(June 24, 2025) The title of Adina Howard’s new single, “I Overstand,” is a play on words. People say “I understand” when they want to convey that get what a person is saying. Saying I understand is a way of saying that I hear what the speaker is saying and, beyond that, I get it.
The song’s title gets at something that more profound than understanding and sympathy. “I Overstand” is an expression empathy borne from the truth that Howard has completed the journey that the person that she is advising is currently making. She’s faced the struggles, confronted the fears and doubts, and made it through.
“I Overstand” is a turn from the fun, seductive and funky R&B that had a west coast hip-hop swagger in the 1990s. The lyrics reflect the journey of someone who has experienced the difficulties of life and wants to encourage old fans and new ones to stay encouraged. Listen to Adina Howard’s “I Overstand” here.
By Howard Dukes
