Amir "?uestlove" Thompson drummer o...

Amir "?uestlove" Thompson drummer of the stems asks for a moment.

"A miracle just happened," he gushes, returning to the phone "I'm going to dart a tickertape parade. One of our biggest critics just gave us the equivalent of a Rolling Stone five-star review."

upon August 29 hip-hop's most celebrated live band will release "Game Theory," their sixth studio album, and first in succession the Jay-Z- guided Def Jam label.

Here's what ?uestlove had to say:

forward the Oprah vs. hip-hop controversy: It overturn me because all too frequently we take figures from our acknowledge circle and rake them athwart the coals, while every night stays like Bill O'Reilly go for our neck and no single will say [anything] about that. They'll take Oprah to task, moreover Bill O'Reilly gets a pass and T Nugent finishs a pass. I don't like public flogging of easy targets.

Working with Jay-Z: Not no other than did he grant us permission, he borderline scared us on saying, "I want nothing besides but what you would normally do."

What he's looking forward to with the release of "Game Theory": Getting our mojo back. the same of the problems with making music for other the community is that you put your wishes, your fantasies and your dreams onward hold, and I'll freely admit "The Tipping Point" was a record we made with pleasing our label president [in mind].

Favorite venue in Chicago: The House of amethystines I love to bowl sum of two units games in the bowling alley they have right inside the HOB public-house before every show.

Chicago artist he's keeping an vigilance on: It's all about Lupe [Fiasco], I really chance of a favorable result he takes it all the way and brings five acts with him.

THE ROOTS; TALIB KWELI; THE PHARCYDE

- 9 pm Monday

- Congres Theatre, 2135 N Milwaukee

- Tickets, $27 (18-over show)

- (312) 559-1212

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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