The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

“When you on the corner it’s too much drama
Livin’ with the police right behind ya’
It’s always more than a slight reminder
We livin’ in a war zone like Rwanda.
Before I go back to the heavenly father
Pray for me if it ain’t too much bother.
Whatever don’t break me’ll make me stronger
I feel like I can’t take too much longer”

Before they became Jimmy Fallon’s house band, the Roots were the pre-eminent hip hop band in all the land. Universally adored and fawned over by the critics, hopelessly underrated by the public at large yet treasured, cherished and beloved by those who actually like music.  Throughout their almost twenty year career, the band out of Philly simply have done everything there is to do. Luckily for us, they’re not done quite yet!

The band’s new record, the long awaited How I Got Over will finally see the light of day on the 8th of June via Island-Def Jam. Yes, gang…happy days are here again! As you just heard and saw in the video, that is indeed the title track and it is a treat indeed. We’ve got Black Thought singing and delivering his world-weary rhymes as only he can. Earthy in its tone, Black Thought reminds us that as he looks around, nothing’s changed as he sees it. There’s still crime. There’s still poverty. The stench of failure still lingers from ghetto to ghetto. This is the kind of song the Roots are known for and are better than most at writing. No frills, no bling. No glamour and glitz. It’s simply how it is.

There’s really nothing else that needs to be said. It’s the Roots. Buy the record on the 8th of June.

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“How I Got Over” by The Roots, taken from the forthcoming Island/Def Jam release, “How I Got Over”