The Roots - "How I got over", or "Do you want more"?

When I really started getting into hip-hop about 2 years ago, I was always recommended the roots when asking who to check out. I've listened to a good amount of songs by them, but never a whole album by itself by them.

My question is though, to get an album by them, which one should I get? I saw "Do you want more" yesterday for $10 and I was going to buy it immediately, but I realized "How I got over" was coming out monday (today). Should I go with the new album or the old classic (or what I'm told to be a classic)?

get both Illadelph Halflife and Do You Want More?. DYWM  has a more jazzier, mellow vibe. Illadelph is The Roots at their best lyrically. Yeah start with the classics first and then get their new album

Go for the old classic. The new album doesnt come close to it...its good. but not as good as some posters here thinkAnti-Venom

Yeah, but I heard a couple of songs off of their Myspace and I loved it. 

 

get both Illadelph Halflife and Do You Want More?. DYWM  has a more jazzier, mellow vibe. Illadelph is The Roots at their best lyrically. Yeah start with the classics first and then get their new album

andyboiii

I was looking for Illadelph too at Best Buy yesterday actually, but they didn't have it there. DYWM with the jazzier vibe sounds great for me, because thats the style I really love. I'll definitely buy both albums though. I guess I'll just save the newer one for later. Thanks man.

please of please get the '?!!!??!' correct when mentioning that Roots album! :Pillmatic87

Heh, I was gonna do that bro, but it would've made the title too big.

You are (not smart) if you get the new Roots album over "Do you Want More"....iHeartCali

Thats why I came here to ask man. And yep, I am definitely getting Do You Want More, than Illadelph Halflife after.

Get "Do You Want More"

It's my personal favorite Roots album. Yes I said it. 

Thanks for the help everyone. Sadly though, my best buy couldn't find a copy. I guess they were sold out, so I'll just go to another best buy tomorrow.

Since I was already there though, I decided to get this:

NiCE!!! I rarely listen to the bonus tracks on there, but Star Wars is dope.Apocalypse33

Haven't listened to the disc 2 tracks before, but I'll check it out.

^^^ haha, have you even listened to Do You Want More, man? Where the hell are the battle raps?

Anyways, I can't speak on behalf of everyone here - it certainly does seem like some people let nostalgia for the 90's cloud their better judgement, but for me, it's pretty simple why I'd choose Do You Want More - it's one of the finest jazz-rap fusions recorded. If it bores you, I dunno, you just must not appreciate great music.

Also, the rapping on this album also reminds me of why I like Black Thought's role on Jimmy so much - his biggest strengths as an mc lie in the roles of just that - a mic controller. Grunts, simple phrases, and just simply working with the music rather than going right over it ... these were the days when Black Thought was at his most enjoyable, because once you had to start being subjected to his insanely repetitive flow (and, incidentally, the Roots started playing a lot less interesting music), things started going downhill.

I've listened to it many times, minus silent treatment, lazy afternoon, and the oligatory ursula rucker poetry, there's not much varietyHerbertdaPerv

^^^ haha, have you even listened to Do You Want More, man? Where the hell are the battle raps?

Anyways, I can't speak on behalf of everyone here - it certainly does seem like some people let nostalgia for the 90's cloud their better judgement, but for me, it's pretty simple why I'd choose Do You Want More - it's one of the finest jazz-rap fusions recorded. If it bores you, I dunno, you just must not appreciate great music.

Also, the rapping on this album also reminds me of why I like Black Thought's role on Jimmy so much - his biggest strengths as an mc lie in the roles of just that - a mic controller. Grunts, simple phrases, and just simply working with the music rather than going right over it ... these were the days when Black Thought was at his most enjoyable, because once you had to start being subjected to his insanely repetitive flow (and, incidentally, the Roots started playing a lot less interesting music), things started going downhill.

IsThisIt_basic

I love Jazzy beats. Personally my favorite hip hop to listen to. I'm getting the album this weeked. I'm listening to a couple tracks on youtube, but not all. I wanna try and fully enjoy the album. I'm loving what I'm hearing so far though.

I've listened to it many times, minus silent treatment, lazy afternoon, and the oligatory ursula rucker poetry, there's not much varietyHerbertdaPerv

the fact that you left out Distortion to Static is outrageous.

btw how does the re-mastered Illmatic compare with the original? is it mind-blowingly superior?

[QUOTE="IsThisIt_basic"]

^^^ haha, have you even listened to Do You Want More, man? Where the hell are the battle raps?

Anyways, I can't speak on behalf of everyone here - it certainly does seem like some people let nostalgia for the 90's cloud their better judgement, but for me, it's pretty simple why I'd choose Do You Want More - it's one of the finest jazz-rap fusions recorded. If it bores you, I dunno, you just must not appreciate great music.

Also, the rapping on this album also reminds me of why I like Black Thought's role on Jimmy so much - his biggest strengths as an mc lie in the roles of just that - a mic controller. Grunts, simple phrases, and just simply working with the music rather than going right over it ... these were the days when Black Thought was at his most enjoyable, because once you had to start being subjected to his insanely repetitive flow (and, incidentally, the Roots started playing a lot less interesting music), things started going downhill.

taj7575

I love Jazzy beats. Personally my favorite hip hop to listen to. I'm getting the album this weeked. I'm listening to a couple tracks on youtube, but not all. I wanna try and fully enjoy the album. I'm loving what I'm hearing so far though.

Forgot to mention this in my original post, but I can't believe nobody else here has mentioned Encore, the album they released before Do You Want More. If you like Do You Want More, cop it ASAP. It's really the exact same groove you get on Do You Want More, and on some days, I think I might like it a bit better.

Organix is dope too, but it's the bastard child of roots albums . . . I wigged out when I found a copy in a cd shop in VA. bought it on the spot.fat_rob

Same here, I found it at a Goodwill, and had no idea what it was. I wasn't even sure if it was the same Roots as I was hoping it would be, but I think it shares a track or two with Do You Want More, so that, combined with the fact that it was .49 cents, prompted me to buy it, and I'm glad I did.

And yes, I did mean Organix, not Encore.

I have never looked for CD's at Goodwill but I have been meaning to. Didn't know they had prices that low jeeez.

This flea market by me had a section of about 1000+ used r&b and rap cd's. So I was looking through that for awhile and was kinda turned off that all the cd's I was semi interested in were like $7-$10. I did find Real Live's - The Turnaround for $7 and was about to buy it but ultimately decided to pass on it... only to come home and look it up and see that it's out of print and regularly goes for $40+ used online :( I think I'm gonna try hitting up that flea market tommora to see if its still there lol. 

Looking for rap cd's at Goodwill can make you question how much you value your time. 9 times out of 10 all you're gonna find are forgotten N'Sync cd's, but then you might just land that great find. I don't go there too often anymore just because it's so rare to find something good, but, you never know ...

Your chances might be better depending on where you live, too. I'd never bother hitting up something like a flea market because the city I live it is predominentaly white, and I think about the rarest rap cd I'd be likely to find at one of those things is an Eminem cd. Which still has me wondering how that Organix cd made it's way to my Goodwill ... and who the poor, confused soul was that bothered to give it away.