The Roots return with their first album on Def Jam – a rich batch of soulful, heavier moods, cultural reflection, and some incredible modern Philly funk playing behind the thoughtful rhymes – probably the deepest album to appear on Def Jam in the past decade or so! Game Theory shares a tendency with their earlier masterwork Things Fall Apart in its way of applying an uplifting, riveting groove to tracks with some genuine hurt and despair. Sonically, Game Theory is its own animal. We NEVER would have pegged this record for the Def Jam debut – it's way too good! Tracks include the PE-referencing "False Media", "Game Theory" feat Malik B, the single "Don't Feel Right" feat Maimounta Youssef, "In The Music" feat Malik B & Porn, "Take It There" feat Wadud Ahmad, "Baby" feat John-John of Nouveau Riche, "Here I Come" feat Dice Raw of Nouveau Riche & Malik B, "Long Time" featuring Peedi Peedi & Bunny Sigler, "Clock With No Hands" feat Mercedes Martinez of Jazzyfatnastees, "Can't Stop This" and more. CD

A fierce 10th album from the Roots – hard hitting and straight up angry, without sacrificing the musicality that makes them the most unique crew in hip hop of the past 15 years! We'll do our best to recommend this vital LP without tagging it with the dreaded "concept album" tag (wish us luck on that) but it's for the most barbed commentary on the state of Philly – and the larger social and cultural landscape. The Roots are still bringing some truly exhilarating material after all these years! Titles include "Rising Down" feat Mos Def & Styles P, "Get Busy" feat Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi, "@ 15", "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", "Becoming Unwritten", "Criminal" feat Truck North & Saigon, "I Will Not Apologize" feat Porn & Dice Raw, "Lost Desire" feat Malik B & Talib Kweli, "The Show" feat Common & Dice Raw, "Rising Up" feat Wale & Chrisette Michelle and more – plus a few unlisted bonus tracks on the CD version. CD