It's great...but is it competitive?

The Roots have consistently made great albums since I was in high school (I gruaduated in '95). This album is easily the best of their last few...but, is it gonna chart? The beats are still bangin'. Black Thoughts lyrics are still head-spinning. The soundscape is still unique. But, this isn't the album we've been waiting for...the album that finally combines incredible music with commercial success. If you're anything like me, you can't wait for the Roots album that goes double-diamond without the crew having to "sell out." Well, this just isn't the one. Though the music is fantastic, I just don't see it having that universal mass appeal that we expected they would somehow inherit by moving over to Hova...errrr...Def Jam.Maybe they just stick too hard to their guns. In general, most hip-hop artists that the "purists" listen to, just refuse to go with the formula. Does having a beat that makes me wanna run out onto the dance floor make you a sellout? Does having a catchy hook that makes me wanna sing along compromise your atistic integrity? Hello? The Roots reached the peak of their commercial success when they had the world singing along to (or at least TRYING to sing along to) Erykah and "If you were worried 'bout where...I been or who I saw or..." And that was a great fucking song.I think the thing holding a lot of great artists back is, they're still making music for other artists. What I mean is, they're making music that is going to impress their fellow artists, but is destined to be slept on by the CONSUMER. Hello! It's all good to have lyrical content that's going to make fellow lyricists piss their pants, but...when you target a small percentage of the community, you're gonna sell a small number of records. Records are sold in two places: the club, and the radio. Either you hear a song when you're out and it makes you wanna shake your ass, or you hear it on the radio on your way to work (probably not even paying attention) and you find yourself humming along. People (myself included) complain about the bullshit music that's getting commercial success these days, but most of the times these people are doing the most basic stuff. Take this Yung Joc song "It's Goin' Down." The shit's terrible. Every time I hear it, I think to myself, "What retards made THIS retard popular?" But, I'm out at a bar/club last week, the damned beat comes on, and there I go dancing. Music doesn't get to people when they're listening, concentrating on the lyrics and the complicated accompanyment (sp?). Music gets your ass when you're not paying attention. Am I saying Talib Kweli should go out and make "It's Goin' Down Part 2"? Of course not. As a lyricist, I respect the text that you need a rosetta stone to decode. But as a CONSUMER (you know, the people who actually make braindead asses like Nelly sell double-uranium) I wanna shake my ass. I wanna zone out to a song that appeals to the most basic, primal, caveman part of my brain. Is that so hard to understand? Damnit, I LOVE The Roots. But, they've already proven that they're musically, and lyrically the cream of the crop. Now it's time to prove that they can sell records.Anywayz, I need to use this soap-box to put some old records in, so I'll get off it. Bottom line: Game Theory - Excellent album. It's gonna make all the fans shit themselves, but it's not gonna expand their audience. Oh, but it does showcase the solid return of Malik B! Yup. I think he's only on about three tracks, but it's good to see him back with the crew and spittin' better than ever. I'm gonna cop two copies of this disk. One for the hip-hop head in me, and another for one for the braindead, commercial music junkie...even though I know he won't listen to it.Troy's Favorite Track: In the MusicIt's in the music,Turn it up, let it knock,Let it bang on the block,'Til the neighbors call the cops... -In the Music, The Roots (Game Theory)