Music Review: Game Theory
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this album is The Roots' darkest
album of their 20-year career, but not in hip-hop's typical
guns, drugs, and girls manner. The album is dominated by songs
about government surveillance, urban crime, poverty, the war in
Iraq, and racial profiling. Four-letter words ("s--t", "f--k")
and the "N" word are scattered throughout, and there are veiled
references to illegal activities (smoking pot), but with the
right guidance, these songs can educate.
Families can talk about the subjects that The Roots bring up on
this record. How much should the government be able to monitor
its citizens in an effort to thwart terrorism? Is enough being
done to combat poverty at home as we wage wars abroad? Also,
The Roots are one of the few full bands in hip-hop, as most
groups are simply rappers and a host of producers. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of being a band with instruments
in hip-hop?
The Roots -- the Philadelphia-based group that has made a reputation over a two-decade career for soulful, jazz-inflected hip-hop -- have made their most serious album to date. GAME THEORY is music for grown-ups or curious teens, but not in the lascivious ways that might worry parents. Recorded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and in the midst of the war in Iraq, the album reflects The Roots' desire to comment on the world, addressing issues like racial profiling and government surveillance skillfully and without sounding self-righteous. The album reflects the darker tone, with heavier guitar and a more frenetic pace than on previous records. Live instrumentation mixes easily with classic soul samples on standout songs like "Long Time" and the title track, which samples Sly Stone's "Life of Fortune & Fame" and features the welcome return of formerly estranged Roots MC Malik B.
Drummer and musical director ?uestlove leads the quintet through a diverse set of both up-tempo and soulful songs that provide a solid canvas on which rapper Black Thought performs his lyrical wizardry. On the moving "Clock With No Hands," Black Thought takes a wistful look at tenuous friendships. Game Theory is one of the best albums of 2006, period, as few bands have taken such a serious look at the complicated issues of the day in a way that makes for both head-bobbing and brain-feeding listening.
CommonTalib Kweli
A Tribe Called Quest
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