The Game - LAX

The Game returns with his third and supposedly last CD LAX. Keisha Cole is featured on the lead off track 'Game's Pain.' Other guests include Ice Cube, Raekwon, Ludacris, Bilal and Raheem DeVaughn, appearing on "State of Emergency," "Bulletproof Diaries," "Cali Sunshine" and "Touchdown," respectively. Cool & Dre, Irv Gotti, Nottz, J.R. Rotem, Scott Storch, DJ Toomp, Hi-Tek and Kanye West lend their production efforts to the album. Album Description

much better than expected (3.5 stars)

The game is a really weak artist to me. He does a lot of name drops and mentioning of artists like 2PAC and B.I.G over and over in his songs. Ever since he has come out. I liked the first album and I didn't like his second release. It had like two songs on the entire album and his beef with 50 was wack on both sides of the battle. This album appeared to be the same from the track listing which has like a million guest appearances on it. To me a bunch of guest appearances is definitely a sign of weakness. Surpisingly the album is decent. Some dope tracks and and thoughtful lyrics. I have always been impressed that even though very ignorant, The Game at moments can drop knowledge and big up his people. The couple of "love songs" he has on the album are really weak and really don't fit into the structure of the album. Along with DOPE BOYS was extremely wack from the beginning of the song to the end. All in all the album is not bad. If purchased there are many songs to bump over and over.

Standout tracks:
Cali Sunshine
Money
Angel ft COMMON
Letter to the king FT NAS August 29, 2008

Goin Out With A Bang...

The Documentary was a classic. The Doctor's Advocate was a good sophomore offering. As The Game's supposed final album, L.A.X. truly surpasses expectations. If you been following Game's career, you know the man has been through a lot, career wise as well as his personally, and I think he does a pretty good job of conveying that through his work, though that was more his last album. L.A.X. is much more of a classic West Coast style banger album. Granted, that doesnt mean this is a bunch of garbage songs with great beats, no not by any means. This man has seriously stepped his rap game up creativly, and it shows. For example:

1) Never Can Say Goodbye. Game spits 3 verses as 2pac, Biggie, and Eazy-E respectively, giving an obviously fabricated, yet very insightful look into their final moments before they died.

2) Letter To The King. Game and Nas pay homage to Martin Luther King, with Game admitting that he may have taken for granted what MLK and others who fought with him did for blacks, and Nas respectfully calls out MLK as "the original Braveheart". O yeah, check out Game's line at the end of the song.

3) Angel. Common puts in a guest verse with Game talking about a girl as a metaphor for their love of music. Game actually outdoes Com on this one quality wise, and he does a great job of paying homage to an older generation of rappers who have touched on the same topic, including Common's "I Used to Love H.E.R."

Like I said, Game definitely stepped up the creativity, but the biggest attraction of the album I think is that its very reminiscent of classic NWA style. The beats, the lyrics, the overall feeling just gives you that West Coast vibe. Its like listening to "California Love", makes you wanna hop in the car with the windows down and blast it. Not only does Game do well with lyrics and beat selection, but his guest spot choices work very well, save for maybe the song he did with Reakwon.

This is definitely one of the best albums of the year, easily. If you only buy five rap CD's in 08, this one should be in your collection and gettin some heavy rotation. A solid 5/5 star product, a great way to go if he gotta go.

Favorite Tracks:

Can Never Say Goodbye
Angel
Let Us Live
Touchdown
Cali Sunshine
My Life August 28, 2008

The Game...is this a GAME??!!

I am definantly disappointed with this album. I am not at a complete let down, but I expected so much more. Game's first cd was brilliant, the second was fire..but now the third is like, "What the?!?". My biggest problems are as followed:

all the songs sound alike...beats are whack and bass-less

too much name dropping..buffy, hilary clinton, delicious (flav of love..like 2 different song), etc.

no original impactful content..he really dumbed it down

and OMG, how many times does he have to remind us he's from LA, drives a red phantom that is sittin on 24s (26)??

all in all, its not the worst cd this year-->DAVID BANNER
but its clearly not the best ---> NAS

i will stay a GAME fan. just don't think i'll be having this CD on repeat or constant rotation..... August 28, 2008

Welcome to Compton

Where you from? CALIFORNIA What city? COMPTON What you drive? IMPALA What you smokin' on? CHRONIC What you drinkin' on? PATRON What you sittin' on? THE THRONE Relax, make yourself at home.

If you thought his first two albums were must-have classics like me than you need to get this album. On this one he really spreads his style out (without sellin out) with rock, r&b, and of course some G stuff. He proves he can hold his own without Dre, 50, Emimem, whoever - like on his last album.

Peep Game on some standout tracks "House of Pain"(My Favorite song; Traci Nelson's vocals are always great on the chorus; raw beat), "Dope Boys" (Hardcore track with a rock feel), "Cali Sunshine"(will take you to LA), "Never Can Say Goodbye"(very creative, rapping as tupac, biggie, and eazy-e).

The only thing missing is a song with Nate Dogg or Snoop Dogg. Oh, and check out some of those artists he always name drops and you might find some good music to add to your collection. August 27, 2008

The West Coast Savior!

Just when it seemed like the west coast was starting to fall off, the Game comes through with yet another fantastic album. Game is the real deal, he's been through a lot, and it shows in his lyrics. They actually have emotion in them, rather than just a bunch of clever lines crammed together like Lil Wayne (not a hater, I gave C3 5 stars too). This CD is a refreshing change of pace, no one else in the rap game has the same style that can be heard here. This is a true west coast classic, and im hoping and praying that he isnt serious about retiring after this. Hip hop needs more rappers like Game! August 27, 2008

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