The Roots have toured the world and back acquiring the respect of all they share their trademark sound with. Now on Def Jam, The Roots are with a true legend in it's own right and Hip Hop heavy hitter. The anticipation of their latest release has been off the meter! I was fortunate to hear their latest work, Game Theory and wanted to share my opinion and musings with the GeoClan.com readers.

With the production of The Roots and players like the Randy Watson Experience, Khari Mateen of Nouveau Riche, Tahir Jamal, Owen Biddle, Pedro Martinez, Richard Nichols, Kevin Hansen, Adam Blackstone, John McGlitchey, Darryl Robinson and J Dilla does the Game Theory fill the cups with that product that Illadelph and the world wants and needs to hear? Let's get into this review and shed some light!

First off we get a beginning ode to the legendary J Dilla on the introduction, "Dillatastic Vol Won". This brief slice of music brings us into the cut "False Media" featuring Walud Ahmad. which talks about the problems they have with the people who are supposed to be informing the people and also problems with the country as well. This dark track is a preview of the album. The Roots go into the basement with and give us messages throughout the LP and while the messages are nothing foreign to the supergroup they seem more poignant and Black Thought and company seem content to speak to the people in their own terms for better or for worse!

Next we have the Title track "Game Theory", a powerful song not only because of the way the group bangs out the funk but also because it marks the return of "Ill Militant" Malik B. Me and many others have waited for the day when we can hear the dynamic duo of Thought and Malik B. doing their thing together and its here! Not to disappoint, the two breakdown their game theory and show how they ride the track to the mutha breaks down!

"Don't Feel Right" is the first cut I heard from the album and it talks about how the game and this current world just don't rub the group the right way despite all the accolades they receive in the current times! Black Thought talks about the suddle ways systems in place corrupt people and also how people aren't coming to the home plate called life and swing for the fences with purpose. A meaningful but calm track with a tight chorus sung by Maimouna Youssef, Thought talks about forms of hustling, legal and illegal, and brings to light why you can't be happy with all that's going down. It's just pure hotness and also a reach out to the people to look objectively at their world, nuff said!

In the fiery "In The Music" talk about how life is imitating art instead of the opposite is a topic Malik B. joins the mix once again and brings his side of the story! This cut is one I can hear in the ride while speeding down the highway or on the block. I don't know about Porn besides the videos and magazines but it joins the mix too!

Walud Ahmad gives us more knowledge to chew as he joins Thought and the crew on "Take It There". This cut is talking about doing what you have to do to make some positive change for you and the people! Let's take it there! The breakdown towards the end is The Roots personified and Dice Raw helps on the hook!

"Baby" is a bumpin' cut with a blues cut with John-John joining in on the action adding his vocals! A smooth cut that will stay in your ear after the song is on, Thought talks about the young man and woman love in a way we can understand. Perceptions of Hip Hop are question in this cut as well.

Here I Come is the hype track that will make you stop doing anything and get your boogie on! Malik B. and Dice Raw join Thought on the vocals and the chorus talks about being surrounded inside a crib and avoiding the door being kicked in by busting out and bring the heat! This needs to be a single because it brings the energy without anyone saying a word! It's so great to hear three distinct voices like Thought, Malik and Dice do their thing back to back to back once again. Hopefully we can hear this more in the future!

"Long Time" is a nice cut to hear because in a lot ways it brings Philly artists together which doesn't happen enough.Rockafella's Peedi Peedi joins Bunny Sigler and Thought on the vocals and holds his own as they all talk about the past and it's the spins of growing up in the city of Philly!

Thought breaks down the change he sees in "Livin In A New World". This guitar laden track is quick but makes an definite impact and it leads into "Clock With No Hands".   Mercedes Martinez (known for her work as one half of the Jazzyfatnastees) adds her soft and beautiful voice on the chorus and Thought ponders and talks about how he deals with things in his own way and reflects on what he sees as potential problems and things to look for. Crazy is mentioned in the track but I always believe that we need to be a little crazy to survive in this world!

"Atonement" brings the musical talents of Jack Davey to the slow and mood ringing track! Thought talks about feeling that ting in your head and body when you know something has happened you need to atone for.

Black Thought gives you a chance to listen to an open ended phone message as he talks about the late J Dilla, Hip Hop beatmaker and artist of extreme excellence then he gets into ripping a Dilla beat most will remember from Donuts and speaks on "Can't Stop This". At the end of the track you get to hear many tributes to the artist who died in late 2005 as well as some of the genius that made him the pioneer he was! J Dilla worked with many people in Hip Hop and his techniques we groundbreaking in the beatmaking community he will sorely be missed!

Overall this album was my favorite since Things Fall Apart and I enjoyed the murky sound that went through most of it! I especially enjoyed the return of Malik B. to some working function with the group and hope next time we can see him on the cover with the rest of the legendary crew that he helped to make famous! I try to tell people: Black Thought is one of the best solo lyricists around but there was nothing like him and Malik B. The chemistry they displayed in the booth and when I saw them live was very memorable and many forget or downplay that! I feel the same about these two as I do about other great combos like Q-Tip & Phife Dawg and Big Boi   & Andre.it's always great to hear them alone but them together is like more that an A grade it's like that computer program. an A++!

This album is a great mix of music, message and movement! The group continues to never sit on one sound and I still get excited like a kid when I can hear something from them! The social and political messages are especially intelligent and needed from artists in general, especially those who just got on Def Jam, not necessarily a label of dynamic purpose these days (This is other than getting that money, of course)!  

An album for the time we live in Game Theory shows many sides of a game yet figured.   Rock on Roots, Rock on!

I give the album 5 GeoGlobes