By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Eclectic hip-hop outfit the Roots are eyeing a February 2006 release date for their next Geffen studio album, "Game Theory."

"We're about 60% finished with the new album," drummer ?uestlove told Billboard. The set will likely feature a collaboration with Black Star's Mos Def and Talib Kweli called "Where I Come" and one song with just Mos Def, "Workin' on It."

"Game Theory" will be the follow-up to the Roots' 2004 effort, "The Tipping Point," which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 395,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The Roots have a host of summer shows lined up, including a run with fellow hip-hop outfit Floetry. Headlining dates get under way Friday (April 29) in Bridgeport, Conn., and are booked through a July 1 appearance at New Orleans' Essence Festival. The group will head to Europe in August.

Asked if the upcoming performances would feature any new material from "Game Theory," ?uestlove replied, "We'll just play what comes to mind."

The drummer was on hand Tuesday night (April 26) at the Jammy Awards in New York, performing in a segment with the Dead bassist
Phil Lesh and guitarist
John Mayer and Buddy Guy, as well as during an all-star finale of Jimi Hendrix's "Crosstown Traffic" and Bob Marley's "Lively Up Yourself."

"I've been dying to play on this drum set for a year," he said, pointing at the kit anchored by Medeski Martin and Wood's Billy Martin. "Now, I get my chance!"

Here are the Roots' tour dates:

April 29: Bridgeport, Conn. (Fairfield University)
April 30: Washington, Pa. (Washington & Jefferson University)
May 1: Memphis (Tom Lee Park)
May 16: Philadelphia (Electric Factory; w/ Floetry)
May 18: Boston (Roxy; w/ Floetry)
May 20: Cleveland (House of Blues; w/ Floetry)
May 21: Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State University; w/ Floetry)
May 23: Detroit (Royal Oak Theatre; w/ Floetry)
May 26: Milwaukee (the Rave; w/ Floetry)
May 28: Chicago (Vic Theatre; w/ Floetry)
May 30: St. Louis (Pageant; w/ Floetry)
June 2: Atlanta (Tabernacle; w/ Floetry)
June 4: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Revolution; w/ Floetry)
June 6: New Orleans (House of Blues; w/ Floetry)
June 8: Houston (Hush; w/ Floetry)
June 11: Dallas (Gypsy Tea Room)
June 15: San Francisco (the Grand; w/ Floetry)
July 1: New Orleans (Essence Festival)
Aug. 23: London (Shepherd's Bush Empire)

Reuters/Billboard



"ey yo a-ba-ba" - (c)cdmc - Tha Process 2000

*tear*

And Feb '06? i thought it was August, oh well.

my guess is it will be worth the wait though

February '06? What, i thought it was planned for this summer.U can't rush greatness but damn, i was gettin my hopes up for a summer release...

The set will likely feature a collaboration with Black Star's Mos Def and Talib Kweli called "Where I Come" and one song with just Mos Def, "Workin' on It."

Hell yeah, a Black Star Roots track, that's what i'm talkin about. Damn, now i'm hype for somethin that isn't comin out for 10 months!

That blackstar track is bound to be tight.

Double Trouble was supposed to have Kweli on it.
Then Kwe was on Phren. Now they all together.

kwe was suppose to be on double trouble fa real? damn, i didn't even know that. That's the track that really got me into the Roots.

Fuck!! What happened to this summer?

Somebody MUST hook that shit up.

im sure the whole night is out there in tape trees. check the jam sites.

■

February 2006!?!? --> thats the FUCK part

Blackstar collab --> thats the YAY part.


but feb 06.... is this for real? can we get a confirmation?

if its 60% done, why not sooner?

Im starting to think there will be one more release on Geffen this year (maybe the 'new' nagoya live cd) and then Game Theory comes out on Def Jam.

isn't the track with blackstar called 'here I come' not where I come?

collab w/ blackstar + another w/ mos def! thats some good news if i ever heard any. but i guess w/ good news always comes some bad . . . february 2006!?! now thats a long time. good 10months away. o well, im sure it will be str8 fire and worth the wait. hope to hear some 'Game Theory' tomrrow at the Fairfield U show

also, the song is called "here i come" not "where"... anyway, that's interesting he said it will feature black star.

I noticed many mistakes in that interview.

why.... is that NOT the case?

Just announced here - June 17, The Roots are opening for Wilco at Red Rocks.

_____________________________
BREAKBEAT PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: MARLEY RIDDIM E.P

COMING SOON....

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Africans/Blacks are always under attack from external and internal forces.

Europe Tour in August?
Can anybody something about it?

Shit's gonna be dope. period.

>Shit's gonna be dope. period.

CO-SIGN!!!
Ahhhh why you guys do this to us? Making us all full of anticipation!!! :( ;/


wake up to the truth within you, the longing of your soul

"LET THE SUNSHINE IN"

Check Out MY SPACE:
http://www.myspace.com/la_reina_

Peace and the four corners of life: love, health, wealth and perfect self expression (divine destination).
~~

I'm disappointed. I was lookin' forward to a Roots album this summer. At least I'll see 'em perform this Sunday in Memphis. That doesn't happen too often. Peace.

that's some boo boo right there.
we're here thinkin august-october range.
aint that some shit.

Shit least I have something to look forward to for early next year. After Com drops and a few other choice joints...I mean what else is left. Going to have to start diggin in the crates I guess.


"No man is an island, but I often feel alone. So I find peace through...OOOOOhhhmm." Saul Williams


Phife Dawg on Neo-Soul:
"Everybody is talkin' about this "Neo-Soul" shit. Nah! Niggaz ain't "Neo-Soul." NIGGAZ IS DOIN TRIBE!! You know what I'm sayin

if you cats are really just about done with the shit, and it isn't coming out until 2006, you really need to come with that "treasure" info about the Nagoya Blue Note shit. Don't get all George Lucas on us.

damn - was smokin' grooves THAT bad??

I'm sayin tho...
How you go to Milwaukee and Chicago but leave out Minneapolis?
Fuckers

this is extremely good news.

- - - - -

"ask beavis, i get nothing but head" - big l

peace & love

You can make hella money and pack out the venue....again!

tell me that they meant 2005

I'm guessing it'll be worth the wait. Like Hov and Bleek said on Reasonable Doubt, "you let your shit bubble quietly, and then you blow."
_____________________________________
We wise to the fact so we attack with what we know/ Heaven is the only good life, so what you strivin fo'?

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n/m

after the show on friday.

so im not buyin this feb 06 shit.

Well maybe ? needs time to fit another novel into the linear notes. Or maybe it has somethin to do with trying to put it out on Def Jam, is that's really happening.

if the roots are goin to def jam and he said "not yet... its a rumor though.."

only time will tell... (or 15)

i hate livin' in jersey...no one comes here. thats great news that blackstar's gonna be on the new album, though. and a song wit just mos would be hot too...cant wait

We'll see... this is just the latest delay i've heard. hopefully they're not frontin this time
_____________________________________
We wise to the fact so we attack with what we know/ Heaven is the only good life, so what you strivin fo'?
(c) Andre 3000 the emcee (R.I.P.)

www.soundclick.com/vocabproductions