the roots album but they still checking for mos, common, Monch, talib, ghostface, etc.

    17. I guess I can deal with only 9 tracks.
      I’m real excited that Blu and Phonte are on 2. I hope ‘Te raps instead of sings on ’em.

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    19. The Legendary Roots Crew is probably one of the only African American bands left in America with a major record label. ?uestlove and Black Thought are good because they have been out for over 20 years and “stay true to the roots.” It’s all spiritual here, so if you want to jump on that gangster/autotune/bandwagon-shit then be my guest.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOmeEpajf6g

    20. I wouldn’t care If They just had 5 tracks, it’s The Roots. Heavy rotation regardless.

    21. That’s way too many features.

      BTW this article looks ugly as shit with the previous tracklisting crossed out.

      Couldn’t someone have re-typed it?

    22. bout damn time this album to drop! yea, 9 tracks is not much but.. it’s the Roots! and they’ve never done any bad album, so this gotta be great too. they should visit Finland soon 🙂

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