The Roots - How I Got Over

How I Got Over is The Roots at their most soul-searching, a 2010 album that turns late-night doubt into something warm, hopeful and hard-won.

Arriving soon after the Philadelphia crew became the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the record proved their day job hadn't dulled their edge. Black Thought and Questlove steered a set that moves from bleak to buoyant, wrestling with faith and responsibility before landing somewhere close to grace. It's one of their most cohesive albums, held together by a steady cast of collaborators including Dice Raw and Phonte.

The guest list reaches well beyond hip-hop. Monsters of Folk lend their harmonies to "Dear God 2.0," a reworking of their own "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)," and Joanna Newsom's unmistakable voice anchors the hook of "Right On." The title track is a soulful rallying cry, while "The Fire" pairs John Legend with a defiant, uplifting chorus about pushing through whatever life throws your way.

Thoughtful and deeply human, How I Got Over rewards close listening, with Black Thought in peak form and the band playing with real restraint. On vinyl it feels like a long conversation with old friends at two in the morning, honest and warm and unhurried.