The Legendary Roots Crew | How I Got Over

bought Things Fall Apart after hearing Act Too from Brown Sugar. The Phrenology & Tipping Point had dropped but didn’t hear till later. S/o to illadelph & DYWM. Gotta admit, I wasn’t always on time with them. They’re all classics, probably the fave of some of y’all but mine’s different. The one that actually hit my head & made me take life seriously was How I Got Over.

Idk but it’s just some of the hungriest raps that I’ve ever heard & like now that I’m reflecting, I’ve learned more from this f-in album some of the most sincere stories. Some emotional intelligence that you’d barely or not even learn from this f-in country’s educational system. Like i kinda owe more from this album than from my f-in college degrees. Like i may have learned so much Math and Science (not a flex) but would I have done it all w/o this album? F no.

Let me know of which Roots album or song is your fave. Some of my fave lines, below:

•WALK ALONE (Truck North)

Allured by the lust, something money can’t cure

The Devil want me as is, but God he want more

Eyes closed, eyes open, great another day, here we go

Like a nigga woke up late in The Truman Show

Living life without a care, mean pokerface

But I’m forced to play solitaire ’til I get up out of here

Move like a wanted man with a bounty on his head

Work alone, sleep alone, eat alone, daily bread

Counting ’til my fingers red, how you gon’ judge a man?

Walking in the shoes of a man with a broken leg

•DEAR GOD (Black Thought)

Corporate monopoly, weak world economy

Stock market toppling, mad marijuana

OxyContin and Klonopin, everybody out of it

“I get off work right back to work again”

Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?

And why is living life such a fight to the finish?

•RADIO DAZE (Black Thought)

it’s too much strain for nominal gain

I’m going through things; headaches, abdominal pain

Tryna numb it with that Ketel like I’m from the Ukraine

Check the blue flame, lighter running out of butane

•NOW OR NEVER This song was on repeat.

•HOW I GOT OVER (Black Thought) (Just mind blowing)

Whatever don’t break me’ll make me stronger

I feel like I can’t take too much longer

It’s too much lying and too much frying

I’m all cried out ’cause I grew up crying

They all got a sales pitch; I ain’t buying

They trying to convince me that I ain’t trying

We uninspired, we unadmired

And tired and sick of being sick and tired

Of living in the hood where the shots are fired

We dying to live; so, to live, we dying

You just like I am

•RIGHT ON (Black Thought)

Shit, I’m Black Thought, what could be more prolific?

For this love, I go above and beyond the limit

I told y’all I’m above and beyond a gimmick

I get into your head and spread like a PANDEMIC

I never put myself in a race I can’t finish

I’m well grounded, founded on the same premise

As any man with a hitlist that’s about business

Yo, can a brother get a witness? Dig it

•THE FIRE (Black Thought)

Maverick, always above and beyond average

Fuel to the flame that I train with and travel with

Something in my eyes say I’m so close to having the prize

I realized I’m supposed to reach for the skies

Never let somebody try to tell you otherwise

The only thing I hear is my heart, I’m inspired

By the challenge that I find myself standing eye to eye with

Then move like a wise warrior and not a coward

•HUSTLA (Black Thought)

Story of the family biz, I’ma rewrite the script

Daughter of a hip-hopper, hustla like her grandpoppa

Her destiny done been determined so you can’t stop her

From being independent, earning paper and proper

More like a lawyer or a doctor, not a man-watcher