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Game Theory is the seventh studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, originally released in 2006, on Def Jam Recordings. The group's first release for the label after leaving Geffen Records, the album was recorded by the Roots mostly using the Apple-developed software application GarageBand. A darker, grittier album with minimal emphasis on hooks in comparison to their previous work, Game Theory features a stripped-down sound similar to the work of Public Enemy, with lyrics that concern sociological themes and the late hip hop producer J Dilla.

Described by Questlove as "very mature, serious, and very dark", the album, unlike the band's previous two efforts Phrenology (2002) and The Tipping Point (2004), combines The Roots's progressive tendencies and lush, jazz influenced hip-hop into a more homogenous and cohesive recording than past efforts had shown. In what could be a salute to a fellow experimental band, The Roots sample Radiohead's "You and Whose Army?" for the track "Atonement".

The subject material for Game Theory follows the more serious tone of the album, with topics ranging from the war in Iraq to violence in music. Questlove was quoted as saying "There was too much going on that we couldn’t just sit back and not speak on it." In accordance with its more-serious tone, the album heavily references Public Enemy's highly-political It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back on its lead track "False Media". - Wiki

“Even though you can never know what to expect from a Roots album (except that it will be good), Game Theory packs even more mystery as it's their first effort on Def Jam. Game Theory proves to be no exception to the rule; it's unlike the rest of their albums and it's good, but I'd be lying if I only expected a "good" album from the Philadelphia band. The ever-talkative Roots drummer and visionary ?uestlove has been saying for months that this was their "darkest" record to date. In the past, ?eust has made claims about the sound of an upcoming album, only for it to be received in a totally different way. This time around, the funky drummer hit the nail on the head. This is their darkest record, both musically and topically.” - HipHopDX

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