Although Game Theory is firmly a hip-hop album, other genres of music make appearances in some of the songs. "Here I Come" has a Nine Inch Nails-esque feel to it created in part by the guitars and the electronic elements. "Baby" has a very old-school R&B feel while "Clock With No Hands" has a modern soul feel to it. "Livin' In A New World" has a sound reminiscent of light, 1960's pop which is ironic considering Black Thought's lyrics are decidedly dark: "Yo, they got high powered lenses on the cameras outside / It ain't nowhere to run, it ain't hardly nowhere to hide."
With all the varied and interesting music on display, it's easy to overlook just how good Black Thought is on this album. His anger is evident on many songs. "Take It There" talks about how bad things are in his hometown of Philly without glorifying things: "I'm from the side of town / Where shots get sprayed around / Where the expectancy rate be twenty-eight around... Have your whole view on life beyond jaded." He also reminisces on growing up and thinks about where he is now on "Clock With No Hands": "Sittin' in the staircase, holding back tears / Lookin' over mad years of photographs / Pictures of some places, I ain't ever goin' back / Some people I used to love, why I ain't show 'em that."
Game Theory is The Roots' best album since 2002's Phrenology and certainly one of the best albums of the year, hip-hop or otherwise. With a running time of only slightly more than 47 minutes, this album doesn't waste time with interludes or even a hidden track.
Even with the variety found here, it never feels like a collection of songs. It always feels like a cohesive album. It's one that is often dark, angry, and challenging without sounding like an art project gone wrong. If you're sick of the direction hip-hop is going today with the likes of Yung Joc, Rick Ross, and "snap" music, listen to Game Theory and have your faith in the genre restored again.
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