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December 14, 2006

?uestlove's List-less Listlessness

Lists are fun to mock, but do you realize they can actually get under artists' skin? The Roots crew are the best live band in hip-hop. Cool. But how many of you guys actually bought or praised Game Theory? Not enough to get MOJO's attention, 'cause the record didn't make the mag's Top 50 Albums List. And much as we think the lists are ridiculous, or that no one really cares ... Quest is bumming over this one. Cheer up, Ahmir! The label isn't gonna drop you -- and even if they did, they call you the hardest working man in hip-hop 'cause you only turn up on like every neo-soul/backpacker record ever (via Popwatch).

Posted at 11:44 AM in
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20 Comments

sounds like he's been listening to the verve's "the drugs don't work."

http://musicnews.virgin.net/Virgin/Lifestyle/Music/virginMusicNewsDetail/0,13556,1767253_music,00.html

Posted by: mattshu at 12/14/06 12:10 PM | Reply
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oh shit...

is he dissing def jam?

i mean, the album's ok....

i bought it.....one of the few that i actually purchased in 2006....

but, it's not a classic roots record.....

it's a good one....but, not classic....

nice to see malick b back on the scene....

but, keep your head up ?uestlove......

you're still the baddest drummer ever in hip hop, right?

#1 on my list....

and the work on d'angelo's voodoo was perfect......

bring out another slice of that devils pie....

love ya,
maya

Posted by: maya lucia at 12/14/06 12:48 PM | Reply
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questlove is on youtube?! just saw his re-enactment of man on the moon... pure gold

Posted by: haris pilton at 12/14/06 12:52 PM | Reply
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Aw, ?uest... Don't worry about it. I mean, they announced that Bob Dylan is their man of the year, so... *snicker* um... *hehehee* AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!! I'm sorry. Bob Dylan? Man of the YEAR? AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHHH!!!!! Ahem. So yeah. Don't get TOO bent out of shape.

Posted by: Jarrett at 12/14/06 1:03 PM | Reply
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Wow. Game Theory is so good and he's so sad because he knows it's true. I almost feel like I should buy it now.

(no sarcasm here)

Posted by: Spencer at 12/14/06 1:33 PM | Reply
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Not trying to be facetious or anything, but are there any other live instrumentation hip-hop crews out there (rap metal outfits besides)?

Posted by: Ferris at 12/14/06 1:50 PM | Reply
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Good band, great record, but I have NEVER seen a respected artist who cares more about his critical reception then ?uest. It's bordering on obsessive, and we go through it with every damned record he does.

Posted by: derek at 12/14/06 2:12 PM | Reply
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add ?uestlove to the long list of def jam artists pissed off at JAY Z!

I wonder how D. Sitek would have handled this?

Posted by: AC at 12/14/06 2:19 PM | Reply
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If ?uest could donate some of his charisma to Black Thought, this group would not be overlooked

Posted by: Alwyn at 12/14/06 2:21 PM | Reply
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If ?uest could donate some of his charisma to Black Thought, this group would not be overlooked

Posted by: Alwyn at 12/14/06 2:22 PM | Reply
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Someone buy this man a puppy, STAT.

Posted by: Christopher at 12/14/06 2:28 PM | Reply
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You can't question the man's passion. I think the Def Jam situation is getting to him way more than the omission from this one list is. They've had label issues in the past and I think ?uest thought these issues were behind him for good when he went to the seminal hip hop label 'run' by Jay, a man he consider(s/ed) a friend and mentor.

To think you've solved a problem and then find out with the first album out that the problem is just as prevalent has got to hurt. And there is a personal element with Jay being at the reins. Especially when Jay promoted the ish out of his own album which happened to be inferior to Game Theory.

Posted by: NC at 12/14/06 2:31 PM | Reply
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I don't know if blaming Jay Z is a convenient excuse for def jam artists when their albums don’t sell, but it's becoming such a regular occurrence that you have to wonder if Jaz Z really is under promoting some albums.

Posted by: AC at 12/14/06 2:52 PM | Reply
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aw ?uestlove...you're in the top 50..of my heart.

Posted by: nick at 12/14/06 2:55 PM | Reply
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You can't question the man's passion. I think the Def Jam situation is getting to him way more than the omission from this one list is. They've had label issues in the past and I think ?uest thought these issues were behind him for good when he went to the seminal hip hop label 'run' by Jay, a man he consider(s/ed) a friend and mentor.

To think you've solved a problem and then find out with the first album out that the problem is just as prevalent has got to hurt. And there is a personal element with Jay being at the reins. Especially when Jay promoted the ish out of his own album which happened to be inferior to Game Theory.

Posted by: NC at 12/14/06 2:57 PM | Reply
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poor ?uestlove.

Posted by: joe $ at 12/14/06 4:19 PM | Reply
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Game Theory is easily one of the best albums of the year. Far better than Hell Hath No Fury...

And yes, there are other hip hop outfits who use live instrumentation, such as The Coup.

Posted by: nasty nate at 12/14/06 5:32 PM | Reply
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Game Theory is so much better than the hip hop albums I've seen popping up on most of these year end lists. I just bought it recently and can't stop listening to it. BTW, I know that the Pitchfork knee-jerkism on this group is to call Black Thought a hack. Total bullshit. He's a damn sight better than the fucking GAME, that's for certain.

Posted by: Joey Headset at 12/15/06 1:13 AM | Reply
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is it possible to read a media discussion of a hip-hop artist without mentioning how their album didn't sell enough anymore? i don't care if ghost, clipse, jay-z, or ?uestlove get anymore jacob watches, and whining isn't punk (or hip-hop).

Posted by: kyle at 12/15/06 8:38 AM | Reply
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It don't feel right...

Posted by: Bosephus at 12/15/06 9:02 PM | Reply
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