Game Theory (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Game Theory
Type = Album
Artist = The Roots


Released = August 29, 2006
Recorded = March–May 2006
The Studio
The Boom Room
A House Called ?uest
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Encore Studios
(Burbank, California)
Conway Studios
Glenwood Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
Integrated Studios
Quad Studios
Platinum Studios
Electric Lady Studios
(New York, New York)
Genre = Hip Hop, alternative hip hop
political rap
Length = 46:58
Label = Def Jam
Producer = The Roots
The Randy Watson Experience
Khari Mateen
Tahir Jamal
Richard Nichols
Pedro Martinez
Owen Biddle
Kevin Hansen
Adam Blackstone
John McGlinchey
Brook D'Leau
Darryl Robinson
Omar Edwards
J Dilla
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Axp6uak6kdm3b 2006]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (A-) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/music/0,6115,1333769_4_0_,00.html 2006]
*"The Guardian" Rating|4|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1857308,00.html 2006]
*HipHopDX.com Rating|4|5 [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.686/title.the-roots-game-theory 2006]
*PopMatters (8/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/roots-game-theory/ 2006]
*Pitchfork Media (7.7/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/38214/The_Roots_Game_Theory 2006]
*RapReviews.com (9/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_08F_gametheory.html 2006]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theroots/albums/album/11221593/review/11286857/game_theory 2006]
*Stylus Magazine (A) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/the-roots/game-theory.htm 2006]
*"XXL" (XL) [http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=3502 2006]
Last album = "The Tipping Point"
(2004)
This album = "Game Theory"
(2006)
Next album = "Rising Down"
(2008)

"Game Theory" is the seventh studio album by Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots, their first on Def Jam Records, which like the group's previous label, Geffen Records, is part of the Universal Music Group. It was released on August 29, 2006 to a great deal of critical acclaim.cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/roots/gametheory?q=the%20roots%20game%20theory | title = "Game Theory" at MetaCritic | format = | work = | publisher = MetaCritic | accessdate = 2007-08-25 |] The first single, "Don't Feel Right," was released online in May 2006 and is available for free download on the [http://www.myspace.com/theroots group's MySpace page] . The album features guest appearances from Peedi Peedi and returning Roots MCs Malik B. and Dice Raw. The album closes with a song titled "Can't Stop This", an eight minute tribute to the late J Dilla. "Game Theory" was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards, but lost to "Release Therapy" by Ludacris.

Music

In an interview for "Rolling Stone" magazine, ?uestlove expressed his view on contemporary black music and described "Game Theory", comparing it to previous works:

Described by Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson as "very mature, serious, and very dark."cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www6.defjam.com/site/news.php?news_id=102077 | title = The Roots Get Serious About Their "GAME THEORY" | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = September 22 | accessyear = 2006] the album, unlike their two previous efforts, "Phrenology" and "The Tipping Point", combines The Roots's progressive tendencies and lush, jazz influenced hip-hop into a more homogenous and cohesive recording than past efforts had shown. In what could be a salute to a fellow progressive band, The Roots sample Radiohead's "You and Whose Army?" for the track "Atonement".

The subject material for "Game Theory" follows the more serious tone of the album, with topics ranging from the war in Iraq to violence in music. ?uestlove was quoted as saying "There was too much going on that we couldn’t just sit back and not speak on it."cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www6.defjam.com/site/news.php?news_id=102077 | title = The Roots Get Serious About Their "GAME THEORY" | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = September 22 | accessyear = 2006] In accordance with its more-serious tone, the album heavily references Public Enemy's highly-political "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" on its lead track "False Media".

Track listing

Notes

External links

* [http://www.theroots.com The Roots Official Site and MySpace]
* [http://www.defjam.com Def Jam Records]
* [http://www.okayplayer.com OkayPlayer site]