Following the heavy, aggressive tones of Game Theory (2006) and Rising Down (2008), How I Got Over was born from a period of exhaustion and reflection. The band famously characterized the album as depicting the everyday person’s search for hope within a dispiriting "post-hope zeitgeist".
One of the most striking aspects of the album is its eclectic list of collaborators. The Roots reached outside the traditional hip-hop sphere to include indie artists like Joanna Newsom, Monsters of Folk, and Dirty Projectors. This "indie-rap" fusion helped bridge the gap between genres and solidified the band’s reputation as musical chameleons who could adapt to any sonic landscape. Key tracks that define the listening experience include: the roots how i got over zip
And then the hook: "How I got over... how I got over... ziiip." Following the heavy, aggressive tones of Game Theory