New Roots - "Game Theory"
After a few spins, we think Game Theory is the album that delivers where The Tipping Point didn't. This time the Roots crew brings back the edge, underscoring their accessible hooks, deep grooves and Black Thought's lyrically handsome rants. Nothing on the record is as smack-you-on-the-ass awesome as Phrenology's Cody Chesnutt collab "The Seed (2.0)", but the album delivers on our consistently heightened post-Things Fall Apart expectations.
The Roots - Game Theory (MP3)
Be patient with the track's intro/fade croon and let Thought get going on his syncopated socio-politics, painted in turbulent Philly street stories of struggle and ambition. Sucka MCs, be warned. He sounds angry.
Elsewhere, ?uestlove wants you to have the album's first single "It Don't Feel Right." Pull it down from his MySpace. May as well be his friend too, though he already has a few. At 62,000 and change, that has gotta be the most popular 'fro in the biz.
Posted at 3:11 PM in MP3
I completely agree about Game Theory. I, for one, liked The Tipping Point, but it was a deviation from the dark moods of their previous albums. Black Thought's vocals were more front and center. With Game Theory, Thought's vocals return to the ensemble. The album brings to mind Things Fall Apart and Phrenology, both classic albums.
While The Roots never fell from grace, Game Theory is an excellent return to form.
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Dilla tribute + mind-blowing use of "You And Whose Army?" sample = most innovative and mindful Def Jam artists.
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Hot! The Roots are one of hip-hop's most solid crews, and it sucks that still so many people sleep on them. This track, and "It Don't Feel Right," are both way fucking awesome; I have a good feeling about Game Theory.
Oh, and Black Thought is one of the nastiest MC's out there. Definitely up there as one of the best to ever grab a mic.
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Long live the Roots crew. Glad to see the love.
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I'm excited. I wasn't that impressed with Phrenology, but 'Things Fall Apart' still blows me away.
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I damn near sprained my neck when the beat kicked in on this thing. Awesome.
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In a word...SICK!!!! And how dope is that Malik B. is back with the gang and just as sharp as ever?
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people have been saying "this is the year the roots will blow up" every year since 1994. instead they've been condemned to on-the-verge-but-not-quite-there underground/mainstream purgatory having played at virtually every music festival known to man. so the question is... with the help of jay-z and def jam left, is this finally the year that the roots will blow up?
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unbelievablely great album. this will spin for YEARS !
im not above hyperbole but this album is their freakin' OK COMPUTER, okay ? this is a HUGE record, a milestone.
i cant be half way on this one, if some of these arent breakout hits then i dont know what the f**k is the matter with the world.
danyboom
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Just want to point a couple of things. Nobody should listen to the musical opinion of anyone that claims that they were not "that impressed with Phrenology." Secondly, the day the Roots "blow up" like a Jay-Z is the day the Roots will cease to exist as we know them. And anyone who wants the Roots to "blow up" should stop listening to the Roots because they are obviously missing the point. And, lastly, regarding points, the Tipping Point wasn't meant to be a breakthrough album, but just more good music for the Roots fans. I am sick of everyone talking about the Tipping Point wasn't that groundbreaking. It was just supposed to be good music, which it certainly is. For godsakes, they put the album less than a year-and-a-half after Phrenology. Now, on to the music stores to buy Game Theory.
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Gave me hope for the future of hip hop - Hearing the track "game theory" hit me like hearing P.E. "Fight The Power" for the first time.
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Hip Hop album of the year for 06. The Roots have been so underrated for so long its ridiculous. They have three of the dopest MC's ever in Black Thought (Top 10), Malik B and Dice Raw. As for The Tipping Point album i know a few people didn't feel but for me it was a great album especially the track Boom (GodDamn).
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