The Game - L.A.X. Review: Worth the Read

DXavier23 · 08-24-2008, 12:26 AM

After the third consecutive record from an Jayceon Taylor that I (inexplicably) liked, I am forced to ponder - Am I a fucking fan of the Game? I certainly should not be. The Game is an awkward, awkward rapper who won’t shut the fuck up about being from Compton, irritatingly drops endless names of famous rappers to such an obscene degree that at this point it’s gone way beyond self-parody and has a creepy stalker-level obsession with Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Jay-Z (who I’m not entirely sure even knows Game exists) to the point where the album doesn’t go two songs without either one of their name’s mentioned. I should not like his music but here I am about to write another positive review for one of the most derivative, unoriginal rappers in hip hop history and I have no choice that after three records I’m a reluctant fan of this guy. It’s thoughts like this that keep me up at night.

No! You can’t do it! You won’t do it! You’re the Good Doctor Zeus! You shred the wretched of the rap game with a fury that is unsurpassed in the (not a) blog world. You’ll lose your street credibility. C’mon, you can do it! Just make a bunch of sarcastic comments about the Game’s serious delusions of grandeur, rip him for name dropping literally every artist from ‘91 and up and insinuate he’s secretly desperately wants to make love with 50 Cent! It’s easy! There’s even a fucking Lil’ Wayne song! You love hating on Lil’ Wayne! It’s your calling card! Just one more time! Do it for me!

Yet, I cannot. The record’s good. What can I say? The Game has consistently proven that despite his numerous and many flaws as an emcee, he has the best ears in the business when it comes to picking out beats for the album. The production on “L.A.X.” is really great. It’s filled with these menacing, West Coast tinged bangers that manage to not only mask Game’s numerous lyrical deficiencies but help enhance his fierce, rough delivery on songs like (the Flesh Eaten Skeleton Of) Ice Cube-assisted “State Of Emergency”, “House Of Pain” and the surprisingly great single “Dope Boys.” Raekwon manages to show up and offer one of his best verses in years on “Bulletproof Diaries”, (a song that proves a Dre-assisted “Cuban Linx II” might not be the worst thing that ever happened to existence) where he defiantly and triumphantly refers himself as not only a “New York Dinosaur” but a “Staten Island Artifact” on the same record. It’s one of the year’s best left-field collaborations which grows even greater when you consider that the Game manages to not get himself completely blown out the water like he does on the equally great Ludacris collaboration “Ya Heard.”

Absolutely, not! I refuse to let you give Game another positive review. I can sort of tolerate the Game making two records that are inexplicably sort of great but I will not tolerate three in the row. He simply doesn’t have the talent for that. I can accept “The Documentary” being great because Dr. Dre dumped a shit ton of money into the production and 50 Cent inexplicably decided to give the Game the last few legitimately great records where he gave a shit. I can even accept “The Doctor’s Advocate” being great because there is a certain level of emotional resonance and meaning behind it considering the personal trials and tribulations that Game went through after being tossed out of G-Unit and having his career almost blackballed by 50 cent and Jimmy Iovine. “L.A.X.” can’t be any good! It would place him to the rare category of rappers who first three records that are all legitimately great. I mean that’s basically puts him on the same level as A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West and De La Soul. He doesn’t belong in their company. He isn’t fit to tote their weed carrier’s weed through airport security.. He’s a boring, insufferable douche bag who probably should just blow his brains out if he’s going to continue to whine about Dr. Dre refusing to return any of his inappropriate late night drunken phone calls!

The thing is despite all of Game’s numerous personal deficiencies and lyrical atrocities, Jayceon Taylor manages to have one skill that manages to make his music oddly compelling. He’s able to channel all of his faux-suicidal histrionics into music that is palpable and real. It’s doesn’t make a lot of sense considering all that makes Game personally kind of despicable but you do not have to actually like an artist to like their music. For example on “Dope Boys”, The Game kind of mocks his Dr. Dre obsession when he comments that he is going climb through Dre’s window late at night and arouse Dre with raucous yell that “he’s home.” It shows that even Game has a sense of the utter ridiculousness of his own theatrics and proves that he has somewhat of a sense of humor about it all. The Game shows that he has a sense of savvy to it all.

Ultimately, “L.A.X.” is not a perfect record by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not as well-produced or as catchy as “The Documentary” nor as oddly emotionally poignant as “The Doctor’s Advocate” but it proves that Game is an artist with some staying power. He’s an extremely flawed and frustrating artist and is in desperate need of somebody to tell him to drop all of the name-dropping but he’s capable of making enjoyable West Coast albums that can be enjoyed on their own right. God help us if he decides to get “experimental” with us all. I don’t think I can take it.

You know you're going to get ripped for this? Yeah, I know.

Threyev · 09-14-2008, 01:47 AM

honestly, i could not agree with you more. well-written, too, by the way. you should start a blog or some shit.

IbeWazir · 09-14-2008, 10:37 AM

His name droppin' is his style. He's tryin' to edutain niggaz in his songs, he's not really dissin' anybody when he does all the name drops. It just shows that he has great knowledge to the rap game and what's goin' on in the world today.

Flood · 09-17-2008, 09:56 AM

game is an emotional rapper, this album aint as good as his last 2 but the beats are fucking good

RaidedX · 09-18-2008, 11:30 AM

LAX >>>>> DA
DOC >>>>> LAX
BUT GAME ON LAX >>>> ON DOC ....

Get it?

Plus niggaz still mad about his name-dropping?

Thats his style and I like the lines he does with those names. Except Dre, I had enough of those name-drop lines ... Which is why he was only mentioned like 5 times on LAX instead of 30 times.

Jarome · 09-18-2008, 02:58 PM

Much propz, great review.

08-24-2008, 12:26 AM	#1
DXavier23 ----------DX------------- Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 1,759 Repped: 192 Repped 1,677 Times in 142 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 10 Times in 1 Post	The Game - L.A.X. Review: Worth the Read The Game - L.A.X. Review: Worth the Read After the third consecutive record from an Jayceon Taylor that I (inexplicably) liked, I am forced to ponder - Am I a fucking fan of the Game? I certainly should not be. The Game is an awkward, awkward rapper who won’t shut the fuck up about being from Compton, irritatingly drops endless names of famous rappers to such an obscene degree that at this point it’s gone way beyond self-parody and has a creepy stalker-level obsession with Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Jay-Z (who I’m not entirely sure even knows Game exists) to the point where the album doesn’t go two songs without either one of their name’s mentioned. I should not like his music but here I am about to write another positive review for one of the most derivative, unoriginal rappers in hip hop history and I have no choice that after three records I’m a reluctant fan of this guy. It’s thoughts like this that keep me up at night. No! You can’t do it! You won’t do it! You’re the Good Doctor Zeus! You shred the wretched of the rap game with a fury that is unsurpassed in the (not a) blog world. You’ll lose your street credibility. C’mon, you can do it! Just make a bunch of sarcastic comments about the Game’s serious delusions of grandeur, rip him for name dropping literally every artist from ‘91 and up and insinuate he’s secretly desperately wants to make love with 50 Cent! It’s easy! There’s even a fucking Lil’ Wayne song! You love hating on Lil’ Wayne! It’s your calling card! Just one more time! Do it for me! Yet, I cannot. The record’s good. What can I say? The Game has consistently proven that despite his numerous and many flaws as an emcee, he has the best ears in the business when it comes to picking out beats for the album. The production on “L.A.X.” is really great. It’s filled with these menacing, West Coast tinged bangers that manage to not only mask Game’s numerous lyrical deficiencies but help enhance his fierce, rough delivery on songs like (the Flesh Eaten Skeleton Of) Ice Cube-assisted “State Of Emergency”, “House Of Pain” and the surprisingly great single “Dope Boys.” Raekwon manages to show up and offer one of his best verses in years on “Bulletproof Diaries”, (a song that proves a Dre-assisted “Cuban Linx II” might not be the worst thing that ever happened to existence) where he defiantly and triumphantly refers himself as not only a “New York Dinosaur” but a “Staten Island Artifact” on the same record. It’s one of the year’s best left-field collaborations which grows even greater when you consider that the Game manages to not get himself completely blown out the water like he does on the equally great Ludacris collaboration “Ya Heard.” Absolutely, not! I refuse to let you give Game another positive review. I can sort of tolerate the Game making two records that are inexplicably sort of great but I will not tolerate three in the row. He simply doesn’t have the talent for that. I can accept “The Documentary” being great because Dr. Dre dumped a shit ton of money into the production and 50 Cent inexplicably decided to give the Game the last few legitimately great records where he gave a shit. I can even accept “The Doctor’s Advocate” being great because there is a certain level of emotional resonance and meaning behind it considering the personal trials and tribulations that Game went through after being tossed out of G-Unit and having his career almost blackballed by 50 cent and Jimmy Iovine. “L.A.X.” can’t be any good! It would place him to the rare category of rappers who first three records that are all legitimately great. I mean that’s basically puts him on the same level as A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West and De La Soul. He doesn’t belong in their company. He isn’t fit to tote their weed carrier’s weed through airport security.. He’s a boring, insufferable douche bag who probably should just blow his brains out if he’s going to continue to whine about Dr. Dre refusing to return any of his inappropriate late night drunken phone calls! The thing is despite all of Game’s numerous personal deficiencies and lyrical atrocities, Jayceon Taylor manages to have one skill that manages to make his music oddly compelling. He’s able to channel all of his faux-suicidal histrionics into music that is palpable and real. It’s doesn’t make a lot of sense considering all that makes Game personally kind of despicable but you do not have to actually like an artist to like their music. For example on “Dope Boys”, The Game kind of mocks his Dr. Dre obsession when he comments that he is going climb through Dre’s window late at night and arouse Dre with raucous yell that “he’s home.” It shows that even Game has a sense of the utter ridiculousness of his own theatrics and proves that he has somewhat of a sense of humor about it all. The Game shows that he has a sense of savvy to it all. Ultimately, “L.A.X.” is not a perfect record by any stretch of the imagination. It’s not as well-produced or as catchy as “The Documentary” nor as oddly emotionally poignant as “The Doctor’s Advocate” but it proves that Game is an artist with some staying power. He’s an extremely flawed and frustrating artist and is in desperate need of somebody to tell him to drop all of the name-dropping but he’s capable of making enjoyable West Coast albums that can be enjoyed on their own right. God help us if he decides to get “experimental” with us all. I don’t think I can take it. You know you're going to get ripped for this? Yeah, I know. __________________ So save me your sorrys I'm raisin a Army Revolutionary warfare with Damian Marley We sparkin da irons marchin to Zion You know how Nas be NYC state of mind I'm in

09-14-2008, 10:37 AM	#3
IbeWazir The Realist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Marshall, MO Posts: 2,924 Repped: 533 Repped 131 Times in 68 Posts Neg Reps: 42 Neg Repped at 80 Times in 29 Posts	His name droppin' is his style. He's tryin' to edutain niggaz in his songs, he's not really dissin' anybody when he does all the name drops. It just shows that he has great knowledge to the rap game and what's goin' on in the world today. __________________ myspace.com/ibewazir

09-18-2008, 11:30 AM	#5
RaidedX Cali Nigga IN$IDE-OUT!!! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: $$ FREE THE NIGGA SHYNE $$ Posts: 1,437 Repped: 142 Repped 808 Times in 262 Posts Neg Reps: 4 Neg Repped at 4 Times in 4 Posts	LAX >>>>> DA DOC >>>>> LAX BUT GAME ON LAX >>>> ON DOC .... Get it? Plus niggaz still mad about his name-dropping? Thats his style and I like the lines he does with those names. Except Dre, I had enough of those name-drop lines ... Which is why he was only mentioned like 5 times on LAX instead of 30 times. __________________ FUCC THA SOUTH - YALL NIGGAS RUINED HIP HOP www zshare net/audio/469824348ba24c/

09-18-2008, 02:58 PM	#6
Jarome The French Connection Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cowansville, Québec, Canada Posts: 2,692 Repped: 1,084 Repped 12 Times in 6 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Much propz, great review. __________________ My heart's torn from the pain of bein' forced to watch the game. I'd rather die gettin' my hustle than live my life on the lane.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-14-2008, 01:47 AM	#2
Threyev Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Bronx Posts: 553 Repped: 82 Repped 46 Times in 29 Posts Neg Reps: 3 Neg Repped at 5 Times in 5 Posts	honestly, i could not agree with you more. well-written, too, by the way. you should start a blog or some shit.

09-17-2008, 09:56 AM	#4
Flood Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: CrookDale Posts: 23 Repped: 0 Repped 5 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	game is an emotional rapper, this album aint as good as his last 2 but the beats are fucking good