Compton-raised rapper The Game may talk tough, but he also shows a sensitive side that’s as soft as the bun on an In-N-Out burger. One of the most emotional rappers since Tupac, Teh Game bears it with a tattoo under his left eye – a single tear for the hip-hop he loves.
It’s no wonder The Game gets a little choked up when talking about his beloved art form and culture: he credits hip-hop with pulling him off the streets and into pop consciousness. The Game grew up idolizing artists like Nas and Dr. Dre. Now, he’s one of their frequent collaborators. He’s also had his share of beefs and battles, with rumored feuds ranging from former record companies (G-Unit and Aftermath) to various emcees (Joe Budden, Memphis Bleek and Jay-Z).
As a result, perhaps, the 28-year-old rapper has matured since his 2005 debut, released after only a few years in the game. He flaunts a much-improved flow on his latest release, L.A.X. The record is filled with shout-outs to his favorite rappers and tributes to fallen heroes like The Notorious B.I.G. Many of the beats are generic and dull (too bad he split with Dr. Dre), but The Game’s passionate, husky voice makes most of the record’s bangers.
His gangsta rap tracks, like “State of Emergency” featuring West Coast rapper Ice Cube, include grimy storylines. The Game spits, “Call the U.S. government, tell them it’s a … code red/ N—-s tried to straight up jack me now they both dead/ Third lil n—- got away on his moped/ Caught him around the corner and put the beam on his forehead.”
L.A.X. is laden with images of the rowdy lifestyle in the rapper’s hometown: Chevy Impalas sitting on chrome hydraulics, bottles of Patrón and ounces of chronic. When Ice Cube shouts “California ain’t a state, it’s an army,” listeners know he’s repping his Boyz n the Hood days, not that of Are We There Yet?
The Game even waxes philosophical on “My Life,” which features Lil Wayne crooning the hook with his signature raspy voice. The pair wonder why God allowed them to live even though he took so many of their friends. There’s even a sense of The Game wanting to give back to the community, setting an example for those on his former block.
Equally pensive is “Letter to the King,” featuring Nas. The pair pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and explain how the civil rights leader taught and inspired them.
Although The Game addresses a variety of subjects, he is at his best when rhyming about hip-hop culture. His lyrics mix nostalgia for the so-called golden age of the late ’80s and early ’90s with a bit of frustration for the art’s watered-down commercial state. But, he also throws in hope for the future.
“Angel” is The Game and Common’s 2008 version of the latter’s “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” a classic track that personifies hip-hop as a female.
“Game’s Pain,” featuring Keyshia Cole, is the album’s uplifting first single, honoring hip-hop legends. The Game understands that, to progress in music, one has to appreciate the past. After years of sampling other rappers’ well-known rhymes, he states, “When it’s all said and done, you’ll quote me.”
With L.A.X., the day may come sooner then he expects.
arush@umd.edu
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars.
