

Deemed a classic by my boy Rizoh, The Roots' 2006 album 'Game Theory' was certainly one of the year's best. Up for the Grammy award of best rap album, I believe that 'Game Theory' shoulda beaten Ludacris' 'Release Therapy', hands down! But what can you expect from the Grammys? (They didn't even nominate Ghostface's 'Fischscale'). The sample listing for 'Game Theory' is relatively short, featuring past inspirations like Sly and the Family Stone (their previous album's intro was essentially a cover of one of the Fam's coolest songs) and the always funky Ohio Players. The Roots even gave a nod to contemporaries Radiohead on the track 'Atonement.' But the vibe of the album is enveloped by the close influence of the late J Dilla, playing a submerged sample of the Dilla-produced 'Fantastic' on the intro track, and capping things off with reflections over a lengthy looping of Dilla's Jackson 5-laced 'Donuts' classic, 'Time: The Donut of the Heart' (beautiful composition on this one... I even used it on my exclusive Tupac Shakur album/mixtape from last year). Like I said, this sample set is pretty short, but it's definitely sweet. Word to Jay. Both of them! Enjoy:
01. 'You'll Know When You Get There' by Herbie Hancock


02. 'Fantastic' by Slum Village


03. 'Life of Fortune and Fame' by Sly and the Family Stone


04. 'Don't Believe the Hype' by Public Enemy


05. 'Jungle Boogie' by Kool & The Gang


06. 'Ecstasy' by Ohio Players


07. 'You and Whose Army?' by Radiohead


08. 'To You With Love' by The Moments


09. 'All I Do Is Think of You' by Jackson 5


10. 'Time: The Donut of the Heart' by J Dilla


