Limited edition translucent blue vinyl! How I Got Over is the ninth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots. It was released on June 22, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings.Produced primarily by band members Black Thought, Questlove, Dice Raw, and Rick Friedrich, How I Got Over features a subtle, somber sound and lyrics concerning themes of self-determination, existentialism, and African-American middle-class angst. Although primarily a hip hop album, its music also draws on indie rock, soul, funk, gospel, and neo soul styles.The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 51,000 copies in its first week. It was also met with widespread critical acclaim and named by several publications as one of the best albums from 2010. Music critic Robert Christgau later called How I Got Over the Roots' "most substantial" album and the best of the 2010s. Notably, the album carries the same name as a Gospel hymn composed and published in 1951 by Clara Ward (1924–1973). It was performed by Mahalia Jackson at the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 before 250,000 people.
