The Roots - Game Theory

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Album Track Listing

The Roots:
Game Theory

Release Date: 28 August 2006

Reviewed By: Jeevan Panesar

1) Dilltastic Vol Won(derful)

2) False Media

3) Game Theory (ft. Malik B)

4) Don't Feel Right (ft. Mainmouna Youssef)

5) In The Music (ft. Malik B & Porn)

6) Take It There (ft. Wadud Ahmad)

7) Baby (ft. John-John)

8) Here I Come (ft. Dice Raw & Malik B)

9) Long Time (ft. Peedi Peedi & Bunny Sigler)

10) Livin' In A New World (ft. John-John)

11) Clock With No Hands (ft. Mercedes Martinez)

12) Atonement (ft. Jack Davey)

13) Can't Stop This

14) Bread And Butter

Method Man - 4:21... The Day After
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Inconsistency seems to have become an inherent thread of defining the career of the conscience MC. We’ve seen it happen time and time before, from Talib Kweli to Pharoahe Monch. The balance between staying true to oneself, creative freedom, critical acclaim and album sale success leads to a struggle reflected in the music. And the legendary Roots Crew are no exception from this trend: a veteran career littered with classic hits, tell-tale signs of genius and critical acclaim has been stifled by the group’s ever-changing line up and experimental production, which has arguably led to them to earning the title of being one of the industry’s biggest under-achievements.

On the other side of the hip hop spectrum, President Carter’s Def Jam takeover hasn’t gone down too well with label legend LL Cool J, who recently stated : “Jay-Z is great at promoting… Jay-Z.” And if you heard LL’s last album you’d know why. The hip hop MC seemed to have been reduced to defining himself as ‘base promoter of everyone at Def Jam’ leaving you wondering where the hell LL was on his own album. I digress but my point is one to consider: Is Def Jam becoming too Jay-Z and PR slick, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of creative freedom? This would be the last place to make home for the influential founders of live hip hop instrumentalisation and conscience lyricism, right?

Wrong: The Roots/Jay-Z/Def Jam marriage has resulted in a classic set for success for both parties. With ‘Game Theory’ the group’s defining basics, ?uestlove’s angry drums and Black Thought’s hard hitting lyrics have matured intelligently, providing the backbone for complex musical layering and experimenting, resulting in a gritty, dark and political album.

The album’s lead single ‘Take it There’ starts: “Stand up stretch for the stars/ get somebody else involved right next to ya/ ya’ll elected me to keep it so fresh for ya/ just ‘cos I make it possible for the rest of ya” over mysterious melodies, Rahzel’s infamous beat boxing and a heavy bass, before quickly evolving into an angry assault of drumming and political speech: “Oil for food but people still hungry/ another hot summer we about to flood the prisons”.

On ‘In The Music’, you’re left feeling a classic lyric has been etched to your brain: “They say the city make a dark impression/ the youth just lost and they want direction/ but they don’t get the police, they get the protection/ and walk around with heat like Charlton Heston.”

And that is where part of the mastermind of ‘Game Theory’ lies: The Root’s ability to reflect their passionate political thesis from corporate and government corruption, street violence to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy within the sonic grain, which extends from classic neo soul, soft to hard rock and even some old skool country soul. When the lyrics get angry, the music gets angry, leaving great emphasis on the message, without preaching to the listener; Black Thought’s often lethargic flow is fully alert and spitting sensibility. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for play as on the lazy toned ‘Baby’ (Think Seed 2.0).

Rounding up we are hit with an eight-minute tribute to the late J Dilla, ‘Can’t Stop This’ with heartfelt talk from the group on the loss of their friend over muffled major melody sprinkled with strings and classic guitar riffs.

So finally, fans have a worthy follow up to ‘Things Fall Apart’ and with such quality speaking for itself, Jay’s PR part of the deal is set to be as easy as counting to three.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Favourite Tracks:
6) Take It There
7) Baby
13) Can't Stop This

Return to Latest Reviews or select review by artist or Soundtrack, A-Z.
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Album Track Listing	The Roots: Game Theory Release Date: 28 August 2006 Reviewed By: Jeevan Panesar
1) Dilltastic Vol Won(derful) 2) False Media 3) Game Theory (ft. Malik B) 4) Don't Feel Right (ft. Mainmouna Youssef) 5) In The Music (ft. Malik B & Porn) 6) Take It There (ft. Wadud Ahmad) 7) Baby (ft. John-John) 8) Here I Come (ft. Dice Raw & Malik B) 9) Long Time (ft. Peedi Peedi & Bunny Sigler) 10) Livin' In A New World (ft. John-John) 11) Clock With No Hands (ft. Mercedes Martinez) 12) Atonement (ft. Jack Davey) 13) Can't Stop This 14) Bread And Butter Method Man - 4:21... The Day After Read Review

		Inconsistency seems to have become an inherent thread of defining the career of the conscience MC. We’ve seen it happen time and time before, from Talib Kweli to Pharoahe Monch. The balance between staying true to oneself, creative freedom, critical acclaim and album sale success leads to a struggle reflected in the music. And the legendary Roots Crew are no exception from this trend: a veteran career littered with classic hits, tell-tale signs of genius and critical acclaim has been stifled by the group’s ever-changing line up and experimental production, which has arguably led to them to earning the title of being one of the industry’s biggest under-achievements. On the other side of the hip hop spectrum, President Carter’s Def Jam takeover hasn’t gone down too well with label legend LL Cool J, who recently stated : “Jay-Z is great at promoting… Jay-Z.” And if you heard LL’s last album you’d know why. The hip hop MC seemed to have been reduced to defining himself as ‘base promoter of everyone at Def Jam’ leaving you wondering where the hell LL was on his own album. I digress but my point is one to consider: Is Def Jam becoming too Jay-Z and PR slick, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of creative freedom? This would be the last place to make home for the influential founders of live hip hop instrumentalisation and conscience lyricism, right? Wrong: The Roots/Jay-Z/Def Jam marriage has resulted in a classic set for success for both parties. With ‘Game Theory’ the group’s defining basics, ?uestlove’s angry drums and Black Thought’s hard hitting lyrics have matured intelligently, providing the backbone for complex musical layering and experimenting, resulting in a gritty, dark and political album. The album’s lead single ‘Take it There’ starts: “Stand up stretch for the stars/ get somebody else involved right next to ya/ ya’ll elected me to keep it so fresh for ya/ just ‘cos I make it possible for the rest of ya” over mysterious melodies, Rahzel’s infamous beat boxing and a heavy bass, before quickly evolving into an angry assault of drumming and political speech: “Oil for food but people still hungry/ another hot summer we about to flood the prisons”. On ‘In The Music’, you’re left feeling a classic lyric has been etched to your brain: “They say the city make a dark impression/ the youth just lost and they want direction/ but they don’t get the police, they get the protection/ and walk around with heat like Charlton Heston.” And that is where part of the mastermind of ‘Game Theory’ lies: The Root’s ability to reflect their passionate political thesis from corporate and government corruption, street violence to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy within the sonic grain, which extends from classic neo soul, soft to hard rock and even some old skool country soul. When the lyrics get angry, the music gets angry, leaving great emphasis on the message, without preaching to the listener; Black Thought’s often lethargic flow is fully alert and spitting sensibility. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for play as on the lazy toned ‘Baby’ (Think Seed 2.0). Rounding up we are hit with an eight-minute tribute to the late J Dilla, ‘Can’t Stop This’ with heartfelt talk from the group on the loss of their friend over muffled major melody sprinkled with strings and classic guitar riffs. So finally, fans have a worthy follow up to ‘Things Fall Apart’ and with such quality speaking for itself, Jay’s PR part of the deal is set to be as easy as counting to three. Rating: 4 out of 5 Favourite Tracks: 6) Take It There 7) Baby 13) Can't Stop This Return to Latest Reviews or select review by artist or Soundtrack, A-Z. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z