The Roots need no introduction, however given the state of the music industry, a mention on Muphoric Sounds is necessary.

How I Got Over was released last week Tuesday, June 21, the same day as Eminen‘s album Recovery. The first week of sales, Eminem reached a whopping 741,413 units sold (34% digital), and The Roots, a quiet figure of 50,961 (42% digital). What does this say about Hip Hop? The answers are so varied, I could write a dissertation on it.

What’s baffling is, a group like The Roots, who tour tirelessly across the world, where their music touches all ages, from college students to money earners approaching middle age, and still they struggle for notoriety in this business.

With How I Got Over, The Roots collaborate with a great mix of artists such as, blu., Phonte, John Legend, Patty Cash, Raw Dice, Joanna Newsome, and many more. It’s such a solid piece of work. It’s rare that you can press play and let it run its course. Lyrically, spot on, with lines like, “I want the girl of my dreams to give me Einstein” to “Technology turning everybody into zombies,” How I Got Over should not be esoteric, but owned by all who listen to urban, alternative music.

So with this, I urge you to go and get yourself a copy of How I Got Over HERE and support good music.

“Doing it Again” feat. John Legend

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“Now or Never” feat. Phonte, Dice Raw

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Moving in a completely different direction, “Dear God 2.0” is positively hip hop, but definitely has that cross-over appeal that will draw in the indi-rock crowd. This is no surprise for legendary group, The Roots, the only true hip hop band who can take ownership of any musical form and make it their own. A beautifully shot video directed by Jason Goldwatch which compliments the “Dear God 2.0” perfectly. The Roots‘ new album, How I Got Over,  hits stores today! So head over to your local record store and pick it up or click over to iTunes and get yourself a copy!

It seems that The Roots Picnic is notorious for feeling like the hottest day of the year – not simply based on who’s on the roster, but the smelting heat one experiences the day of the picnic. Having never attended The Roots Picnic in the past, the general consensus was the conditions are uncomfortable, but the musical acts make it bearable. I definitely can agree. Check out what Muphoric Sounds caught from the show, featuring The Roots, Foreign Exchange, YahZarah, Nneka, Mayer Hawthorne, Jay Electronica, John Legend, and Wu-Massacre.

My affinity to jazz is limited to the jazz masters and jazz infused music, however listening to Robert Glasper makes you want to bathe in jazz, eat jazz, sleep with jazz, damn it, even dream in jazz. Double Booked, his third Blue Note album, Glasper pulls us into the spectrum of his musical life. Leader of an acclaimed jazz trio, consisting of his longtime bassist Vincente Archer and drummer Chris Dave, and being the most sought after first-call sideman for artists like Mos Def, The Roots, and Q-Tip, Double Booked secures his position as a key player in modern jazz. The album is split between The Robert Glasper Trio, which is the showmanship of his jazz expertise and The Robert Glasper Experience which illustrates that the boom clap is instrumental to rap music. Refashioning Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly” and giving it that J Dilla edge, it’s no wonder that progressive soul singers and alternative rappers alike are clamoring to work with him.

Currently touring with Maxwell on his BLACKsummer’s Night Tour, Double Booked is scheduled to release August 25th. You can Listen to the full album on his Blue Note website. Just open a separate browser window and have this flow through your computer speakers. One of my favorites, and there are many is the pure beauty in “All Matter” featuring Bilal Oliver. Check it out below.

“All Matter” featuring Bilal Oliver taken from Doubled Booked

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Now go and listen to the full album and mark your calendar with the August 25th release date! You’re going to love it.